Influencer Parents Myka And James Stauffer Face Backlash After "Rehoming" Their Adopted Autistic Son

Influencer parents Myka and James Stauffer have sparked debate after announcing that they had "rehomed" their adopted, autistic son Huxley.

The couple adopted the child in 2017, and Myka, who runs a lifestyle and parenting channel on YouTube, had been documenting the couple and their family's journey with Huxley in monetized videos on YouTube. The couple also has four biological children. Huxley had been adopted from China, and while the couple were aware he had special needs, James Stauffer said, "Once Huxley came home, there was a lot more special needs that we weren't aware of and that we were not told."

The couple say they had attempted to help Huxley through numerous therapies and interventions in their time with him before coming to the decision that he needed more than they could give him.

"Do I feel like a failure as a mom? Like, 500%," said Stauffer. "It's not about me at all, but it's just, like, this journey has been -- the last couple months have been, like, the hardest thing I could have ever imagined." She also stated that medical professionals agreed that Huxley needed "a different fit."

People have been split on their reactions to the story. Some have praised the couple for making a difficult decision in the interests of Huxley. "I respect you so much for having the courage to make such a heartbreaking and hard decision," says a pinned comment beneath the video. "You are such great parents, you have to do what’s right for him first and foremost. You are brave and he will thrive in life because of you."

Others were less charitable, with Twitter users calling her "evil," and "the ultimate Karen".

It takes a special kind of evil to PURPOSELY search out a child, adopt them.. & then ‘rehome’ him like a fucking dog when he didn’t conform to your aesthetically pleasing, white-washed life. @MykaStauffer monetised, abused & exploited Huxley – with no ramifications #mykastauffer pic.twitter.com/z5lpSInUxL

— Charlotte Wooldridge (@CharlieWool86) May 28, 2020

Myka Stauffer proved herself the ultimate Karen when she crowdfunded an adoption of 2yo with Autism from China, exploited him and his meltdowns for praise on YT, and then rehomed him like an unwanted pet once she had another bio kid. pic.twitter.com/qW1mVY6H9m

— Bonnie (@thatbonnielass7) May 27, 2020

Autistic children aren’t puppies. They don’t have “forever families.” They don’t get “rehomed.” They get abandoned.

Myka Stauffer abandoned this autistic child. https://t.co/H7ZrsYvXI8

— Sara Luterman (@slooterman) May 28, 2020

Extremely depressed reading about the influencer who raised funds to adopt a son, made this her “brand,” discovered he has special needs, secretly rehomed him, blocked ppl asking about him (after her followers helped fund the adoption) & put out a video making herself the victim https://t.co/ekgeTWBpm5

— Sophie Ross (@SophRossss) May 27, 2020

According to Stauffer, Huxley is doing much better with his "forever family." "He’s thriving, he’s doing really well, and his new mommy has medical, professional training," she said.