This weekend, fans of the Outdoor Boys were hit with the kind of emotional whiplash usually reserved for season finales of prestige dramas.

Luke Nichols, the nerdy dad behind YouTube's most wholesome survival content, announced he’s stepping back from the channel.

Most fans responded with bittersweet goodbyes, heartfelt thanks, and honey butter bread memes. But among all the posts appreciating the YouTuber were a few terminally online types who chose a different route: blaming his wife, Rebecca Nichols.

Here's why people are so bummed about an Alaskan dad stepping back from his content job to prioritise his family.

Who Is Luke Nichols, and What Is The 'Outdoor Boys' YouTube Channel?

Before he was catching catfish that rival the size of his youngest son, Luke Nichols was a criminal defense attorney in Virginia, a job that sounds only slightly less stressful than camping in sub-zero temperatures with three kids. He launched his fishing channel, Catfish and Carp, in 2013, and spun off Outdoor Boys in 2015.

Luke Nichols' wife, Rebecca Reimann Nichols, and his three sons, Tommy, Nate, and Jacob, play an integral role in the Outdoor Boys channel, often appearing in videos or supporting him behind the scenes.

Many of Nichols' videos show him camping out in the Alaskan wilderness with his kids, teaching them to fish or having an epic Lego battle at home.

How Did The Outdoor Boys YouTube Channel Blow Up?

While the channel slowly built a following over the years, Outdoor Boys didn't go mega-viral until late 2023 into 2024, when Luke's content upgraded from camping dad to wilderness icon.

A whopping 12 million new subscribers flooded in over 18 months, and the Outdoor Boys expanded their videos to go exploring the wilderness all over the world instead of just in Alaska.

The internet helped cement his cult hero status, with memes about his love for bread and honey butter and his role as the G.O.A.T. of YouTube going viral on Twitter in late 2024.

Why Did Luke Nichols Announce That He's Taking a Break From YouTube?

On May 17, 2025, Luke posted a video explaining that his online fame was starting to encroach on real life. He was being recognized constantly, and his kids were no longer anonymous adventurers but semi-public figures. Wanting a more normal life for them, he and his wife, Rebecca, decided he should step away from the spotlight. Luke was clear: the decision was mutual, grounded in love and concern for his family's privacy. He's still planning to finish a few videos and support his son's budding YouTube channel, but for now, Outdoor Boys was putting bear tracks on the back burner.

Several internet users commemorated Nichols' break by sharing their favourite moments from his channel, including a clip where he punches a fish to death after his boys didn't find a large rock quickly enough.

My favorite Outdoor Boys moment. 😅 pic.twitter.com/Et65RkcNFD

— Kamura (@KamuraShops) May 17, 2025

Why Are People Coming For Rebecca Nichols After the Outdoor Boys' Announcement?

Some of the more heated posters on the internet decided to make Luke's temporary retirement all about his wife. Far-right provocateur Nick Fuentes tweeted, "I bet his wife made him do it," while, cosplayer @YungPutin1 mocked Nichols by saying, "My wife and I have decided I’m too popular and my videos in the woods by myself are too cool to keep doing."

However, other thoughts persevered elsewhere on the internet. X user @CaribbeanRythms tore into the haters with a scathing post, stating, "You used his freedom to escape your own cage… now that he chose his family, you resort to attacking them."

@NewRightPoast summed up the situation with a greentext inspired tweet: "> walk away from many more millions > internet shut-ins saying I was longhoused by my hideous wife > mfw I made the right decision."

It's clear that some of the more sordid reactions to Luke Nichols prioritizing his family over his YouTube channel are precisely why he chose to step back from the limelight in the first place.

Until the Outdoor Boys are ready to go on adventures as a family again, their fans can still look forward to the videos Luke has loaded in the pipeline.

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For the full history of the Outdoor Boys, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.