James Jackson, better known online as Onision, is an American YouTuber. His main channel, “Onision,” showcases sketches and satirical content. Videos on his other channels cover personal stories and controversial topics, often involving discussions with his audience.
This article explores his biography, career, education, net worth, personal life, and his influence on the digital world.
Onision Biography
Jackson was born Gregory James Daniel on November 11, 1985, in Auburn, Washington. He has shared with fans that his mother raised him and his older sisters in a rural setting, and they practiced Seventh-day Adventism. In his 2014 self-published video, Facts About Onision (Story Time), Jackson reveals that his mother “filed for divorce once it was made clear that his father was a child predator.” As a teenager, Jackson focused on composing music and delved into web and graphic design. He joined the United States Air Force in 2005 and received a general discharge under honorable conditions in 2008.
Onision Education
Onision attended Pierce College at Fort Steilacoom, where he honed his skills in web design and graphic arts. He has shared that his early passions included music composition and web development, which he began delving into during his teenage years.
Onision YouTube Career
Greg launched his first channel, Onision, back in 2006. In his early videos, he referred to himself as Onision, though he initially intended to use “Greg.” Despite this, the name Onision became his enduring identity.
Often labeled as “The most controversial YouTuber” and “YouTube’s most troubled star,” Greg has faced numerous controversies.
In 2008, Greg started his second channel, OnisionArchive. Although he didn’t elaborate on its purpose at the time, it served as a secondary platform for extra content and ad revenue, much like other YouTubers’ secondary channels. By 2009, OnisionArchive had evolved into a user archive, aligning with its name.
The OnisionSpeaks channel, created in 2009, was originally intended to promote vegetarianism. However, it soon became Greg’s main platform for self-help and peer advice. This shift led to controversy, with some users accusing him of posing as an expert on depression and suicidal behavior. Greg has consistently maintained that he offers advice, not professional help.
In 2011, Greg introduced OnisionEncore, a channel primarily for video blogging. It has the least consistent upload schedule among his channels and is not considered a primary focus by Greg or his fans.
In 2012, Greg launched his most recent channel, UhOhBro, where he uploads videos reacting to various topics found on Google. This channel was the most active in 2012 and continues to have a high upload frequency.
By 2021, Greg’s channels—Onision, Speaks, and UhOhBro—were all demonetized and abandoned.
Onision Novels
Greg has authored two novels blending real and fictional events. “Stones To Abbigale,” released on March 29, 2015, features James, a character seen as a “better version” of Greg, and explores themes of school shootings and love. The initial cover was replaced due to its depiction of excessive blood.
His second novel, “This Is Why I Hate You,” published on September 11, 2015, delves into darker themes compared to the first. It mirrors many of Greg’s own experiences in the Air Force and is presented in a diary format.
Both novels have faced criticism for numerous spelling and grammar mistakes, attributed to the absence of professional editing. Onision mentioned in a video that Greg published rough drafts rather than edited versions. Whether this was a deliberate choice or an oversight remains unclear.
Onision Video Styles
Greg’s video style has varied throughout his career. At times, he appears happy, humorous, and cheerful, while at other moments, he seems mentally unstable. He has stated that he alters his personality based on the video’s content and the intended delivery.
Greg’s fanbase is primarily American females aged 13 and older. Having catered to this demographic since the start of his career, he has developed a keen understanding of his audience, which he uses in his grooming videos. Critics argue that he manipulates his audience by creating content that provokes reactions while claiming it as self-expression—often termed manipulative production. Despite these criticisms, Greg has not commented on whether he employs specific production techniques to enhance viewer reception.
Onision Net Worth 2024
According to multiple sources, Onision’s net worth in 2024 is estimated to be between $2.3 million and $5 million:
- oistip.storage.googleapis report his net worth at $2.3 million as of July 2024.
- Gemtracks Beats reports that Onision’s net worth has reached $5 million and continues to increase daily.
Onision Personal Life
Onision’s personal life has been plagued by controversy and accusations. He’s faced allegations of abusive behavior, manipulation, and grooming, especially regarding his relationships with younger women. These claims gained momentum after journalist Chris Hansen began investigating him in 2019, which led to increased public scrutiny and the suspension of monetization on his YouTube channels in 2020 due to harassment and child endangerment claims.
Jackson(Onision) married his first wife, Skye Tantaga, in 2005. They appeared together in numerous videos on Jackson’s channel. The couple separated in 2010 at Jackson’s request. Jackson initially described the split as amicable, but later claimed that Tantaga had burglarized his home, indicating that the separation was more contentious than he had originally revealed. The divorce was finalized in October 2011.
In 2011, Jackson began a highly publicized relationship with Shiloh Hoganson. They moved in together early on. Jackson mentioned that they broke up several times, briefly, before a two-month split during the summer of 2011. During this period, Jackson dated Adrienne Jourgensen, a lesser-known YouTuber he had met online. After a brief relationship with Jourgensen, Jackson reunited with Hoganson, only to split again in December 2011.
He has been married to Kai Avaroe, known as Laineybot, and previously dated pop singer Shiloh. His relationships have frequently come under scrutiny, with former partners accusing him of emotional and sexual abuse.
Onision Current Status
As of now, Onision is still active on YouTube, though his capacity to earn from content has been significantly limited. He is embroiled in legal troubles and under constant public scrutiny, which complicates his efforts. His contentious past and ongoing conflicts with former fans and critics make him a divisive figure in the online media landscape.