Four years after he first announced that he had been diagnosed with cancer, John Bain — known online under the aliases TotalBiscuit and The Cynical Brit — has passed away.
The 33-year-old Bain was a major part of the online video community’s gaming subculture, delivering YouTube videos and Twitch streams to more than 2.2 million fans. Instantly recognizable thanks to his deep, resonant voice, he also served as a commentator for e-sports events. He was particularly associated with games made by the developer Blizzard, including Starcraft II, Hearthstone, and World of Warcraft. After learning of his passing, Blizzard offered its condolences via Twitter.
John, thank you for everything. We will miss you. pic.twitter.com/wbmuqNAQem
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— Blizzard Entertainment (@Blizzard_Ent) May 25, 2018
Bain also made his mark by serving as the inspiration for the Twitch emote “LUL,” which shows him in the midst of a fit of laughter. The streaming platform also took to Twitter to offer its own tribute to the departed broadcaster.
John Bain’s opinionated game critiques and sense of humor led to him becoming one of the most prominent voices in the gaming industry. The emote bearing his face represents the indelible mark that he has left on Twitch.
Thank you for everything, TotalBiscuit.
— Twitch (@Twitch) May 25, 2018
Bain first revealed his battle with cancer in May 2014, when the disease was discovered in his bowels. A year later, he said the affliction was in remission, though it returned later that year in his liver. At that point, Bain noted that the “average life expectancy is 2-3 years.” Though he continued to make videos, his illness forced him to retire from game criticism in 2018. Three weeks later, his wife Genna announced his passing via Twitter.
John Peter Bain
July 8, 1984 – May 24, 2018 pic.twitter.com/XchUMNDYXC— TotalBiscuit. (@Totalbiscuit) May 24, 2018
In the online video community, Bain will be remember for his conviction and his strong opinions, which he never hesitated to offer up on social media. He was a loud, passionate voice on a wide variety of subjects, ranging from Starcraft to cyberbullying. “I always admired his way of cutting through the bullshit,” said Lewis Brindley, the co-founder of popular gaming channel The Yogscast, in a tweet. “He was never afraid of anyone or anything.”
