Jenna Marbles’ dog Mr. Marbles dies at 17; former YouTube star mourns

Former YouTube star Jenna Marbles and her husband Julien Solomita mourn the death of their dog, Mr. Marbles, who died at age 17, Solomita confirmed in an Instagram post on Friday. The couple's 1.3 million followers were invited to share in the moment via a single photo of the chihuahua, and Solomita wrote that Mr. Marbles showed him what it means to ride or die and that he loved the dog almost as much as he loved Jenna. He thanked Mr. Marbles for years of love and protection and said the dog would rest easy. The post noted that Mr. Marbles had lived a long life and was a constant presence through the couple’s journey together.

Mr. Marbles had joined Marbles’ life when he was six weeks old, and the dog remained a fixture throughout her ascent on social media. He was by her side when she and Solomita wed in 2022, a detail that fans recalled in responses to the couple’s public posts. While Solomita’s Instagram message disabled comments, fans flocked to a separate post with wedding photos to offer condolences and reminisce about Mr. Marbles. In one thread, a fan wrote, “Rest in peace Mr Marbles, I’m glad he got to be with you on your wedding,” while another noted that Mr. Marbles was “finally surrounded by all the loved dogs in heaven.”

The post and the touching notes come as a reminder of how closely the dog was woven into the couple’s public narrative. Jenna Marbles has not been active online since June 2020, when she tearfully announced her retirement from the channel after a run of controversial videos. She said she would not necessarily return, explaining that she wanted to ensure the content she put into the world did not hurt anyone. The absence from the online scene has been part of a broader shift in which the duo has kept a relatively private profile, with Solomita occasionally sharing updates with their audience.

Weeks before Mr. Marbles’ death, Solomita spoke candidly about the dog’s health during a six-hour Twitch livestream. He described the aging process and end-of-life care, noting that the situation had become all-consuming amid their other projects. “I didn’t want to make a whole thing about it at the start of the stream, but I’m mentally not fully here lately,” he said, adding, “Marbles is getting really old. We’re dealing with end-of-life things happening. It’s sort of been all-consuming on top of all the things we have going on.” He continued, “I know a lot of you have dealt with losing pets and end-of-life care for your pets. I sort of feel like I’m not even here. I don’t want to sit here, because if I talk about it I’m just going to cry, and I don’t want to sit here and cry about it right now.” He acknowledged that the process is difficult and that people are never fully prepared for such losses.

Mr. Marbles’ passing closes a chapter in the couple’s public-facing life, underscoring how deeply their personal moments have intersected with their online presence. In the years since their peak visibility, Jenna Marbles has largely stepped back from the spotlight, while Solomita has continued to create content for a dedicated audience. The family has not issued further public statements beyond Solomita’s Instagram tribute, and there has been no immediate indication of future public reflections on Mr. Marbles’ life.

The loss is being processed within a life that has long intertwined private moments with public attention. For fans who followed Mr. Marbles’ journey from a six-week-old puppy to a familiar presence at major milestones, the dog’s death marks a poignant end to a chapter of the couple’s shared history. As Solomita and those who admired Mr. Marbles mourn, they also reflect on the role a pet can play in shaping a public narrative and offering comfort through years of companionship.