YouTube star Jeff Wittek opened up to Dexerto about his recovery—both physically and mentally—after a serious eye injury. He also spoke about the future of his interview series, Jeff’s Barbershop.
Who Is Jeff Wittek?
Jeff Wittek is a social media star with over 8 million followers across YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. People love him for his dry humor and funny interviews with other internet personalities.
He is best known for Jeff’s Barbershop, a show where he gives haircuts while asking guests questions about their lives and careers.
The Accident That Changed Everything
In 2021, Jeff suffered a serious eye injury during a dangerous stunt for David Dobrik’s vlog. The stunt involved Jeff and other members of the Vlog Squad swinging from an excavator that Dobrik was controlling over a lake. Unfortunately, Jeff hit his head on the machine, leaving him with a deep cut above his right eye.
The accident went viral. Jeff was almost blinded and was furious at Dobrik. Their friendship ended, and Jeff even sued him.
(Dobrik has mostly stayed quiet about the lawsuit, only saying that it was “the worst thing that’s ever happened to me” and that he wishes he could take that day back.)
Jeff’s Long Road to Recovery
It has been almost four years since the accident, and Jeff is still undergoing surgeries. These procedures often delay his projects.
Jeff told us that he recently had his biggest surgery yet.
“I wish I had better news, but this last surgery was the biggest one yet, so I’m still far from fully recovered,” he said. “I still can’t drive myself, but I’m getting there. Hopefully, I’ll be 100% ready for the tour this spring!”
This surgery took longer to recover from than he expected, even causing delays in a movie he was working on.
“With this last surgery, I definitely didn’t expect the recovery to take this long,” he said. “We even had to push back an entire movie shoot I’m working on by a month to give my eye more time to heal.”
Mixing His Private Life with His Public Persona
Jeff’s legal battle with Dobrik made their personal problems very public. But for Jeff, this isn’t a big deal. He enjoys mixing his personal life with his content.
“Honestly, I just spiral publicly,” he admitted. “I like to mix a lot of my private life into my content—sometimes people don’t know what’s real and what’s not, and I think that keeps it entertaining. But the truth always comes out eventually.”
Staying Strong: The Power of Mindset
As he recovers, Jeff is focusing on both his body and mind. He believes exercise helps him stay positive.
“I just get up and do it,” he said. “A lot of times, the pressure feels overwhelming, and I have to make a decision. So I ask myself: Do you want to follow your dreams and take care of the people you love, or do you want to be a loser for the rest of your life?”
He explained that fitness is more than just physical—it’s mental too.
“When I exercise or train, I feel a sense of productivity, which makes me happy. But if I can’t train, it definitely adds to the depression.”
For Jeff, having the right mindset is key to overcoming any challenge.
“I think a lot of people underestimate how much your mindset plays into everything—whether it’s recovery, career, or just getting through the day,” he said. “I try to keep moving forward, stay busy, and push through, but some days are harder than others. That’s why I like to keep my content light and funny—it helps me, and hopefully, it helps other people, too.”
Moving Forward: Jeff’s Comeback
Jeff is now focused on his upcoming projects, including his postponed movie and his Jeff’s Barbershop series. In December 2024, the show got its first real barbershop location.
Managing both a business and content creation is not easy. He also hosts a podcast, Jeff FM, where he talks about current events and interviews guests like Tana Mongeau.
“We have to make sure the guest fits the vibe of each show,” he explained. “Jeff’s Barbershop is always a little harder to book for because it makes people uncomfortable—it’s supposed to. I think that’s what makes it so relatable.
“Everyone gets nervous getting a haircut. Now imagine getting one from a guy who’s throwing backhanded questions at you, trying to piss you off, with giant cameras in your face.”
With Jeff’s Barbershop leveling up, a live tour coming up, and his biggest surgery behind him, Jeff is determined to make his comeback.
“I’m really excited to shoot my new series out of my actual, brick-and-mortar barbershop in New York City. I feel like that’s going to bring back the original vibe of the show and give it exactly what it needs to level up.
“At this point, my goal is just to be the comeback kid. Giving up isn’t an option—I’ve put everything into this, so it’s either make it big or die trying.”
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