| “ | What it is, what it be, what it do doe? | ” |
―Alex’s formal intro | ||
| “ | mKay bYe!!! | ” |
―Wassabi Productions’ Outro | ||
Alexander "Alex" Burriss (born March 28, 1990), better known online as Alex Wassabi (formerly Wassabi Productions), is an American YouTuber and professional boxer known for his vlogs and challenge videos. The channel was created and originally owned by Roi Fabito (Roi Wassabi), and Alex joined soon after. In 2016, Roi left the channel to pursue his channel, Guava Juice, leaving Alex as the sole owner, who later expanded the channel to include vlogs and challenge videos. Exactly eight years later, on January 27, 2024, Roi officially rejoined Wassabi Productions, and the channel subsequently focused on sketch and improvisational comedy. However, on September 28 of the same year, the duo split up again due to financial reasons, and Alex again became the sole owner of the channel.
History[]
Roi "S.Q.U.I.R.T.I.N.G.S" Fabito and Alex Burriss first met in middle school in Durham, North Carolina. They used to live in the same neighborhood and eventually went to the same high school where they became best friends. In 2005, Roi decided to make videos with his friends, Robby and Matt, using his parents' camera which his parents didn't use often; this was the establishment of Wassabi Productions.
One day, Roi asked Alex if he wanted to make a video with him. Alex eventually became a Wassabian. In 2006, they posted their videos to share them with their family and friends. Not only did their family and friends love their videos, but a lot of people from around the world did; their videos got a lot of views. Originally, their YouTube channel was called hoiitsroi, but was later changed to Wassabi, which was inspired by a scene in Jackass The Movie when Steve-O snorted wasabi through his nostril. Roi loved the word "wasabi", so he used it as his account username for a game called Starcraft, but he accidentally spelled it wrong by adding an extra "s".
When Roi's friends got older, they decided to stop participating in making videos, and only Alex was left with him. Filming became a hobby for them; they made lip-syncs, dance videos, and funny videos. When it was time for them to go to college for 10 months, they stopped making videos during that period. After, they decided to make new videos for the Wassabi comeback.
On April 7, 2012, Wassabi introduced two new characters: Rolanda and Richard, who both debuted in the "Call Me Maybe" Parody. The character, Rolanda, was inspired by when Roi was dressed as a girl at a Halloween Party in 8th grade, way back in middle school. From there on, their YouTube Channel gained over 8 million subscribers and 3 billion views. Roi and Alex, as Wassabi, traveled to Florida, Los Angeles, and all over the world, meeting fans, doing shows, and going on adventures. Roi and Alex decided to produce videos weekly and post them on Wassabi Wednesdays. Their objective is to make people laugh and inspire Wassabians.
They moved from North Carolina to Los Angeles, California for benefits as YouTubers, living together in a so-called haunted apartment with other YouTube friends: Kyle, YellowPaco, and Marlin. After a year, Roi decided that it was time to grow up individually, so they moved into separate houses, but they continued to make videos.
On January 27, 2016, Roi announced that he left Wassabi Productions to pursue his other passions, especially on his channel, Guava Juice. Rolanda, as Roi's dual character, also had to leave and go to Guatemala. As a result, Alex became the sole owner of Wassabi Productions, who later expanded it to include vlogs and challenge videos. Notably, Alex dropped the word "Productions" from the channel's name as he felt that it was more associated when he and Roi were still a duo. However, Roi later made guest appearances on the Wassabi channel while keeping his Guava Juice persona. In May 2023, they decided after a couple of months of discussion to start making videos together again, but under a new brand known as Spicy Fruit, a partnership of their respective brands, to which they posted food and challenge videos, as well as other variety videos.
On January 27, 2024, exactly eight years after he departed from Wassabi Productions, an announcement was made to the channel that Roi had officially returned, and the channel was rebranded back to Wassabi Productions. Meanwhile, Spicy Fruit was turned into a podcast.
On September 28, 2024, Roi and Alex announced on YouTube that they are splitting up again due to financial reasons, with Alex again taking sole ownership of the channel and bringing his vlogs back, and Roi returning to the Guava Juice channel full-time. However, they intend to continue the Spicy Fruit podcast. [1]
Members[]
Alex Burriss[]
Alexander "Alex" Burriss (born March 28, 1990) was born in Great Falls, Montana, but later moved to Durham, North Carolina, and started to make videos with Roi. He has two brothers: Aaron, his older brother, is known to have a YouTube channel formerly known as Lazyron Studios, and Andrew, his younger brother, also runs a YouTube channel as well. Alex is also a professional boxer.
Roi Fabito[]
Roi Fabito (born: August 21, 1991) is the creator of the channel. He was born in the Philippines and later moved to Durham, North Carolina. He made the channel two years before he met Alex. He has three siblings: two brothers, Russell and Reymound, and one sister, Ariel. Roi also has a channel by himself called Roi Wassabi (Now Guava Juice 2). It is about him exploring and he has daily vlogs. In 2016, Roi left the production in favor of starting up his channel Guava Juice. He will however make special appearances in videos every once in a while, as does Alex in Roi's channel. 7 years later, they decided to reunite and make videos together again under a new channel called Spicy Fruit, while still maintaining their channels. On January 27, 2024, Roi officially returned to Wassabi Productions. However, on September 28 of the same year, Roi announced his second departure from the channel due to financial challenges of running Wassabi Productions, and returned full-time to Guava Juice.
Boxing career[]
Alex Wassabi vs. Deji[]
Wassabi vs. Deji at The SSE Arena
On 5 January 2022, Alex announced that he will be making his boxing debut. It was confirmed that on 5 March, 2022.[2] On 14 January 2022, he announced that would be boxing against English YouTuber Deji in the main event of Showstar Boxing UK vs. USA boxing event at The SSE Arena, Wembley, London, England.[3] On the night of the event, Alex defeated Deji via split decision.[4]
Alex Wassabi vs. IDubbbz[]
Wassabi vs. IDubbbz at the Amalie Arena
On 24 January, 2023, it was announced that Alex will face American YouTuber IDubbbz in the main event of Creator Clash 2: Influencers Will Pay on 15 April, 2023 at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.[5] On the night of the event, Alex defeated IDubbbz via majority decision with the judges scoring it 38-38, 39-37 and 39-37 all in Wassabi favour. In his post-fight interview, Alex insisted that iDubbbz take on one last fight after losing his two efforts thus far.[6]
Wassabi LMAO (Alex Wassabi & NichLmao) vs. Los Pineda Coladas (Luis Alcaraz Pineda & BDave)[]
On September 17, 2023, Alex and Swedish YouTuber NichLmao known as "Wassabi LMAO" will face Mexican professional boxer Luis Alcaraz Pineda and American YouTuber BDave known as "Los Pineda Coladas" in a tag team match on the undercard of the MF & DAZN: X Series 10 – The Prime Card at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England on October 14, 2023.[7] The fight ended as a majority draw, with the judges scoring the fight 39-37, 37-39, 38-38.[8]
Trivia[]
- In contrast to the branding of the channel, Alex hates the sauce Wasabi.
- Alex broke up with his girlfriend LaurDIY, in early 2019.
- He has also dated Lexy Panterra.
References[]
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OMC9ScTtDg
- ↑ ALL IN
- ↑ Why Deji Will NEVER Beat Me
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/CYo6wyfNuJo/
- ↑ Creator Clash 2 releases stacked 12-bout fight card
- ↑ Creator Clash 2 results: Who won iDubbbz vs Alex Wassabi boxing fight
- ↑ https://twitter.com/MisfitsBoxing/status/1703472932431839614
- ↑ Prime Card Results: KSI vs. Fury