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Joshua Paul Block (born August 7, 2001), known online as World of T-Shirts, is an American social media personality and internet celebrity. He gained widespread recognition on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram for documenting his everyday activities throughout New York City, particularly around Times Square. Originally launching his online presence to promote a t-shirt business, Block quickly became popular for his distinctive dance routines, spontaneous singing, and candid interactions with fans and passersby. Despite being on the autism spectrum, Block's fans have encouraged potentially harmful behavior, such as frequent binge drinking and violent meltdowns, raising concerns about potential alcoholism and whether his audience is exploiting his condition for entertainment.

Early life

Joshua Paul Block was born on August 7, 2001, and spent his early years in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Block became interested in photography and videography when he was eight years old after his grandfather gave him a Nikon camera. In 2015, following his mother's death from cancer, Block moved to Patchogue, New York, where he was taken in by his grandfather, who became his legal guardian. Block attended Patchogue-Medford High School where he consistently earned honor roll recognition and graduated with a Regents diploma in 2021.

Career

Block's career as a social media personality began around 2018 where he started posting on TikTok to promote his t-shirt business, World of T-Shirts. Block gained prominence on TikTok with videos that captured his spontaneous adventures in New York City. The unpredictable and often unconventional nature of these adventures quickly attracted millions of followers to Block's accounts. Over time, Block expanded his content with him posting his photography to Instagram and showcasing his videography skills on TikTok.

Binge drinking content

Block's videos frequently feature him consuming alcohol in public spaces while often wearing his signature sea captain's hat. His drinking habits have been characterized as binge drinking, as his videos frequently show Block chugging vodka or Twisted Tea. His behavior while drunk is often erratic, with episodes of him passing out on the subway or waking up disoriented, unsure of where he is. Block's binge drinking behavior is closely monitored and even celebrated by a large subset of his audience, with many top-voted comments demanding Block to continue drinking like, "Josh, why is there not a drink in your hand? Fix it!"

Potential exploitation

Block's collaboration with convicted felon and former pimp Jason Itzler, who goes by Mr. Based on Kick, has raised concerns about him being enabled and exploited by other content creators for views. Fans have accused streamers like Mr. Based of profiting off of Block's public struggles, prompting debates about their true intentions. Despite assurances from Block that these interactions are genuine and not exploitative, questions linger about whether his well-being is being put at risk for entertainment and views.

Controversies

Block's rise in popularity has been accompanied by a number of controversies. Notable incidents include demanding $50 from fans for photos, stomping on a fish in a video that sparked backlash, and videos of Block yelling racial slurs while intoxicated.

References

1. "Happy Birthday @Joshua Block! #worldoftshirts". nyc_kb. August 7, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
2. ^ Grasso, Nicholas (December 31, 2021). "Meet Joshua Block, a recent Patchogue-Medford grad who attracts millions on TikTok". Greater Patchogue. Archived from the original on May 29, 2023. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
3. ^ Holmes, Helen (December 22, 2023). "The Voyeuristic Obsession With One Binge-Drinking TikToker". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on September 15, 2024. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
4. ^ "World Of T-Shirts / Joshua Block". Know Your Meme. n.d. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
5. Asarch, Steven (September 19, 2023). "An Honest Review of the WorldofTShirts Experience". passionfru.it. Fragment Media Group. Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved October 25, 2024.

• Living people
• American Internet celebrities
• People from Virginia Beach, Virginia
• People from Patchogue, New York
• Internet memes introduced in 2020
• 2001 births
• Autistic entertainers