TikTok star Uncle Chris, 26, who suffered manic episode triggered by watching The Sound of Freedom reveals TRUTH behind his breakdown - which came after split from his wife and five-day casino bender that lost him tens of thousands of dollars
- Chris Rooney, 26, from Virginia, spent 17 days at a treatment facility in July
- The star, known as TheYeetBaby, has spoken out about what lead to his stay
- He said he destroyed all the contents in his home and blew thousands of dollars
A TikTok star who vanished after suffering from a 'manic' episode trigged by the controversial movie The Sound of Freedom has opened up about what lead to his breakdown - and happened after he checked himself into a mental health facility.
Chris Rooney, 26, from Fredericksburg, Virginia, earned viral fame back in 2020, after he started sharing adorable videos of himself attempting to teach his now-four-year-old niece, Marleigh, and now-two-year-old nephew, Jack, how to pour a drink under the username TheYeetBaby.
Clips of the youngsters accidentally spilling various liquids as a stressed out Chris watched on left millions around the globe in hysterics, and turned the three of them into internet sensations.
However, back in July that online fame took a sinister turn when many of the social media star's avid fans voiced concern for his wellbeing after his family reported him missing - before revealing days later that he was receiving professional treatment after he became 'sick to his core' over the controversial child trafficking movie Sound of Freedom.
![Popular TikTok star known as YeetBaby, who vanished after suffering from a 'manic' episode- and happened after he checked himself into a mental health facility .](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/23/16/74172207-12662181-The_popular_TikTok_star_known_as_Yeet_Baby_is_back_home_followin-a-7_1698073318057.jpg)
TikTok star known as YeetBaby, who suffered from a 'manic' episode trigged by the controversial movie Sound of Freedom in July, opened up about what lead to his breakdown
![The star, whose real name is Chris Rooney, 26, from Virginia, made headlines when it was revealed that he had checked himself into a mental health facility after seeing the film](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/23/16/74170435-12662181-Chris_Rooney_26_from_Fredericksburg_Virginia_checked_himself_int-a-8_1698073384239.jpg)
The star, whose real name is Chris Rooney, 26, from Virginia, made headlines when it was revealed that he had checked himself into a mental health facility after seeing the film
![Now, he has has spoken out about how the movie lead to him 'destroying all the contents in his home,' losing tens of thousands of dollars, and 'begging for help'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/23/16/76893087-12662181-Now_he_has_has_spoken_out_about_how_seeing_the_movie_resulted_in-m-10_1698073466537.jpg)
Now, he has has spoken out about how the movie lead to him 'destroying all the contents in his home,' losing tens of thousands of dollars, and 'begging for help'
![In a new video shared to his TikTok account last week, Chris explained that his problems began after he and his then-wife, Emily Rooney (seen with him, his niece, and his nephew in an old video), suffered from two miscarriages and decided to end their marriage](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/23/16/74172545-12662181-In_a_now_deleted_video_shared_to_TikTok_last_month_Chris_reveale-a-13_1698073501560.jpg)
In a new video shared to his TikTok account last week, Chris explained that his problems began after he and his then-wife, Emily Rooney (seen with him, his niece, and his nephew in an old video), suffered from two miscarriages and decided to end their marriage
Now, Chris has spoken out about how seeing the movie resulted in him 'destroying all the contents in his home,' losing tens of thousands of dollars, and eventually 'begging for help,' before going to a hospital.
In a new video shared to his TikTok account last week, he explained that his problems began after he and his then-wife, Emily Rooney, suffered from two miscarriages, decided to end their marriage, and put their home up for sale.
While they were in the process of selling their abode, Chris said he decided to go stay at the MGM hotel and casino in Maryland, where he started partying a lot - and losing tons of money.
'I stayed five nights, every day the house was shown,' he explained. 'And I went absolutely ham.
'Any time I would win money at the casino I would end up giving it to my new friend of the night, or the waitress, or the dealer.
'I'm over generous when I'm intoxicated, I always have been. I was manic then, I'm on a high. I'm going insane.'
Chris recalled feeling 'euphoric' and 'on top of the world,' despite the fact that his marriage was falling apart.
After checking out of the hotel, he said he wanted to 'keep the feeling going,' so he started going on huge shopping sprees.
He admitted to spending thousands of dollars at the retail stores Cabela's and Dick's Sporting Goods.
![While they were in the process of selling their home, Chris said he decided to go stay at the MGM hotel and casino, where he started partying a lot - and losing tons of money](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/23/16/76893107-12662181-While_they_were_in_the_process_of_selling_their_abode_Chris_said-m-19_1698073553031.jpg)
While they were in the process of selling their home, Chris said he decided to go stay at the MGM hotel and casino, where he started partying a lot - and losing tons of money
![Chris recalled feeling 'euphoric' and 'on top of the world,' despite the fact that his marriage was falling apart](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/23/16/76893091-12662181-image-a-23_1698073600072.jpg)
![Chris recalled feeling 'euphoric' and 'on top of the world,' despite the fact that his marriage was falling apart](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/23/16/76893079-12662181-image-m-22_1698073592947.jpg)
Chris recalled feeling 'euphoric' and 'on top of the world,' despite the fact that his marriage was falling apart
![Then, when he came across the movie Sound of Freedom, it had a huge impact on him. Chris said: 'It got to me so much it made me cry, it made me angry'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/23/16/74170431-12662181-They_said_that_the_last_six_months_had_been_difficult_for_Chris_-a-25_1698073618659.jpg)
Then, when he came across the movie Sound of Freedom, it had a huge impact on him. Chris said: 'It got to me so much it made me cry, it made me angry'
He also recalled going to Walmart and buying strangers things like Xboxes, laptops, and new phones - hoping that the acts of kindness would make him feel better.
Then, when he came across the movie Sound of Freedom, it had a huge impact on him.
The faith-based thriller, which stars Jim Caviezel and Mira Sorvino, tells the harrowing true story of a former government agent named Tim Ballard, who quit his job to embark on a dangerous mission to rescue a group of kids who are being held captive by child traffickers in Columbia.
![The faith-based thriller, which stars Jim Caviezel and Mira Sorvino , tells the harrowing true story of a former government agent named Tim Ballard (seen), who quit his job to embark on a dangerous mission to rescue a group of kids who are being held captive by child traffickers in Columbia](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/23/16/73046175-12662181-The_thriller_tells_the_harrowing_true_story_of_a_former_governme-a-27_1698073645270.jpg)
The faith-based thriller, which stars Jim Caviezel and Mira Sorvino , tells the harrowing true story of a former government agent named Tim Ballard (seen), who quit his job to embark on a dangerous mission to rescue a group of kids who are being held captive by child traffickers in Columbia
'One night, I couldn't sleep so I went to see Sound of Freedom and it got to me so much it made me cry, it made me angry,' Chris continued.
'I ended up applying to every branch of the military that you can. I was talking to recruiters.
'I then proceeded to destroy all the contents in my home: lamps, pictures, TVs. I was like, "Screw earth-ly belongings." I just wanted to help these causes.
'I donated all my savings to these funds that are against sex trafficking. I ended up donating $20,000 total.'
On the night he went missing, he said he got into his car, 'started driving' extremely fast, and began throwing things like his phone and laptop out the window.
'All that stuff I bought [over the last few days], they were all in the car. I took shoes and threw those out the window,' he revealed.
'I threw a $1,500 MacBook out the window while driving. No cars were around but it was still unsafe.
!['I proceeded to destroy all the contents in my home. I was like, "Screw earth-ly belongings,"' Chris continued. 'I donated all my savings to these funds that are against sex trafficking'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/23/16/76893097-12662181-_I_proceeded_to_destroy_all_the_contents_in_my_home_I_was_like_S-m-29_1698073693733.jpg)
'I proceeded to destroy all the contents in my home. I was like, "Screw earth-ly belongings,"' Chris continued. 'I donated all my savings to these funds that are against sex trafficking'
![On the night he went missing, Chris (seen with his niece and nephew) said he got into his car, 'started driving' extremely fast, and throwing things like his phone and laptop out the window](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/23/16/74172201-12662181-He_earned_viral_fame_back_in_2020_after_he_started_sharing_adora-a-31_1698073719454.jpg)
On the night he went missing, Chris (seen with his niece and nephew) said he got into his car, 'started driving' extremely fast, and throwing things like his phone and laptop out the window
![He was then brought to a mental facility, where he was told he was bipolar. But the TikToker described the institution as 'worse than jail'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/23/16/76893115-12662181-He_was_then_brought_to_a_mental_facility_where_he_was_told_he_wa-a-38_1698073820649.jpg)
![He was then brought to a mental facility, where he was told he was bipolar. But the TikToker described the institution as 'worse than jail'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/23/16/76893113-12662181-He_was_then_brought_to_a_mental_facility_where_he_was_told_he_wa-m-37_1698073816961.jpg)
He was then brought to a mental facility, where he was told he was bipolar. But the TikToker described the institution as 'worse than jail'
'I was driving 100 mph. I was breaking all the laws, driving by cops, throwing stuff out the window. I threw hundred dollar bills out of the window.
'Somehow I didn't get arrested, I was practically begging to be arrested, I wanted help.'
Eventually, Chris said he asked someone to bring him to a hospital because he 'didn't feel safe,' where he was 'locked to a bed for six hours.'
He was then brought to a mental facility, and was told that he was bipolar. But the TikToker described the institution as 'worse than jail.'
He claimed that some of his 'basic needs weren't met there' and that he was often deprived of 'water.'
'The place we were sleeping, the room had mold,' he added. 'I had a headache the whole time. The lights were super bright.'
He also said he only talked to a psychiatrist once a day 'for two minutes,' and that he 'rarely got into the specifics of why he was there' or 'discussed his problems.'
Instead, he said they 'loaded him up with a bunch of medicine,' which once lead to him 'passing out' on the 'cafeteria floor' for 'hours.'
'You're on and off all these different medications,' he recalled. 'You eat your three meals, you get to watch some TV, you basically do a lot of sitting and ruminating of your own thoughts.'
Chris stayed for a total of 17 days before heading home, and he admitted that he's still struggling with 'manic episodes.'
He recalled going out to party soon after he was released, where he met a 'group of strangers' and invited them to stay at the Airbnb he was renting.
![Chris stayed for a total of 17 days before heading home, and he admitted that he's still struggling with 'manic episodes.' He's seen with his niece](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/23/16/74172247-12662181-Earlier_this_month_many_of_the_social_media_star_s_avid_fans_wer-a-39_1698073830547.jpg)
Chris stayed for a total of 17 days before heading home, and he admitted that he's still struggling with 'manic episodes.' He's seen with his niece
![He said he still plans to continue his TikTok account, but admitted that you may see a change in his content](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/23/16/74172017-12662181-Clips_of_the_youngsters_accidentally_spilling_various_liquids_as-a-40_1698073856293.jpg)
He said he still plans to continue his TikTok account, but admitted that you may see a change in his content
'One of them, named Tyler, was fresh out of jail. He asked to borrow my car and I was like, "Sure just have it back by this time,"' he revealed.
'He does not come back, he won't answer the phone. He actually played bumper cars with my car and caused roughly $3,000 - 4,000 worth of damage on it.
'He destroyed the whole right side of my vehicle. Not cool. He [broke two] of my tires.'
![Chris' family added that while they're 'sure' his fans 'still have a lot of questions,' they will let the TikTok star 'answer them once he is healthy and ready to share his experiences'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/23/16/74171995-12662181-Chris_family_added_that_while_they_re_sure_his_fans_still_have_a-a-42_1698074128391.jpg)
'I still want to keep going on with our Yeet Baby page and everything,' he shared. 'But now I see that my posts can help people if their family members or they are going through something themselves'
In the end, Chris said he doesn't go out alone anymore.
He added that he hoped that being honest about what he went through will help other people who may be struggling.
'If you or anyone you know have concerns about how you're feeling, please reach out to somebody, a hotline, a friend,' he concluded.
While discussing it further with NBC, the influencer revealed that he recently started an intensive outpatient program and is working on 'getting his stuff together.'
He told the outlet that he still plans to continue his TikTok account, but admitted that you may see a change in his content.
'I still want to keep going on with our Yeet Baby page and everything,' he shared. 'But now I see that my posts can help people if their family members or they are going through something themselves.
'I definitely want to continue on this road and spread awareness and help in any way I can in the mental health world.
'There’s so many options of what I can do moving forward and that’s a freeing feeling.
'It’s a little scary, because I gotta figure what I want to do out … I just feel like I can be more of myself.'