YouTuber Billy LeBlanc has revealed that he has fulfilled one of his late partner’s wishes – months after he woke up in the hospital to learn she had tragically died.
Over the summer, 44-year-old LeBlanc took to Instagram to share the devastating news that his partner, Natalie Clark, had died after they both became seriously ill after eating raw oysters.
The social media star – who boasts hundreds of thousands of followers on YouTuber – informed his fans of the moment he learned Clark had died.
“I’m sure none of you know but I recently almost died. I was in the hospital for 12 days,” wrote in a heartbreaking post. “Unfortunately Natalie didn’t make it and she passed away. I will always remember how we got lost everywhere together.
“I will always love her and miss her. Be safe and hold your loved ones tight you, never know when it’ll be the last time you see them.”
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In a further comment, the grieving boyfriend explained: “We both got vibrio vulnificus from raw oysters.”
Vibrio vulnificus is a bacterium commonly found in warm seawater and brackish waters near river estuaries. It poses a significant health risk to humans primarily through the consumption of raw or undercooked seafood, especially oysters.
The bacterium can also enter the body through open wounds when exposed to contaminated water.
Now, roughly four months after Clark’s death, LeBlanc has revealed that he has fulfilled one of her wishes for him.
In a video post shared to YouTube, LeBlanc revealed that he had finally launched a podcast – something that he says Natalie had always wanted for him.
“One of the things that Natalie always wanted me to do… was to do a podcast,” he explained.
Elsewhere in the video, LeBlanc answered a list of questions that he’d unearthed in an old notebook of Natalie’s.
Questions included: “What made you attracted to me?’ and ‘Why don’t you make YouTube videos consistently?”
In response to the video, LeBlanc’s fans flooded him with comments of support. “Proud of you! Pushing through. God’s got you and all these people who love you,” one person wrote.
“Hoping you continue to heal Billy and hope you continue posting might be therapeutic and we are all here for your and love you,” another added.
Prior to her tragic death, Natalie was introduced to LeBlanc’s online fanbase back in 2020, as she started appearing in his videos and posts as his girlfriend.
Her 17-year-old son, Julian Clark, an aspiring actor, also creates content for his own YouTube channel.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Vibrio vulnificus infections can cause gastroenteritis (with symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain) in healthy individuals.
Cases with more severe infections can result in a high fever, chills, skin lesions, and can progress rapidly, potentially leading to limb amputations or even death. Approximately 20% of cases can be fatal, PEOPLE reports.
LeBlanc originally found social media stardom as a key figure in the Bratayleys, a well-known YouTube family that captured the hearts of many with their lively homelife videos. Their channel featured his ex-wife Katie LeBlanc and their children, Annie, Hayley, and Caleb, sharing snippets of their everyday adventures.
Following his split with Katie, he launched his own channel, Just Billy LeBlanc. He currently boasts 209,000 subscribers on the platform.
Our thoughts continue to go out to Clark’s family and loved ones at this time.
