How New York Times Best Seller (and Youtube Star) Joey Graceffa Overcame His Learning Disability

Joey Graceffa has amassed over 1 billion video views on his YouTube channel and over 7 millions subscribers; he's been lauded as one of the most influential stars of the digital age. Joey's exuberant, boy-next-door personality is what makes his fans feel like they know him — and they feel that nothing is off limits when it comes to Joey's personal life. Joey isn't one to hide things from his fans, either.

Joey recently confirmed his sexuality in his book In Real Life: My Journey to a Pixelated World in 2015 and his relationship with partner Daniel Christopher this year. And five years ago, he revealed that he dealt with a learning disability as a child. "A lot of people don't know this about me, but I had a learning disability," Joey said. "I first noticed when I was separated in school from most kids. I was put in a class with other kids that had more visible learning disabilities. I eventually learned I was in Special Education, SPED for short. I hated that word."

Joey grew up going to special education classes due to the disability and said it was a result of lead poisoning as a child. He was eventually able to not only get out of special education classes but says he graduated with honors. He is now the author of two books: one being his autobiography, the other Children of Eden, which was released last month and is already a New York Times Bestseller.

"It took me a long time to find confidence and not feel like I was defined by this learning disability," Joey said. Check out the full episode of Pretty Unfiltered to hear more about what Joey had to say, and let us know your favorite moment in the comments below.

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