If you’ve spent any time in the "lifestyle" corner of YouTube over the last few years, you probably know Michel Janse. She’s the bubbly, organized, and remarkably resilient creator who built a massive following sharing her life in California and later her return to Texas. But for a long time, there was a massive elephant in the room. Or rather, a ghost in her older videos.
That ghost is Brook Smith, the Michel Janse ex husband who was a fixture in her content until their world blew up in late 2021.
Most people saw a happy, young Christian couple. The reality? It was a mess of secrets, legal issues, and what Michel later described as profound emotional distress. Honestly, it's a story that serves as a cautionary tale about moving too fast and the pressure of maintaining a "perfect" online image when the foundation is crumbling.
The Relationship Timeline: From Pasadena to the End
Michel met Brook when she was just 19. They were married by the time she was 21, in February 2019. At the time, she was living in Pasadena, trying to make it as an actress and slowly finding her footing on YouTube. Brook was often in the background—sometimes surly, sometimes dismissive, but Michel always painted him as the "sweet" husband in her vlogs.
The cracks started appearing publicly in late 2021. Michel took a sudden break from the internet, citing a mental health crisis. When she came back, the news hit: they were getting a divorce.
The split wasn't mutual. In her later "story of my divorce" videos, Michel admitted she actually wanted to stay and make it work, but Brook was the one who pushed for the final exit. They separated in September 2021, she moved back to Boerne, Texas, and the divorce was officially finalized in May 2022.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Scandal
When the divorce news broke, the internet did what it does best: it started digging. And what people found was shocking.
It turned out that Brook Smith was a Registered Sex Offender (RSO).
This is where the narrative gets complicated. Many viewers accused Michel of knowing and hiding it to protect her "wholesome" brand. Michel eventually addressed this, admitting she knew he had a past and was on the registry, but claimed she was "naive" to the full extent of the details. She said she believed his version of the story—that it was a misunderstanding or a one-time mistake—rather than looking into the public records herself.
Beyond the legal history, there were layers of personal betrayal:
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- Infidelity: Michel revealed that Brook had been unfaithful multiple times throughout the marriage.
- Emotional Neglect: She described him as being unable or unwilling to support her during her darkest moments, specifically during the mental health breakdown that led to her fleeing back to Texas.
- The "Act": For years, Michel "faked it till she made it," portraying a happy marriage while her family allegedly disliked him from the start.
It’s a heavy lesson in how "toxic positivity" can trap someone in a situation that is actually dangerous to their well-being.
Why the Divorce Still Matters Today
You might wonder why people are still talking about this since Michel has since remarried musician Jordy Searcy.
Basically, it's because the "trauma tour"—as some critics call it—continued for a long time in her content. Michel was very open about her healing journey, but she also faced criticism for "milking" the divorce for views. Some felt she was too quick to jump into a new relationship (meeting Jordy just months after her divorce was finalized) without fully processing what happened with Brook.
There's also the debate about accountability. Michel often frames herself as the victim of deception, which she certainly was in many ways. However, some of her audience felt she brushed over the gravity of Brook’s past offenses to focus on how his actions affected her brand and her feelings.
Moving Forward: Actionable Insights from Michel’s Experience
If you’re following this story because you’re going through something similar, or just trying to navigate the messy world of adult relationships, there are some real takeaways here.
1. Don't Ignore the "Small" Red Flags Michel often mentioned how Brook was dismissive or "moody" in early vlogs. We tend to excuse these as personality quirks, but they are often symptoms of deeper compatibility or character issues.
2. Verify, Don't Just Trust It sounds cynical, but if someone has a legal history or a "complicated" past, look it up. Don't just take their word for it. Public records exist for a reason.
3. The Pressure of "The Brand" If you feel like you can't be honest about your struggles because of how it will look to your friends, family, or followers, you're in a dangerous spot. Authenticity is safer than a perfect lie.
4. Therapy is Non-Negotiable Michel credited therapy for helping her survive the fallout. If you've been in a relationship involving infidelity or emotional abuse, professional help isn't just a "good idea"—it's a requirement for moving on without carrying that baggage into the next house.
Michel Janse has moved on. She’s in a new marriage and a new city. But the saga of her ex-husband remains a permanent part of her digital footprint, reminding everyone that what we see on a 15-minute vlog is rarely the whole truth.
Next Steps for You: If you’re interested in the nuances of how creators handle public breakups, you might want to look into the "De-influencing" trend where influencers are becoming more transparent about their failures. You can also research Megan's Law to understand how public registries work in the U.S. if you're ever in a situation where you need to verify someone's background.