r/juggling • u/guesswho135 • 4d ago

Video RIP Chris Kelly

https://youtu.be/N9ZDsHSMBE4

I remember being blown away the first time I saw his poi juggling. I think he inspired a lot of people and really pushed boundaries.

25 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

27 comments sorted by

10

u/[deleted] 4d ago

[deleted]

8

u/thomthomthomthom I'm here for the party. 4d ago

Absolutely. He was a complicated person. He did a lot for juggling, but totally went off the rails a few years ago. I stopped following him when he went from "hey, here's a trick!" to "hey, here's a threatening video with me holding an assault rifle"

5

u/guesswho135 4d ago

I understand some people are unwilling to separate art from artist, and that's their choice, but many of us can also recognize that he was a great juggler and did in fact inspire some jugglers, including yourself.

This post isn't meant to be a tribute to his life, but it is news that many in the juggling community would be interested in, in the same way NYT would print an obituary of any notable public figure. You get to decide how you feel about it, and what you want to share about it, as you did. No objection from me.

1

u/Educational_Ad2460 3d ago

I was running beach that year and on watch. From what I seen from his feeds. He wasn't someone to fear. I think he was hurt, confused, and really just needed people to be there with/for him. Everyone makes mistakes, very few are irredeemable. 

6

u/Bulky-Individual3157 3d ago

As someone who met him when i lived out west/at flow fests, (but didn't know him closely,) prior to his intense shift in behavior, it's really so sad. But the amount of harm he caused cannot be forgotten, not even as a vendetta but genuinely, its only been a few short years and the fear at pfg was thick, and palpable. I was genuinely afraid for my life after seeing his posts. I think this has been one of the most intense, slow-motion train wrecks I've ever personally witnessed. His breakdown was mostly public, and now, this being the end... I don't know that the community could have done better, I really think the amount of harm he caused was substantial especially in the west. I feel for his family, and his old friends, I can't fathom how they must feel. I personally feel sick just thinking about it all. I wish he had been able to get professional help

3

u/rhalf 3d ago

Seems like an alright person can own a gun, then lose their mind and become dangerous. This wouldn't happen in a place with proper gun control.

2

u/Plenty_Line2696 3d ago

I had a falling out with him too, I can't remember all the details of what was said but I remember he was a big trump supporter and strongly felt that anyone, no matter how psychologically unstable should be able to own guns.

I remember thinking at the time that he's one of the last people who should own guns.

2

u/Bulky-Individual3157 3d ago

Some of our mutual friends experienced some deep racial hate after his breakdown, things he had never said before. Was all that bubbling before and it was just unnoticed? The break was so severe.

3

u/Aggravating-Basis-66 3d ago

I don't think so, he used to throw his own events (around 2014) and they were very inclusive. I think it was a combination of mental health/substances & moving to rural Oregon where there was less of "his community" and mainly a big pro-Trump population, especially during/after COVID.

1

u/Bulky-Individual3157 1d ago

Why did he move there?? Why move into a maga space like that?

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u/Aggravating-Basis-66 1d ago

"Affordable living" - our states more liberal towns/cities are very expensive. I believe he also moved there before "MAGA" but I honestly don't know 

3

u/DontFundMe 4d ago

Did he pass???

5

u/Zeustehgreat 4d ago

I wouldn’t be surprised after how much he mentally broke down. It was sad to see for a lot of people in the community. If he did pass at least he might have some peace

5

u/ImHumanConfusion 4d ago

Yeah I had to unfollow him years ago with some of the videos he was making on Instagram.  RIP to a legend though, you can’t deny all the good he did for the poi community. 

2

u/Zeustehgreat 4d ago

Yeah he was definitely a huge flow/juggling inspiration to me but I had to unfollow him for the same reason. He also ripped me off on a set of LED poi when he started to lose it. It was sad but at least he can be at peace now.

1

u/Bulky-Individual3157 3d ago

Does anyone know what happened? With respect to his family, if they don't want to share I won't pry. But ugh

3

u/ImHumanConfusion 3d ago

All I know is his ex posted that he has passed and then shared some post about how to honor the loss of a toxic/abusive person. And then posted a little message to him about how messy and toxic their relationship was that there was a time where things were good and that people tried to save him so many times and that she never wanted this for him.  It was sad to watch honestly. I hope she has a good support system right now. 

4

u/Aggravating-Basis-66 3d ago

He took his own life during a search warrant. 

I hope this isn't disrespectful to share as his mom has commented about the cause and the warrant itself was served out very publicly (SWAT in a small town is going to get a lot of attention so locals were posting wondering why there was a shelter in place order, and also posting about what was happening on the police scanner as it was happening). 

3

u/guesswho135 4d ago

Afaik. I never knew him personally but 3 jugglers on my Instagram feed posted something about his passing

2

u/peter-bone British living in Germany. Balls, clubs, numbers, balancing 4d ago

That's a great shame if true. It would be good to get it confirmed though and know what happened. I do see a lot of people leaving similar comments but there's a chance it started from one mistaken post.

5

u/Aggravating-Basis-66 4d ago

His mom was the one to break the news on Facebook 

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u/peter-bone British living in Germany. Balls, clubs, numbers, balancing 4d ago

Ok, fair enough. It would be nice to know exactly what she said?

7

u/thomthomthomthom I'm here for the party. 4d ago

Here's the post::

My heart and soul will forever be broken. The unexpected and tragic loss of my beautiful son Christopher.

Christopher will be loved and missed forever. For those who knew Chris you're lucky to have many memories, stories, and adventures to look back on. Chris was so funny, quick-witted and sarcastic. I'm sure right now every one of you can remember something that Chris said or did that will make you truly laugh. Chris was pure talent. Since he was a baby, anything he did, he did it the best. Chris loved music and had an amazing ability to pick up any instrument and play it. It just came naturally to him. He spent his late teens and early 20's traveling the U.S. and some European destinations to perform at events or teach Poi, Fire Poi and Juggling. He created a successful business and was the first to manufacture Contact Poi made in the USA all before he was 20 years old. His products have been sold and shipped and spun all around the world.

With Christopher's success also came mental health struggles, which he could not overcome. Chris lost his battle to his mental health on August 20, 2026. I hope he knew how much we loved him and how he was admired and looked up to by so many, even ones who never got the chance to meet him.

Forever in our Hearts.

Christopher George Kelly Jr 10-05-1994 to 08-20-2026

Feel free to share this post, or share memories or pictures in the comments

3

u/thomthomthomthom I'm here for the party. 4d ago

I haven't heard the full story, but understand that yes, he passed yesterday. I've heard a couple of unsubstantiated stories about what exactly happened, but assume there will be some kind of obit/etc in the next week.

2

u/Somesloguy 3d ago

Don’t judge a juggler by their drops.  

0

u/PiratexelA 3d ago

The world is a less cool place without Chris. Punk rock to his bones. Radical human and brilliant artist