For initial context, and I know this is going to be a cringe way to start, but both me and my brother are social media content creators. Yes, I also have a “real job“ but I do the videos for fun on the side and as a side hustle.

Me and my brother make entirely different kinds of content. I make travel content, and he makes fitness content. I have been at it for years longer than he has, but he managed to get lucky on TikTok and blow up. He is absolutely huge now. I’m talking millions of followers . It’s his entire income and job now.

Of course, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a tad jealous, but that’s not what this is about. I don’t make content to get famous or rich, that would just be a cool bonus you know? I only mention that to make it clear that that’s not the driving force behind this.

This entire time I have been nothing but unequivocally supportive of my brother and his efforts. I have shared and promoted his merchandise, I have reposted his videos, I have steered people to his channel, I have contacted him almost daily to tell him how awesome he’s doing.

Also throughout this entire period, I have tried desperately to make content with my brother. We never bonded much growing up, but have become closer over time and I legitimately think it would be fulfilling and fun to make stuff with my brother you know? He’s family. Every time I ask him, I get blown off. Or just flat out ignored. It never really bothered me that much until recently for some reason. I had sent him a message about really, really truly wanting to make something with him because I think it would be awesome. Would the boost from his presence be cool? Of course it would. But wanting to be closer to my brother is the main driving force. If I was really that upset about him being bigger than me, then I wouldn’t go out of my way to promote him. You know? He literally completely ignored the message. This was two days ago.

Last night he sends a text to the family group chat about this big marathon style event he was doing this morning for his channel and how he wanted us all to be there to cheer him on. I have attended many of his events over the years, but something came over me and I just told him “you know what man? I’m good.”

“Huh?”

“I love you dude, and I hope you do well in your event. But I’m just gonna be real with you. I have supported and promoted you for years and at the same time you know that I have desperately tried over and over again to make stuff with you because we both make content and we are brothers and I think it would be awesome and every single time you blow me off. I will always support you, but I’m done going out of my way to do so. You’re asking me to get up at 5 AM and drive into the city to cheer you on in a race when I can barely even get you to respond to text messages or watch my content. I share yours all the time and when I ask you to share anything of mine, you ignore me. I don’t even think it’s personal, but respect is a two-way street. I’ve never asked you to make a video on your channel saying everybody go subscribe to my brother, he’s amazing. All I’ve ever wanted to do was make stuff with my brother. It’s pretty clear you have no interest in supporting my efforts, so I am done going out of my way to support yours. Again, I wish you luck, but I will not be attending.”

As of right now, the whole family says I’m being petty and mean, but I don’t feel like I am. I know it may seem stupid based on the context. It’s social media content, right? It’s nothing. But it goes deeper than that. Despite the context, it feels like my brother doesn’t want me to be associated with his image or something and it’s hurtful.

I’m not ANGRY at him. I’m just hurt that my brother seems to want nothing to do with what I do and expects me to always be there for what he does. I’m just over it. It feels disrespectful at this point.

AITA?