The skateboarding community is still processing the loss of Marc Johnson, a figure who shaped a lot of people’s relationship with skating through his style, videos, and long-standing influence.
His passing brought a lot of emotions online, with pro skaters, friends, and fans sharing memories and clips that go back years.
The Girl and Chocolate skate family were among those to share public tributes, posting messages that reflected on who Marc was off the board as much as what he did on it.
READ MORE: Mike Carroll, Girl & Chocolate Mourn the Passing of Skate Legend Marc Johnson
A lot of riders who grew up watching his parts also started sharing their own clips and stories, pointing out how much his approach to skating influenced them without needing to say much about it directly.
The Nine Club podcast also dedicated a stream to Marc, talking through memories and moments they had with him over the years.
During the livestream, donations were left active, which led to mixed reactions in the chat.
READ MORE: The Nine Club Pays Tribute to Marc Johnson, Donations On During Episode
Some viewers felt that accepting donations during a tribute stream didn’t sit right, especially given the tone of the discussion and the subject being honored.
Others pointed out that donations were likely not intended to take away from the tribute, and might still end up going toward supporting Marc’s family, including his son Avery, though no official confirmation was given on that.
Chris Roberts and the rest of the crew mentioned during the stream that people shouldn’t feel the need to donate, encouraging viewers to focus on remembering Marc instead.
Even with that said, the donation feature staying on became a talking point among some viewers, especially as clips of Marc’s skating were also adjusted in parts of the stream, including muted sections to avoid copyright issues.
YouTube creator Joa “Gifted Hater” Field also weighed in, pointing out the situation around the livestream setup.
READ MORE: Gifted Hater Slams The Nine Club for Turning Marc Johnson Memorial Into a Cash Grab Livestream
He questioned the decision to keep monetization tools active during a tribute-focused broadcast, especially when the intention was clearly to honor Marc.
He also noted the contrast between muting certain skate clips while still having donation options available.
Some viewers agreed with his take, saying a tribute stream would feel more consistent if it removed monetization entirely and just focused on celebrating Marc’s footage and memories as they were originally presented.
Others felt the situation was more complicated on the backend side of streaming, where settings and rights management can affect what can or can’t be played with original audio.
At the center of all of it is still Marc’s influence and the impact he had on people inside and outside of skating.
The conversation around how tributes are handled online just ended up becoming part of the wider discussion, even if the focus for most people remained on remembering his life and work.
Watch Gifted Hater's tribute to Marc below.