Jo Beckwith

Jo Beckwith
Beckwith in 2024
Born
Jordan Beckwith
OccupationYouTuber
YouTube information
Channel
Years active2018–present
Subscribers1.06 million
Views653 million
Last updated: December 19, 2025
Websitewww.footlessjo.com

Jordan 'Jo' Beckwith is an American YouTuber and activist also known as Footless Jo. She is a below-knee amputee whose content focuses on disability and mental health awareness.

Early life

When she was 13, Beckwith fell off a horse while riding in Colorado Springs, fracturing her ankle. She subsequently underwent many surgeries, but continued to experience chronic pain and limited functionality.[1]

Career

Beckwith began her YouTube channel, Footless Jo, during her recovery from amputation in 2018.[2] In 2019, the channel became more prominent following a video she released titled, "How I Said Goodbye to My Ankle". That video went viral and garnered over 8 million views.[1] Footless Jo focuses on amputation, disability, and mental health. Beckwith's second channel, Trauma Talk, which she stopped posting to in 2021,[3] explored living in the aftermath of trauma.

In 2021, Beckwith partnered with Shades for Migraine in a media campaign to raise awareness about migraines.[4] She has said her migraines, which began in her 20s, are more debilitating and difficult than being an amputee.[5] Beckwith appeared in a 2024 commercial for the migraine medication Nurtec ODT, which also featured Lady Gaga.[6]

As of May 2024, Footless Jo has 1.01 million subscribers. Beckwith also has 118,000 followers on Instagram and 744,200 followers on TikTok.[1]

Personal life

Beckwith lives in Colorado.[7] In 2018, at age 27, Beckwith began considering amputation after being told that an ankle replacement, the other treatment option, would only delay amputation for another 1.5–5 years.[8] She underwent a below-knee amputation on October 11, 2018, at the University of Colorado Hospital in Denver.[9][7]

On August 27, 2015, Beckwith married Brian Thomas.[10] The two divorced in 2022.[11]

Beckwith is a stroke survivor. She experienced a cerebellar occipital stroke on January 28, 2024, while practicing jiu-jitsu.[12]

Beckwith spent several years as a follower of Charismatic Christianity and was a devout conservative Christian until early adulthood. She has since used her online platform to criticize the movement's faith-healing doctrine and no longer subscribes to this belief or belongs to a specific religious denomination.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b c Hancock, Amanda (August 5, 2021). "Colorado Springs woman known as 'Footless Jo' shares her journey of life after amputation". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  2. ^ Hein, Alexandria (February 14, 2019). "Colorado woman pens 'breakup' note on foot before amputation". Fox News. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  3. ^ Trauma Talk (May 25, 2021). "I'm Closing This Chapter - Thank You Forever 💜 (not clickbait)". YouTube. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  4. ^ Association of Migraine Disorders (May 25, 2021). "Shades for Migraine Partners with Rising Influencers to Empower People with Migraine". Yahoo Finance. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  5. ^ Knott, Kylie (June 18, 2021). "Living with migraines: women change diet, schedule to cope with attacks". South China Morning Post. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  6. ^ Nurtec TV Spot, 'Lady Gaga's Journey: The Next Chapter' Featuring Lady Gaga. April 8, 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2025 – via www.ispot.tv.
  7. ^ a b Walters, Isolde (February 14, 2019). "Woman writes 'break up' note on foot before amputation". New York Post. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  8. ^ Footless Jo (July 12, 2020). "My Amputation Accident: Horseback Riding Fall That Cost Me My Leg..." YouTube. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  9. ^ Oliveri, Natalie (2019). "'Why I decided to amputate my foot': 'Footless Jo's' brave leap of faith". honey.nine.com.au. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  10. ^ Beckwith, Jo (August 27, 2020). "*Sappy Post Ahead*". Instagram. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  11. ^ Footless Jo (May 2022). "why I disappeared for two months [CC]". YouTube. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  12. ^ Footless Jo (March 1, 2024). "I had a stroke - minutes after I hit 1 millions subscribers". Youtube. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  13. ^ Footless Jo (November 14, 2023). Unveiling the dark underbelly of faith healing: its my fault I lost my leg. Retrieved August 15, 2025 – via YouTube.