Autism

Among a multitude of other mental issues, Joshua Block, known as World of T-Shirts, has autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD). His autism manifests through frequent stimming behaviors, such as hand biting, repetitive phrases, and physical gestures, often triggered by stress. Additionally, Josh exhibits hyperfixations on luxury, travel, transit systems, lawsuits, and feeding chicken to chickens, which dominate his attention and content creation.

Diagnosis and Background

Joshua Block's autism was confirmed by his grandfather in an interview, noting that Josh was initially placed in a restrictive school track due to his condition but later excelled in standard classes, achieving honor roll status. As a TikTok influencer with nearly 4 million followers, his autism influences his public behavior, often seen in his comedy videos, live streams, and vlogs centered around New York City.

Stimming

Stimming, or self-stimulatory behavior, involves repetitive movements or sounds used by individuals with autism to self-regulate or express emotions. Josh's stimming behaviors include:

• Hand Biting and Chewing: Frequently observed under stress, such as on July 27, 2024, when he chewed his hand before a physical altercation, and on September 17, 2024, during a violent outburst involving kicking people and damaging a car.
• Repetitive Phrases: (Main article: Catchphrases) Josh compulsively repeats phrases like "Put the fries in the bag", which can trigger aggressive reactions when echoed by others, as seen in incidents on September 9, 2024, and August 23, 2024.
• Emoting and Physical Gestures: Described as exaggerated movements, Josh "emotes" during confrontations, such as stomping and gesturing on October 19, 2023, after a public dispute, or performing a "Leprechaun shin kick" on March 17, 2024.

These behaviors often escalate in high-stress situations, contributing to his documented public outbursts.

Hyperfixations

Hyperfixations are intense, prolonged interests common in autistic individuals, often dominating their focus. Josh's identified hyperfixations include:

• Luxury: His LinkedIn profile highlights an interest in "All Things Luxury," suggesting a fascination with luxury items or lifestyles.
• Travel: Josh frequently creates content in various locations, such as New York City and Japan, with a notable breakdown in Japan on February 15, 2025, indicating a strong interest in exploring new places.
• Transit Systems: Josh regularly posts selfies of him at the Hoyt-Schermerhorn St. subway station, known as "Ahoyts". His fixation on transit systems is also inferred from his frequent use and mention of public transportation in videos like the Amtrak Train Video, and from subway surfing incidents leading to an arrest on January 31, 2024.
• Lawsuits: Josh has expressed intentions to sue individuals, as noted on his website, where he discusses legal action to cover bills after an arrest, suggesting a fixation on legal matters.
• Feeding Chicken to Chickens: A short-lived but specific interest where Josh purchased cooked chicken to feed to live chickens on farms, indicating an unusual obsession.

These hyperfixations shape his content and public interactions, often intertwining with his stimming behaviors during live streams or public appearances.

Impact and Context

Josh's autism contributes to his unique online presence but also complicates his public interactions, leading to incidents of violence, discrimination, and legal issues. His stimming and hyperfixations, while characteristic of ASD, are often amplified by stress, intoxication, or external influences, as seen in his documented behavior. Understanding these traits provides insight into his actions and challenges as a public figure.