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Nicholas Safier says sharing real moments with his brother Gabriel has helped others feel “less alone” and brought more kindness online
When Nicholas Safier walked through the door of his Brooklyn apartment after a weekend away, he knew he was stepping into a meaningful moment — though he didn’t realize just how deeply it would resonate with others.
The actor, writer and creator, 30, had just returned from a trip when his family told him his younger brother Gabriel, 23, didn’t yet know he was home. At the time, Gabriel was in Nicholas’ room, going through a familiar nightly ritual — borrowing one of his sweatshirts to wear to bed, something Nicholas says he does every night.
Seeing the opportunity unfold in real time, Nicholas decided to surprise him.
“So I thought it was a great opportunity to get an authentic and heartfelt reaction from Gabe to me coming home by surprising him,” Nicholas tells PEOPLE exclusively.
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That kind of unscripted moment, he explains, is exactly what he and his family try to preserve when sharing their lives online — especially when Gabriel is involved.
He says Gabriel “only knows how to be authentic and 100% himself,” which is why sharing those interactions feels so meaningful — allowing others to see “how absolutely gentle, compassionate and loving he is, in a way that I feel is unparalleled.”
“There really is nothing quite like those gentle hugs or kisses on the nose that Gabe gives,” he adds.
For Nicholas — who has built a global audience of more than 13 million followers — sharing those glimpses of their relationship has become one of the most meaningful parts of what he does.
“There’s something immensely powerful to me, and a beautiful thing that does come with social media,” he says.
He often thinks about the strangers who may come across those videos — people from anywhere in the world, some of whom may have never met someone like his brother, or who simply need a small moment of comfort at the end of the day.
“I love that they feel like they are a part of the family,” he says. “Or feel like they want to have a brother or someone in their life like Gabe, and feel less alone and more kind and loved. That’s an immeasurable beauty that comes with all of this.”
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At the heart of it all is the bond between the two brothers — one Nicholas describes as naturally close, playful and grounding. He says what people see online is simply a reflection of how they’ve always been together.
“My relationship with Gabe has always been incredibly close,” he says. “I would say our relationship is whimsical, always fun and I feel like I’m like a big teddy bear to Gabe. He feels safe when I’m close, and I’m also quite protective of him.”
Creating content together, he adds, has only strengthened that connection.
“Getting to do this with my brother, and with my family, is just the greatest gift,” he says.
Growing up with Gabriel also shaped the entire family’s perspective, Nicholas explains — bringing them closer and teaching them to lead with patience, empathy and compassion. He describes those qualities as “superpowers that Gabe just has naturally,” adding that they’ve “rubbed off on the whole family.”
Those lessons, he says, are often most present in the quieter, everyday moments — especially at night.
One of his favorite routines is coming home to find Gabriel waiting on the couch, ready for what he calls “five minutes” — their nightly tradition of watching TV together before bed. It’s a small ritual, but one that Nicholas says grounds him.
“Sometimes I can get overwhelmed,” he says, “and knowing that I come home and see Gabe waiting on the couch for me… this is what grounds me and brings me back to earth.”
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That sense of grounding became especially clear during a recent moment that stayed with him.
“A few weeks ago I was stressing about turning 30,” he recalls. “Gabriel has a natural intuition for how people are feeling.”
Sensing something was wrong, his brother simply told him, “come here brother,” before pulling him in, placing his head on his shoulder and gently patting it.
“And that’s Gabe in a nutshell,” Nicholas says. “He knows how to make a person remember what’s most important. Sometimes all you need is a pat on the head and to know that everything’s okay.”
In sharing moments like these, Nicholas says he’s seen how deeply they resonate — particularly with families who see their own loved ones reflected in Gabriel.
“The reaction… has been amazing because it’s so authentic and just completely real and heartfelt,” he says.
He adds that messages from families with loved ones who have special needs have been especially meaningful, as many express how important it is to see experiences like theirs reflected more widely.
“I saw a comment the other day that said, ‘I feel like I just watched the sun rise. We need more of this in the world. More hope.’ That stuck with me,” he says.
That idea — hope — has become central to what Nicholas calls the “Safier Universe,” the online world he and his family have built together over the past six years.
“I hope people feel hope and love,” he says. “I hope they feel what I lead as the message and mission for my platforms — spreading love across the universe.”
Now, Nicholas says, that journey is expanding beyond social media and into film.
An NYU Tisch Drama graduate whose credits include the award-winning short The Edge of Water and the upcoming film Wish Watch, he is currently developing a feature film inspired by his relationship with Gabriel.
“My goal has always been to make movies and build an acting career in film,” he says, explaining that everything he and his family have built online — along with the support they’ve received — led him to write what he calls “the only story I could,” one rooted in their relationship. The project, he says, aims to break new ground.
“It will be the first thriller in cinematic history to star an actor with Down syndrome,” Nicholas says.
“I want to be an ambassador alongside my brother and always advocate for this community, especially through inclusive stories in media,” he adds. “I’m so excited for what’s around the corner… the best is yet to come.”
