Go Fund Matt Yee! OY

Hi Friends. As uncomfortable as it makes me, I have a big favor to ask. I need your help as I fight Stage 4 liver cancer.

For 20 years, I traveled the world performing my Outrageous Adult Sing Along Shows on Royal Caribbean, Atlantis and Celebrity Cruises. I was famous for creating community, a space where strangers become friends, where we let down our guards to laugh, drink and sing along together with abandon, where JOY was the operative word & goal. The show was outrageous and adult. I’ll say no more.

In 2022, I was performing my shows to 2000 guests each night, making great money, and receiving standing ovations along with the orchestra. My schedule took me to Europe, Canada, Alaska, New England, the Caribbean, South America, and Ohio (yes, we even did a show in Marion, Ohio.) I ate awesome 5-star food (all free, but not fat-free), made lifelong friends with both crew & guests, & enjoyed visiting all the great ports of the world. What an awesome job! I was living my best life, truly.

Then one day, it all stopped. October 28 was my last show. The first week of November when I was supposed to be performing in Florida, I was diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer with a 7-inch tumor in my liver that had spread to my rib. Needless to say, this was a HUGE, life-changing, frightening surprise. Treatment had to begin immediately. I’ve undergone radiation. I receive immunotherapy every 3 weeks. I spend countless hours and days in doctors’ visits, getting poked, prodded, tested, scanned. Unfortunately, I developed unexpected, rare reactions to the immunotherapy and ended up in the ER, then spent 10 days in the hospital over New Year's. I lost 20 pounds in those 10 days, and bled profusely – to the point that I needed 6 infusions.

After consulting with my doctors and much soul-searching, I’ve realized my 20-year entertainment career is over. Returning to health and staying there is my new job. As a result, all my dates had to be canceled.

The pressure of living with stage IV cancer has been compounded by financial concerns. I no longer have the performing income I’ve relied on for 20 years. It is gone. In my business, when you don’t work, you don’t get paid. I’ve already had to dip $20,000 into savings and the journey is just beginning. That’s really scary.

What I have learned so far is that you have to face your fears head on, and solutions will present themselves. So, although I’m embarrassed to ask for help, my friends with cancer have all advised that we can’t do this alone. They emphasize that people want the opportunity to give back the good, the laughter, the joy that I have given others over my career.

The response has been astounding. When I came out publicly with my diagnosis, so many of you asked “what can I do to support you?” You wanted something very specific. Here’s my answer: I humbly ask you, please help. Please contribute what you can to my gofundme. THANK YOU!

Love,

Matt