Scary Mommy Founder Jill Smokler Dead at 48 After Glioblastoma Diagnosis

Scary Mommy founder and influencer Jill Smokler has died after a battle with brain cancer. She was 48.

"It's with broken hearts that we share that Jill passed away this morning, after a more than two-year fight with glioblastoma. She faced it the way she faced everything - funny, fierce and completely herself," her family said in a statement via Instagram on Monday, June 22. "She was so many things: a New York Times bestselling author, a founder, a truth-teller. But the thing she was proudest of, always, was being a mother - to Lily, Ben and Evan."

In 2008, Smokler wrote her first post on Scary Mommy, a site that quickly became a favorite amongst mothers and soon-to-be parents looking for content focused on parenthood, current events and pop culture.

She went on to release multiple books, including the 2012 best-seller Confessions of a Scary Mommy.

"She said the things mothers weren't supposed to say out loud, and because she said them first, millions of you finally felt allowed to say them too," her family shared in a statement. "If Scary Mommy gave you permission to laugh, to admit it was hard or to feel a little less alone - that was Jill. That was always Jill. If she meant something to you, we'd love to hear it. … Thank you for loving her, and for being part of the community she built."

In lieu of flowers, the family advised that donations in memory of Smokler can be made to The Brain Tumor Network.

The organization's mission is to provide free, individualized navigation to help patients and loved ones manage a primary brain tumor diagnosis, overcome treatment obstacles and facilitate access to quality healthcare.

In April 2024, Smokler first revealed she was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive, incurable form of brain cancer.

Since then, she has shared parts of her health journey on social media, including Threads. In one of her most recent posts, Smokler gave thanks to the healthcare workers who were assisting her during treatment.

"I could never in a million years be a nurse," she wrote via Threads in April. "But thank goodness there are people who are because they're heaven sent."

As Scary Mommy promises to continue its mission to share "parenting without the BS," the company is also honoring the founder who created something invaluable for many parents.

"We are all here because of Jill," Scary Mommy's official account read via Instagram on Monday. "Sending love to Jill's family today and every day."

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This story was originally published June 22, 2026 at 12:45 PM.