Breaking Down the Controversy Surrounding YouTuber Cody Ko

As a woman who has followed the drama surrounding Cody Ko and Tana Mongeau’s past, I can’t help but feel deeply troubled by the recent revelations about their relationship. I have always believed in speaking out against injustice and supporting those who bravely come forward with their stories.

I’m a devoted follower of Cody Ko, the renowned YouTuber who boasts over nine million subscribers spread across five channels. Recently, things have taken an unpleasant turn for him as Tana Mongeau, another YouTube sensation, accused him of having a sexual relationship when she was only 17 and he was 25. This allegation has sparked an ongoing controversy in the YouTube community.

As a cinephile, I’d put it this way: I, Mongeau, aged 26, brought up some serious claims back in May during an episode of my podcast “Cancelled,” which I host alongside Brooke Schofield. During the live recording, I revealed that I had slept with Ko when I was just 17 years old, in response to a query from one of our audience members.

“Gosh, please don’t look at me,” she admitted on stage during a recording of the show, which was later shared online. “I can make that statement. I was just seventeen at the time.”

Mongeau’s remark gained traction on social media and was featured in outlets like Rolling Stone, but largely went unnoticed by the general public. In July, though, YouTuber D’Angelo Wallace brought more light to the matter with a viral video titled “An Uncomfortable Conversation About Cody Ko” on his drama channel. With over two million views in just a few days, Wallace urged viewers to give Mongeau’s allegation the attention it deserved and not let it be a secret kept hidden.

Unpacking Tana Mongeau’s allegation against Cody Ko

Mongeau became well-known on the internet through her “storytime” videos, where she shared intricate tales with her viewers, and has a past of creating content that sparked controversy with other influencers. In 2018, Mongeau tried to organize a rival event to VidCon, which she named TanaCon. However, the convention turned out to be a disaster due to lack of preparation and misjudging the number of attendees. According to New York Magazine, the venue that was rented could only accommodate 5,000 people, but an estimated 20,000 people showed up and endured long hours in scorching California heat waiting to register. Sadly, some were ultimately unable to enter when the event was shut down.

Mongeau shifted gears and started the “Cancelled” podcast in collaboration with Schofield. In this podcast, they express their views on creator controversies, engage in conversations with other popular internet figures, and occasionally address influencers when they deem it appropriate. Lately, Schofield has utilized the platform to publicly criticize her ex-boyfriend, Clinton Kane, and her former friend, radio personality Zach Sang.

Mongeau addressed the allegation after the live event on a June episode of Cancelled.

She shared, “This isn’t just a trivial anecdote. When I was seventeen, I met Cody Ko who was twenty-five at the time.” She admitted, “It actually happened. Looking back at twenty-five now, I wouldn’t have made that choice. So I think to myself, ‘What on earth were you thinking?'”

The US Department of Health and Human Services specifies that in Florida, as per Mongeau’s claim of an encounter, anyone under 16 years old can’t give consent to sexual activity, irrespective of the age of the offender. For individuals aged between 16 and 18, they cannot agree to sexual activity if the suspect is 24 or older.

Mongeau acknowledged on her podcast that while she didn’t view the incident as a traumatic experience at the time, looking back as an adult, she realizes she had been manipulated. During her appearance on Trisha Paytas’ podcast on June 20th, she expressed that the harsh reactions she received online after sharing her story were deeply disappointing.

“Once my post went viral and many people doubted me, nonchalantly responding with ‘It’s only Tana,’ I began feeling deeply for all the girls who aspire to share their truth but face disbelief instead,” she expressed.

In my experience, Cody Ko’s vast following has shielded him, leaving me bearing the brunt. I can assure you, if his place was taken by someone less favored, I would be met with a great deal more compassion instead of the industry’s collective efforts to safeguard him.

Mongeau declined to comment for this story.

Why D’Angelo Wallace spoke up about Mongeau’s claim

Wallace spoke with TIME, sharing that he anticipated his video would reignite the conversation surrounding Mongeau’s claim. However, he regrets that it fell upon him to expose the allegation in the first place.

“I’m fortunate to have people who listen to me,” he acknowledges, “but just because of that doesn’t mean serious accusations against someone should be disregarded until a video like D’Angelo Wallace’s comes out. As an active consumer of online content, I was taken aback by the lack of discussion surrounding Mongeau’s comments. To spark conversation, I decided to create the video.”

I strongly urge Ko to tackle the accusation swirling in his comments section or at least acknowledge the turmoil it’s causing. Even Ko’s wife, Kelsey Kreppel, is feeling the heat as people press for a response, flooding her page with comments. Unfortunately, we haven’t heard back from Ko regarding our request for comment from TIME yet.

In the video, Wallace strongly urged: “It’s essential for you to speak up against the misogyny, victim-blaming, and cognitive dissonance in your audience as they try to defend you from accusations that you’re avoiding. Don’t be cowardly; address these issues head-on.”

As a passionate cinema goer, I’ve watched countless videos and have come across various personalities, some more likable than others. However, no matter how unfavorable someone’s online reputation may be, it doesn’t grant anyone the right to mistreat or disregard their story. In this particular video, Wallace highlighted Tana Mongeau’s unfortunate history of being met with intense victim blaming that I’ve seldom witnessed. Despite her past actions, she has been dismissed, discredited, and disbelieved without a fair chance simply because “it’s Tana.” This unfair treatment is unacceptable, regardless of the situation or the person involved.

Read More: Breaking Down the Clinton Kane and Brooke Schofield Break Up Drama on TikTok

Pressure grows for Cody Ko to speak out as other YouTubers weigh in

Wallace’s video sparked discussions among other YouTube personalities, including Philip DeFranco with six million subscribers and Cr1TiKaL having fifteen million subscribers, who weighed in on the allegations against Ko. Their videos, combined with Wallace’s, have fueled a wave of online activism, encouraging others to demand a response from Ko.

The number of followers Ko lost on social media due to the growing controversy surrounding Mongeau’s allegation reached over 160,000 in just a month, as reported by SocialBlade. Meanwhile, podcast hosts Enya Umanzor and Drew Phillips, whose show “Emergency Intercom” was previously produced under Ko’s TMG Studios, have made plans to produce it independently starting from July 19.

I’d express it like this: This past week, Brittany Broski, a TikTok collaborator of mine for both my channel and hers, shared a statement on her Instagram story.

In Wallace’s video, Gabbie Hanna is heard on a podcast discussing an incident where she warned a man at a party about a girl who was underage. She mentioned that the girl looked older but was actually underage and advised the man to be cautious.

In simpler terms, Keemstar, a well-known creator on drama channels, revealed on his platform X, that years ago, Gabbie Hanna shared with him (off the record) that Cody Ko had kissed Tana Mongeau when she was only 17 years old during Playlist Live in Florida. He also talked to Mongeau about this matter and obtained Hanna’s approval before sharing this information publicly.

Karen North, a clinical professor of communication at USC Annenberg, explains that Ko is currently facing numerous difficult choices regarding how to handle the escalating situation. North, who specializes in social media, online security, and reputation management, empathizes with Ko’s reluctance to issue a statement immediately. “Given the intricacy and danger of the current legal predicament Ko finds himself in,” she notes, “it’s reasonable that he hasn’t spoken up yet.” She further explains that due to the swift pace of the digital era, there is immense pressure for those involved in controversies to deliver quick comments, apologies, and explanations. North stresses, however, that before making any public statements, Ko must consult with his legal team to assess the potential risks and repercussions.

Read More

• TOMI PREDICTION. TOMI cryptocurrency
• Kit Harington admits he feels ‘lucky’ to have kicked his alcohol addiction before having children as he recalls ‘hating himself’ when he was drinking
• IDEX PREDICTION. IDEX cryptocurrency
• PDA PREDICTION. PDA cryptocurrency
• Colleen Hoover’s Regretting You getting movie adaptation after It Ends With Us success
• A fourth season of Ted Lasso depends on this one important thing
• ALEPH PREDICTION. ALEPH cryptocurrency
• Jessica Biel almost gets HIT by costar Corey Stoll’s car as she films thriller series The Better Sister in NYC
• Dark and Darker Mobile to see a global release in the fourth quarter of 2024
• Who won HOH on Big Brother season 26 week 4? (Nominations and more!)

2024-07-20 02:06