[0:00]For every generation, there is either a loved YouTuber, or one that's hated by everyone. Starting with Gen Alpha's kid athlete Baby Gronk, who became one of the most controversial creators, thanks to his fame obsessed father. Back in 2023, Baby Gronk would become an internet laughing stock after releasing an insanely cringy video featuring popular influencer Livy Dunne. Hey, are you that kid from the internet? Yeah, I'm Baby Gronk. I'm Liv. Nice to meet you. What are you doing at LSU? I'm a player. You have to come here. It's awesome. You're so cute. And while this hard to watch video wasn't causing any harm, what started to raise eyebrows among viewers were the operations going on behind the scenes. As in June 2023, Baby Gronk's dad, Jake San Miguel, could be seen manipulating his answers during a now viral interview with the Bring The Juice podcast. Are you him? is the real question. Yes. See, I'm going to punch him in. Ask it again, bro. Say, man, what kind of question is that? You see my Instagram? Say that. Ready? Hey, Baby Gronk, are you him? What kind of question is that? Look at my Instagram. But that wasn't a mere slip-up, as this pattern of control became even more obvious when the interviewer tried to get any information from him directly. Would you take her to prom someday? Hey, don't say it again, bro. You got to say, man, I already, I already DMed her and asked her, and she said, yes.
[1:27]Hey, Baby Gronk, would you take Livy Dunne to prom you think? I already DMed her and she said yes. And once the interview hit the internet, it didn't take long before viewers began leaving comments like, "Actually disgusting what he's telling his 9-year-old son to say." "This is child abuse, straight up. What a freak." But despite these comments, his antics wouldn't stop anytime soon, as another interview would later surface. And when asked about how he felt about everything that had been going on, Baby Gronk looked like he was on the verge of tears. You're a young kid. I mean, I would have loved this as a young kid, but you might not like all this. Do you like it? Is it fun? Honestly? It's fun. He said he's having fun. I believe it. I mean, I believe it. Gronk says, doesn't have a lot of words to say. And with the backlash about his parenting style still piling up, he released a video aimed at his so-called haters. You do content. You get paid off the internet. That's all we're doing. It's a new day, it's a new generation. Do you see how all these kids are nowadays, on their iPads, on their phones all day? Be a kid? He is a kid, but at the same time, he does a little workout. We're not outside no more because we can't trust nobody no more. "My heart goes out to that kid. He looks depressed in every picture and interview." "Seeing Dad's like this makes me feel lucky." As of 2026, Baby Gronk continues to build his social media presence, but due to his dad's antics, he has become recognized as one of the most controversial kid creators. But while Baby Gronk continues to raise questions due to his dad's behavior, Gen Alpha Golden Girl Like Nastya continues to be loved by millions of children and parents from all over the world. Initially created by her parents, Sergey and Anna, to document her journey with cerebral palsy, Like Nastya quickly became a hit after her natural on-screen charm and relatable childhood moments connected with millions of children around the world. E, F.
[3:20]Eyes.
[3:28]And from this point on, the growth didn't slow down as what started out as simplistic wholesome videos soon turned into a full-scale global brand. Even earning her recognition from Forbes two years in a row. But despite this success, Nastya remained grounded and continued to create the kind of content parents could trust their kids to watch, leading her to receive well-deserved comments like, "Nastya my favorite creator." "Thank you for the childhood." Since then, Like Nastya has grown to over 132 million subscribers, launched a clothing brand, started another channel, and continues to inspire millions of kids around the world, clearly making her one of the most loved creators of her generation. A sharp contrast to Gen Z influencer Jack Doherty, who has become one of the most hated creators, thanks to his reckless stunts and constant need for attention. Back in 2023, Jack would spark outrage online after he was seen harassing innocent strangers at the mall and getting his bodyguard to do the dirty work when confronted. We're right, we're right, we're right. Well, that didn't end well.
[4:32]What? Will probably go jail. What you got to do, probably go jail? And while this cemented his controversial reputation, things would take a much darker turn. As just a year later, he would crash his $200,000 McLaren while on his phone. But to make matters even worse, the following year, Jack would find himself being confronted by Miami police for promoting a gambling website while blocking traffic in the middle of a Florida street. All right, after I hit this man, I'm about to go to jail. Huh? And though it looked like just another stunt he could walk away from, that confidence didn't last long, as he'd come face-to-face with consequences he couldn't escape from. I'm going to do that. Who the fuck are you, bro? I was trying to walk in the street. It doesn't matter, bro. All you had to do was get in the car. That's it. "That 'who the f*** are you' from the police looked like it crushed his soul for a moment, lol." But blocking the road wasn't the only issue Jack was in trouble for, as once police began searching him, they soon uncovered something far more incriminating on Jack's body.
[5:42]This substance would later be identified as half of an orange oval-shaped pill with a 3 imprinted, consistent with amphetamine, a controlled substance that is illegal to possess. And once the substance was identified, the situation was over for Jack, as he'd be arrested on the spot and charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of cannabis, and resisting arrest without violence. Now, with real-world consequences finally catching up with him, you'd think that Jack would lay low for a while. However, not long after posting $3,500 bail, he was back online throwing shade at his haters. I just got out of jail, guys, and I'm about to take my first shower since getting out. "Just another sociopath being rewarded for being a sociopath." "He looks like puberty skipped him." Ultimately, despite everything, Jack still remains active across all social medias, posting his usual controversial content with no signs of slowing down. But while Jack continues to be hated for his controversial behavior, Gen Z legend Technoblade continues to be adored, even after his tragic passing. Known as one of the most iconic and funniest Minecraft YouTubers of all time, Alex, aka Technoblade, became loved for his razor-sharp humor and unmatched in-game PvP skill. However, what made him so different wasn't just his dominance in-game, but how he showed up for his community. Like in 2017, when Hypixel Simon offered him a unique challenge. If Technothepig gets 1,000 win streak in Bed Wars, now 600, we will give him 25 times 100-dollar store credits to give away to his fans. No pressure. And even though it seemed difficult, he pushed through for his fans. As the final dude,
[7:20]and 1,000. But despite this accomplishment, things would take a devastating turn. As in August 2021, he revealed that what he initially brushed off as a simple gaming related injury from constant clicking was far more life-threatening. So, in the last few days of July, I noticed that my right arm was starting to hurt a decent amount, and I thought, my my best guess was that it was some kind of repetitive stress injury because you know, I've been playing video games since the age of like five. The next day, August 2nd, I headed over to the doctor to see what was wrong, and they they ran a couple of scans, and then they came back, and they told me that the reason my arm hurts is because I have cancer. And although he was confident that he was going to be fine, the severity of his condition became impossible to ignore. So, you guys know I've been going through chemo and radiation therapy, and this has all been in preparation for a surgery to actually remove the tumor. And so, in early October, I'm talking to my surgeon, and he's not coming out and saying this 100 percent, but the vibe I'm getting is that he thinks it's going to be necessary to amputate my right arm to actually get the cancer. And so, you know, I'm preparing for this like anybody would. But just when it seemed like the worst was yet to come, his situation would take a turn for the better. I now have 99.9 percent less cancer than I used to, which is pretty great. A world of difference between that at 100 percent, but so far everything is going according to plan. And though his health appeared to be improving, by July 2022, that hope wouldn't last long, as just three months later, everything would change when a video titled 'So Long Nerds' was uploaded to his channel. Hi, I'm Technoblade's dad. He wrote a message, and he asked me to read it to all of you. Hello, everyone, Technoblade here. If you're watching this, I'm dead. But even after his tragic passing, his influence hasn't ended here, with millions of fans honoring his legacy with several heartfelt tribute videos and even being featured in the Minecraft movie. Whoa. Is he some kind of king? No. That's a legend. "Techno never dies. Rest in peace, my Minecraft hero." "Hey, Alex, you made it, man. You are in the Minecraft movie. We all miss you." As of today, Technoblade's legacy continues to grow online, with the Minecraft community echoing his name like he never really left. Clearly cementing him as one of the most beloved creators of not just his generation, but of all time. But while Techno is still honored for the impact he left on the YouTube community, millennial YouTuber Sniperwolf wouldn't be honored at all after putting the life of another YouTuber at serious risk. Back in July 2023, Sniperwolf would be accused by YouTuber Jacksfilms for stealing content. This is Sniperwolf. She's a YouTuber with over 30 million subscribers. What does she do? She steals TikToks and reacts to them. Even going further to share proof that she never got any permission to use their content. If you want to support the original creators of the TikToks, too bad, because the only links you'll find in the description are all Sniperwolf. And my favorite part is that half of the TikToks she includes either crop out the original usernames or just straight up don't have one. And as the video picked up traction, many viewers also began to call her out. "How nice of her to cater to the deaf and blind with the commentary. Truly a mother Teresa." "I have a sneaky feeling she steals the jokes directly out of the comments of the TikToks. The delivery is like she's reading, and the jokes are very TikTok comment section level." And as the backlash towards her kept growing, in October 2023, Sniperwolf would go on to add more fuel to the fire by releasing an Instagram post asking her followers this: Should I go visit Jacksfilms? And while most expected the situation to stay online, things took a very disturbing turn when she actually followed through with this. Sharing a video of her doxing Jack's house to her millions of Instagram followers. All right, right in front of your house. Come out. Come out and talk to me. Following this, Sniperwolf eventually realized the post had gone too far, and as a result, would later delete it. However, this wouldn't even matter, as she then went on to shockingly pin the blame on Jack. "This creep has been harassing me for months then plays victim saying I threatened him when I just wanted to talk to him. I have no ill intentions. It's so sad when people have to constantly create drama to pay their bills." Pushing Jack to shut down her claims with a quick reminder. You posted a video tonight of you outside our home for your 5M plus followers to see. While my wife and I were inside. I can't make it any simpler than that. If that's not doxing, why did you delete it? And as the back and forth between the two continued, Jack would go on to post a video directly calling for YouTube to step in and take action. Last night, Sniperwolf, a massive YouTuber, showed up outside of our home, recorded a video of our home, and then posted it to her 5.6 million Instagram followers. In my 17 years on YouTube, I've never once had someone come to my home and vaguely threaten me. Sniperwolf needs to be de-platformed. Now, with her reputation rapidly going downhill and the situation taking a serious turn, she would then be forced to release an apology. But as you can imagine, this did little to slow down the storm. "Crazy how Sniperwolf can show a person's house publicly, but can't show her face to make an apology." "She has done so much horrible things, being inappropriate to minors on the Omegle video, ghosted her dying fan, steals videos, dox Jack films, and armed robbery. The fact that YouTube loves her so much makes me so mad. If YouTubers such as Markiplier, PewDiePie, MrBeast, or even MoistCr1tikal dox someone like Sssniperwolf, they would be off the platform immediately. YouTube acts like they can't live without her and it's beyond stupid." Since then, her reputation online has never recovered, with her pile of controversies cementing her as one of the most disgraced YouTubers on the platform. Unlike fellow millennial YouTuber MatPat, whose reputation only grows stronger despite his unexpected retirement. Back in 2011, after several failed attempts to break into acting, MatPat would shift his focus to YouTube, where he would go on to upload the very first Game Theory video. Do you want to know more about the games you love without having to put in any work of your own? Well, now you can play and learn. That's right. We have created Game Theory, gaming's tangential learning experience. And this obsession with pulling games apart and exposing what was really hidden underneath would eventually lead to some of his most iconic breakdowns. Like Five Nights At Freddy's Scariest Monster Is You and How Deadly Is Super Mario's Bullet Bill? No! No! Oh god, no! No way. No! Why? This is scarier than that husky girl in seventh grade gym class. Hold up. Will this thing really hurt me? And with time, what started as a small hobby quickly snowballed into something massive. Growing into a channel with over 19 million subscribers, even expanding his popularity into several other channels, all focused on different theories. But just when it seemed like nothing could slow him down, in 2025, Matt would share devastating news that no one saw coming. On March 9th, I will be hosting my last theory episode, at which point I'll be handing off the channels to someone else. Eventually ending the video off with his signature catchphrase. And with that, I'm going to say for one of the final times, not the final time, but one of the final times, as always, my friends. Remember, it's just a theory, a game theory. Thank you. And with this final tearful sign-off, what had once been his signature line for over a decade began to echo far beyond just his channel. That's just a theory. It's just a theory. That's just a theory. That's just a theory. There goes Matt, not getting canceled or passing away, leaving on his own terms. I wish him the best. YouTube isn't going to be the same without you, and there are very few people one could say that about and it be absolutely true. Ultimately, thanks to MatPat's clean run, genuine passion and dedication to his theories, he has gone on to leave a lasting impact that will forever continue to be passed down from generation to generation. But while MatPat is still respected after his retirement, Gen X creator Boogie2988 would lose all respect after a dark secret came to light. Back in November 2022, Boogie, known for his Francis Alter Ego and years of online controversy, would reveal that he was battling a rare form of cancer. I likely could potentially have a form of cancer. But due to his reputation of manipulation and emotional exploitation, this was enough to make people start asking questions, including Destiny, who would eventually confront him directly. Did the doctor ever tell you, or did he ever say the word cancer? He said, polycythemia vera, which is a form of cancer, as he explained it to me. And no, it is not secondary polycythemia polycythemia. And as the conversation escalated, Destiny would offer to pay for Boogie's medical expenses if he showed real proof. Boogie can confirm that he has polycythemia vera, and he actually has like a doctor confirmation of the blood cancer. I'll throw $5,000 towards his medical treatment. I'll make that personal pledge right now. Now, cornered into a situation he couldn't easily talk his way out of, Boogie finally admitted the truth. He never told you that you had cancer, though. It's true. It's true. I had to Google that. But he didn't stop there, as feeling the pressure and embarrassment from how everything unfolded, Boogie took to Twitter in an attempt to regain sympathy from his audience. I was panicked when my doctor told me I had cancer two years ago, and when I was in a vulnerable state, I shared that long before I should have. It was a stupid, stupid thing to do. I should have never jumped the gun like that. But he wasn't finished answering for what he'd done, as he'd get a public reminder of his crimes. I don't know, man, that's pretty big in person. "Boogie is one of those people who, if he told me it was raining outside, I would have to look and see for myself." "I went from liking him, feeling bad for him, and then despising him. Sounds about right for a narcissist." Ultimately, Boogie still remains active on the platform, but his subscriber count has shrunk to about a quarter of what it once was. But while Boogie faked a serious illness just to stay relevant, Gen X YouTuber Luke Nichols didn't do anything alike, earning his success through genuine talent and hard work. Back in May 2015, Luke Nichols would go viral after uploading his first outdoor adventure videos while teaching his audience how to survive in the wild. Oh, this one hasn't collapsed yet, but all snow caves collapse eventually. All right, I think it's time to get out of here. And for years, the channel grew at a gradual pace, building only a small but loyal audience until everything changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. As while many other channels slowed down during this time period, his channel only grew stronger. Eventually pushing his subscriber count to an incredible 15 million subscribers by 2025. And even with this newfound fame and millions of new viewers tuning in, the heart of the channel stayed the same, focusing on his family and the simple moments that made it all feel real. Hey, Becca, didn't you have Jacob? Oh, crap. We lost Jacob, too. Becca, we've lost Tommy, Nathan, and Jacob. Do you know what this means? Day night. Yeah.
[18:45]And this family first approach is what made what came next so devastating. As on May 17th, 2025, Luke released a heartbreaking video announcing this: Hey, everyone, this is going to be my last video for a little while. But I've spent so much time focusing on me and my family and growing my business, it's time to step back and focus on helping other people for a change, and I'm excited to see where that takes me. If you feel my videos have helped you in some way, then go out and find someone you can help. I'll see you guys later. But this retirement didn't last long, as not long after, Steven from MyLifeOutdoors would share devastating news, pushing Luke to step back into the outdoors once more. Some of you guys may have heard that Steven's wife was recently diagnosed with cancer. So right now, Steven's got a lot on his plate, taking care of his wife and his four kids. So I thought I might step in and do a little YouTube video for him, so he can worry about one thing at a time. "The Goat came out of retirement to help a friend. What a legend." "One of the very few people on the internet who genuinely inspires me to be a better person." Since then, Luke has released a few videos on his channel before finally stepping back from the spotlight. Unlike Baby Boomer Ellen DeGeneres, who tried to remain in the spotlight despite her evil behavior being exposed. Back in March 2020, the once beloved Ellen DeGeneres would become the most hated TV show host of all time, after comedian Kevin T. Porter tweeted: "Right now we all need a little kindness. You know, like Ellen DeGeneres always talks about! She's also notoriously one of the meanest people alive. Respond to this with the most insane stories you've heard about Ellen being mean." However, what seemed like just another celebrity gossip tweet quickly led to something much bigger, with disturbing responses such as: "I worked at RealFoodDaily, served her and Porsha at brunch. She wrote a letter to the owner and complained about my chipped nail polish, not that it was on her plate, but just that it was on my hand. I had worked till closing the night before, and this was next morn, almost got me fired." "Working for her, I was instructed that I can't look her in the eye and never ever say hi to her first. But don't worry, she definitely won't be saying hi to you in the first place. She creates the most toxic environment for her staff." But these tweets were only the beginning, as soon after, a former audience member stepped forward with even more shocking details about her traumatic experience on the show. And they tell you, you know, you can't be smarter, funnier than Ellen. She's the comedian and the star, not you. How does the Ellen we see on TV compare to the Ellen you saw when the camera stopped rolling? Totally different. Um, she would only speak to the audience when the cameras were rolling. As soon as they turned the cameras off, she would not even acknowledge the audience. She would just sit on the couch basically, even when she exited, she just said what she had to say on camera, and then walked off. Which was then backed up by Hedda Muskat, a former producer on the show. This TV producer is speaking out on camera for the first time about what it was like working for Ellen DeGeneres. Toxic, phony, hypocrite, liar. That's what she is. But things would take an even more disturbing turn in July 2020, after BuzzFeed News published an investigation revealing that employees had allegedly been punished or dismissed for taking medical leave or bereavement leave, alongside claims that racist and insensitive remarks had been allowed behind the scenes. And as the story gained momentum, Ellen eventually broke her silence with a public apology. The truth is, I am that person that you see on TV. I am also a lot of other things. I sometimes I get sad, I get mad, I get anxious, I get frustrated, I get impatient, and I am working on all of that. I am a work in progress, and if I've ever let someone down, if I've ever hurt their feelings, I am so sorry for that. But by then, the damage had already been done. "You got to be a real monster to fire an employee for attending a funeral for a family member." "Ellen was definitely one of the first Karens to exist before the 2020 ones appeared." Ultimately, the Ellen show would continue for another two years. However, due to the sincerity of the scandal, her public image never recovered, eventually resulting in the show's end in May 2022, after nearly two decades on air. But while Ellen's toxic behavior completely destroyed her public image, Cooking With Lynja's image would only grow stronger, thanks to her incredibly entertaining cooking content.
[23:11]And with videos like this, it didn't take long for viewers to realize it wasn't just about the food that made her so loved, it was actually the energy she brought into every single video. You want me to cook a dinosaur? Fine, I'll go get a dinosaur. Come here, sucker. Are you talking to me, Pip squeak?
[23:35]And with more and more people sharing her videos, she'd eventually reach over 14 million subscribers on YouTube, opening the door to massive collaborations with some of the most popular creators online. Nick, why are you so small? It's average. But despite this success, everything would change in May 2021, after she posted a video revealing she'd been suffering from a terrible illness. The bad news is, back in 2019, I was diagnosed with throat cancer. It changed my voice, and that's why I think I sound like Marge, Mabel, and Toad. Last day of radiation, how do you feel? I feel great. But sadly, that wouldn't be the end of her struggle. In 2021, I was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. But the good news is, I just finished my cancer treatment. And at one point, it looked like she was on the path to recovery. However, on January 1st, 2024, her journey would come to a heartbreaking end. I've got some sad news. Linja passed away on New Year's Day. You probably knew her as the fun-loving cooking grandma, but I'll always remember her as the woman who fought off her cancer diagnosis for as long as she could, humbly and quietly without ever complaining, until it got the best of her. "It feels like I've lost another grandmother. Goodbye, Lynja. You were one of the most positive voices on the internet." "When I met her at the Streamys and asked her for a picture, she took the time to grab a printed picture of herself and signed it for me. She was so sweet to me and I'm glad I got to meet her." Ultimately, Lynja proved that she wasn't just a viral creator, but someone who connected with her fans and friends in a way that felt real, personal, and impossible to replace. Leaving behind an impact on the YouTube community that will never be forgotten. But while Lynja will forever have a place in our hearts, Featureman from Silent Gen would lose his place after buried secrets from his past finally caught up to him. Originally one of the internet's beloved grandpa figures, Featureman, also known as Tom Willet, was loved for his old school charm and simple food tutorial videos. However, in early 2023, his reputation would begin to rapidly go downhill after a Reddit post exposed his past predatory behavior towards multiple underage boys. And once these old records resurfaced, the internet was left in outrage. "He was 38 and the victim was 14. He was literally old enough to be the child's father. Vile, vile man." And with the backlash showing no signs of slowing down, Tom would post a video trying to calm things down. Now, about 1977, I, uh, became involved with the court system once again. I was arrested. I was arrested, I was tried, I was convicted by a jury, and I was sentenced.
[26:30]And the sentence was life in prison, and the sentence was life in prison. Three. But during the video, he would shockingly try to deny that the supposed victim was never actually a minor. And without getting into details, I will say that there was a trial, and the witness against me, and he was over 18 years of age.
[26:54]The witness against me admitted on the witness stand that he was lying. But as you can imagine, the response didn't have the effect he hoped for, only making things worse. "The way he tiptoes around what he did and tries to play it down is infuriating." Even Penguinez0 would weigh in on the situation. Knowing what I know now about this man, I can't even listen to him without getting the heebie-jeebies. The way he's talking here sounds like Palpatine when he's going over the Darth Plageous the Wise story to Anakin, many abilities deemed unnatural. Now, realizing the response was only making things worse, Tom would end up deleting the video entirely. But by that point, the damage had already been done. "How hard is it to not be a predator?" "Doesn't matter if it happened 1,000 years ago, this kind of action is unforgivable. And the fact that there's no remorse, makes it even more so." "People tend to forget that the elderly weren't always elderly. It's easy to cast them off as kind, old, and seemingly innocent due to how fragile they appear." But while Featureman lost his entire reputation overnight, Shirley Curry would only continue to grow hers, becoming one of the most loved creators in the process. Best known as Skyrim grandma, Shirley would post her first YouTube video on September 19th, 2015, after her son introduced her to the popular video game Skyrim. Oh, oh, oh, there's someone down there.
[28:14]Oh, I'm glad I didn't walk out there.
[28:22]Anything going to kill me too? And what started out as a simple hobby soon turned into something unexpected, as in 2018, she was recognized by Guinness World Records, winning the title of the oldest video game YouTuber. But what's more, her love for Skyrim even caught the attention of the game developers themselves, who went on to include her as an NPC in The Elder Scrolls VI game. And though it seemed she was embracing life as the Skyrim grandma, that moment didn't last long, as in September 2024, right before her eye surgery, she made a big announcement. So I am making the decision now, totally, finally. I am not going to be making any more game videos and uploading them. Which her community immediately supported. "Good luck with the surgery and thanks for sharing your worlds with us over the years." "Saddest day for all of the Skyrim community." "The end of an era, looking forward to your next upload." Following this, Shirley would move away from gaming content for a while, before eventually returning to it two months later, clearly showing where her passion lies and proving it's never too late to achieve your dreams. In the end, every generation of YouTubers shows that influence always comes with consequences. While some are loved for their positive impact on their audience, others are hated for their reckless decisions. And even kid YouTubers aren't an exception to this. Click the video on screen now to see the seven sinful versus seven heavenly kid YouTubers.
