10 YouTubers Who LIED to Get Views

10 YouTubers Who LIED to Get Views

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re exploring the most infamous times famous YouTubers were deceptive on camera, all so they could bring in that sweet ad revenue from folks watching their content.

Yovana Mendoza

For years, if you were looking to get tips for living a vegan lifestyle, this was the place to go. Under the name Rawvana, Mendoza promoted the benefits of fruits and vegetables, as well as staying away from animal products, all through demonstrating what she consumes day-to-day. Well, it turned out that wasn’t exactly true. In 2019, while eating at a restaurant with other influencers, one briefly streamed the others, including Mendoza. She awkwardly tried to hide the dish in front of her as it contained fish. With her fans outraged, Mendoza put out an apology video where she explained that while she’s lived a raw vegan life for years, she had to recently incorporate non-vegan foods due to health issues.

Niko Omilana

Not all YouTuber lies are career-threatening. If anything, sometimes the person can look better as a result. In 2022, Omilana released a video where he met with the Grand Wizard of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, Thom Robb. Travelling to Harrison, Arkansas, Omilana got the White supremacist to take part in the video after convincing Robb he was representing the BBC. However, unknown to the interviewee, it wasn’t the UK broadcaster but a much different acronym. Like a Bart Simpson practical joke to Moe in “The Simpsons,” Omilana got Robb to read out names that sounded very different when spoken aloud, including one that resembled “B.L.M.”

Liver King

At one point, you couldn’t go on any social media site without being shown Brian Johnson. He heavily promoted his lifestyle, claiming that if viewers wanted to look like him, they needed to consume lots of raw animal meat and organs, hence his Liver King moniker. Yet despite medical professionals condemning the dangers of the diet, that didn’t deter Johnson. Neither did the accusations that he was using steroids, which he heavily denied. However, that changed in 2022 when leaked emails from Johnson were discovered that showed he was spending $11,000 per month on steroids, performance-enhancing substances, and testosterone. While Johnson apologized in a video, some furious viewers issued a lawsuit against him for fraud in 2023, which was later dismissed.

True Crime Case Files

For some, artificial intelligence is a useful tool. For others, it's a plague on society. Since the tech has become more accessible, various YouTube channels have popped up that heavily use AI. One genre that’s been heavily affected is real-life crime. True Crime Case Files was one such account, yet it made no mention that it was using AI anywhere. Problems soon arose when people searched online for articles about cases it covered, only to find the people mentioned didn’t exist beyond the channel’s content. Even local news reporters were contacted about the murders, only to have no knowledge of the crimes. With an increase in problematic content and the channel spreading false tales, True Crime Case Files’s YouTube channel was terminated in 2025.

Ned Fulmer

During their heyday, everyone had a favorite Try Guy, as each attracted different demographics towards them. For Fulmer, he was the “Wife Guy.” Often talking about and expressing his love for his wife, Ariel, and their kids, he was the family man for the team. However, in 2022, the facade was exposed when Fulmer was seen and recorded cheating on his wife with his employee, producer Alex Herring. This vastly inappropriate relationship forced the other Try Guys to remove Fulmer as a co-owner of the brand, as he was digitally removed from already filmed content. While Fulmer and Ariel seemingly stayed together for a couple of years, upon releasing his new podcast, it was confirmed that the couple had split in 2025.

Tana Mongeau & Jake Paul

In 2019, the social media landscape was treated to another love story as Mongeau and Paul began dating and made several videos together. Yet their relationship escalated quickly, as two months later, they were engaged. Then, a month later, with cameras from “MTV No Filter: Tana Mongeau” present, they tied the knot in Las Vegas, Nevada. Or did they? Alongside reports that they left the venue separately, it was discovered that Mongeau and Paul didn’t have a marriage license in the state, and the officiant wasn’t accredited. As such, this fanned the rumor flames that the relationship was all a sham. On her reality show, Mongeau admitted the marriage was a lie and it was all for content. They “broke up” in 2020.

Logan Paul

In 2016, Paul became a meme when he uploaded a video showcasing his reaction to trying on special glasses that “cured” his colourblindness. His over-the-top reaction, especially when looking at a sunset, was a particular highlight. A year later, he admitted it wasn’t true, which he has confirmed several times over the years since, often with giddy excitement. The influencer-turned-wrestler stated that he pretended because he’s a "storyteller," which, apparently, truth is not welcome within. While Paul states that he’s colorblind, he admitted that his reactions were exaggerated, especially when he put on the glasses and saw no change. He also confirmed that when he claimed his bird was one color, despite it having several shades on its feathers, he was joking for effect.

Jordan Cheyenne

Everyone knows that vloggers tend to embellish their lives to make them more interesting to viewers. But Cheyenne destroyed this suspension of disbelief in the worst way. In 2021, she accidentally released an unfinished video of herself and her son in the car. They were talking about their puppy getting a serious disease. However, footage was left in that had Cheyenne coaching her son on how to react to look sadder. She completely ignored her son’s genuine tears over his dog. As backlash mounted, Cheyenne deleted the video. She later deleted her channel. However, in 2025, Cheyenne returned to the platform with a podcast instructing viewers how to manifest their dreams with her coaching course.

JayStation

In 2020, Jason Ethier uploaded a shocking video where he stated that his girlfriend, Alexia Marano, had passed away in a driving accident. However, something was amiss. As well as people pointing out Ethier’s acting was…weird. He also plugged his second channel and his merch. Yikes. Ethier then released additional videos, including one where he attempted to contact Marano with an Ouija board. As suspicion intensified, Ethier admitted Marano was alive, and the hoax was done to bring in views. However, Marano then broke up with him as an arrest warrant for assault against her was issued for Ethier. The duo briefly got back together before splitting up again. Yet in 2021, Ethier’s YouTube channels were terminated for breaching the terms of service.

Boogie2988

It’s not always the young whippersnappers on YouTube who are being deceptive. Even the veterans have dabbled. After releasing content since 2006, Steven Williams uploaded an emotional video in 2022 where he disclosed he had polycythemia vera, a type of cancer. In 2024, while streaming live for the Lolcow podcast, Destiny accused Williams of lying about his diagnosis. During the interaction, Williams admitted that the cancer wasn’t confirmed as he was awaiting additional tests. As speculation took off, Williams claimed that the doctor told him he had polycythemia vera. He also apologized for stating he had it publicly before it was confirmed. As punishment, instead of being fired as a host, Williams seemingly got “Liar” tattooed on his face during Lolcow.

Are there any other times YouTubers lied for views that we missed? Let us know below!