10 Hilariously Out of Touch YouTuber Moments

10 Hilariously Out-of-Touch YouTuber Moments

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the jaw-dropping YouTuber misfires so disconnected from reality that they just about broke the Internet (and not in the good way).

Cole & Savannah LaBrant Share Some Controversial Opinions

Internet personalities frequently try to leverage their platform for social commentary… sometimes with disastrous results. In the early 2020s, vloggers Cole and Savannah LaBrant released a video comparing the experience and implications of abortion to the Holocaust. Predictably, the backlash was immediate and intense, as people called out the pair for trivializing one of history’s greatest atrocities for some YouTube drama. Their analogy, meant to stir emotion, did little but spark outrage and demonstrate just how insensitive — and out of touch — high-profile creators can be when approaching complex moral issues.

Colleen Ballinger Denies Allegations With a Song

Apologies are usually meant to mend fences, but they can just as easily burn bridges. In 2023, Colleen Ballinger, known for her Miranda Sings character, tackled grooming allegations not with a heartfelt response, but with the now-infamous “Toxic Gossip Train” — a ukulele-based ditty denying accusations of inappropriate conduct. This bizarre musical approach left viewers confused, amused, and most of all, deeply unimpressed. The result: Colleen’s attempt at deflection became instant meme fodder and a masterclass in how not to handle controversy, putting the focus squarely on her melodramatic delivery instead of the serious accusations at hand. Although she eventually returned to the world of content creation, Ballinger’s career took a serious, long-term hit.

David Dobrik’s $100K Puzzle Disaster

High-stakes giveaways are a longstanding YouTube staple, but every so often they veer into the preposterous. When David Dobrik launched his $100,000 puzzle contest in late 2020, it looked like a generous windfall. However, fans soon realized they were basically buying lottery tickets — albeit in puzzle piece form — that, more often than not, didn’t lead to a prize at all. The convoluted rules, nearly impossible odds and lackluster “wins” made the ordeal feel more like a cash grab than a fun fan event, cementing Dobrik’s “generosity” as woefully detached from what his redditor-heavy audience thought a fair contest should be.

Fine Brothers’ “React World” Controversy

It probably goes without saying that Internet users value creative freedom — not corporate control. So, when the Fine Brothers tried to trademark the term “React” and license reaction videos to other channels under their “React World” banner in 2016, the backlash was nothing short of volcanic. Creators were outraged at the idea of claiming ownership over a genre that predated YouTube itself. The Fine Bros’ attempt to franchise the entire concept of “reacting” was universally ridiculed, and their subsequent apology video only cemented the impression that they were woefully misaligned with the platform’s grassroots origins and community-driven spirit.

Jake Paul’s COVID House Party

While most of the world was hunkering down, masking up, and baking sourdough bread, infamous social media personality Jake Paul decided to go in the opposite direction. In July 2020, the influencer hosted a massive house party during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic—and then doubled down by publicly dismissing the virus as “a hoax.” Criticism drilled down on Paul’s reckless antics, triggering condemnation from neighbors, local authorities, and even the Mayor of Calabasas. In the midst of an unprecedented global health crisis, the YouTuber’s flagrant disregard for public safety and penchant for blithe conspiracy theorizing perfectly epitomized out-of-touch influencer behavior.

Logan Paul Begs Viewers to Buy His Couches

In 2020, Logan Paul became a punchline of influencer excess after revealing he’d dropped $90,000 on two “Mercedes-Benz” couches — furniture so overpriced even he later called the purchase “stupid.” Trying to offload them, Paul listed the couches on Craigslist for $20,000, telling fans, “If you want to give me a birthday gift, buy my couches.” The move came across as tone-deaf and desperate, sparking mockery across social media. Critics saw it as yet another example of how disconnected YouTubers had become from everyday reality: flaunting obscene spending, then expecting their followers to clean up the mess. What Paul framed as a desperate sale instead became a case study in influencer self-parody.

MrBeast Takes the L

In 2025, MrBeast (aka Jimmy Donaldson) drew criticism after admitting he’d lost “tens of millions of dollars” producing his Prime Video series “Beast Games.” Despite racking up over 50 million views, Donaldson called the project “not a good financial decision,” revealing he’d spent more than $29 million on just two episodes and over $100 million overall. The 10-episode show gave 1,000 contestants a shot at a record-breaking $10 million prize — but fans weren’t sympathetic. Many saw his “loss” as the kind of problem only a millionaire could afford, reinforcing just how far removed he’s become from his audience’s reality. For someone who built an empire off “relatable generosity,” the confession felt more like a brag than a burden.

RiceGum’s “Mystery Boxes”

When a popular YouTuber starts promoting a platform where fans can win valuable items, it might sound exciting. However, Bryan Le, known as RiceGum, found himself at the center of a major controversy for his promotion of “mystery box” websites. These sites, often criticized for resembling gambling, allowed users to pay for virtual boxes with promises of expensive electronics or designer goods. Allegations soon surfaced that these boxes were rigged, heavily favoring the house or offering incredibly low-value items compared to the cost. RiceGum’s promotion of these potentially predatory practices to his young, impressionable audience sparked outrage, as critics argued he was exploiting his fanbase for personal profit.

Tana Mongeau’s “TanaCon”

Few YouTuber projects have imploded as publicly and spectacularly as TanaCon. When Tana Mongeau sought to outdo VidCon with her own convention in 2018, it might have sounded like a commendable way to buck trends and one-up the establishment. With that said, the event was a logistical apocalypse. Attendees sweltered for hours in the sun, many without access to food, water, or even the venue itself. Security was nonexistent, goody bags were laughable, and refunds few and far between — proving that clout doesn’t magically confer event planning skills. TanaCon entered internet lore not just as a failed convention, but as an unforgettable monument to influencer hubris.

Trisha Paytas’ Complicated Relationship With Vegetarianism

Trisha Paytas, notorious for provocative statements, dropped a claim that stunned the internet: she said she’s a vegetarian — but apparently includes chicken nuggets in that definition. In various clips, she has referred to her diet as vegan even while admitting to consuming beef, chicken, fish, eggs, and milk. This isn’t simply a matter of evolving diet; it’s a performative identity shift — a content-friendly label she tucks away when inconvenient. For many viewers, it’s a hilarious and surreal example of someone so disconnected from basic definitions that it circles back into pure absurdist spectacle.

Which YouTuber moment made you cringe the hardest? Are there any out-of-touch moments we missed? Be sure to let us know in the comments below!