Week Five: David Dobrik and the Fall of YouTube’s Golden Boy
There was a time when David Dobrik could do no wrong. He started on the app called "Vine" years ago, and then made his fame bigger by starting a YouTube channel and making his videos short little clips from his life with his friends and putting that into a 4-minute and 20-second video. His laugh was contagious, and his clips were entertaining and very funny. They were pranks or celebrity cameos, or his friends doing wild things that quickly got him his fame, and he was soon famous for making the "Vlog Squad." But like many before him, the internet that built him up eventually destroyed his career. From dangerous stunts to serious allegations involving the squad, David's reputation took a huge hit. In this week's post, I will look at how his downfall unfolded, what role fans played, and whether he deserves the second chance he got to come back.
The Rise of David Dobrik: His vlogs represented a new kind of entertainment that the internet had never seen before. It's short and edited like highlight reels of nonstop fun. Fans felt like they were part of the friend group, laughing along as the Vlog Squad pulled pranks, traveled the world, and hung out with celebrities like Kylie Jenner and Justin Bieber.
At his peak, David had over 18 million subscribers, his own disposable camera app, and even appeared in brand campaigns with companies like SeatGeek and Chipotle. He became the emblem of YouTube success, the “nice guy” with a camera and a dream. But behind the smiles and sponsorships, controversy was happening.
The Beginning of the Hate: In early 2021, things started to fall apart. A Business Insider article accused a member of the Vlog Squad, Dom Zeglaitis, of sexual misconduct during one of David’s vlogs. Although David wasn’t directly blamed, fans began questioning him since he let his friends be in that type of environment. The situation was severe, it wasn’t just about inappropriate jokes or risky stunts anymore. It involved real people being abused.
David responded with an apology video, but many viewers found it phony and PR trained. Critics pointed out that he only spoke about the situation after brands stopped working with him. This started a larger conversation about accountability on YouTube, where the line between entertainment and exploitation gets clouded.
Reckless Content-
Even before the serious allegations, David faced criticism for the intense stunts in his vlogs. One of the most famous incidents involved fellow Vlog Squad member Jeff Wittek, who was seriously injured during a crane stunt gone wrong. When the footage got leaked, fans were left seriously shocked. What once looked like harmless fun now seemed reckless and dangerous.
Jeff later released his own documentary, showing the physical and emotional toll the accident took on him. This made fans rethink how much of David’s content was even funny. It became clear that the pressure to make each video better had pushed the Vlog Squad into a risky environment.
Fans reactions-
The reaction online varied. Some fans unfollowed David, upset with him for his lack of responsibility and concern for others. Others argued that he shouldn’t be held accountable for the actions of his friends. His OG supporters pointed out that he basically built multiple creators' careers and did good things too, like collab with brands to get his friends insane gifts.
Still, the energy around David changed dramatically. He went from being seen as the internet’s nice guy to someone who used his platform dangerously. On TikTok, users posted clips from old vlogs, pointing out uncomfortable jokes or moments that didn't age well. What was once memories turned into evidence for why people stopped supporting him.
When the good guy gets canceled:
David’s story shows a turning point in influencer culture. Youtubers were set for years, showing themselves and their personalities, until the gig was up and they started getting exposed for their actions, and boy, did fans feel betrayed.
Cancel culture, in this case, wasn’t just about one mistake. It was about disappointment and realizing that someone you looked up to might not be as kind or responsible as they seemed. For creators like David, who thrive on authenticity, that loss of trust hits harder than any brand deal ever could.
After months of silence, he made a comeback on social media. He started posting again on YouTube and Instagram, showing travel clips, brand deals, and moments with friends. But things were never quite the same.
He also launched new projects, such as David’s Pizza and Dobrik’s Dream Machine, which seemed to rebrand him as a positive figure. Some fans welcomed him back, saying people deserve second chances. Others believed his apology didn’t match what really took place. The internet, once obsessed with his content, had moved on to new creators.
Conclusion:
Even after everything, I can’t say I fully dislike David Dobrik. I grew up enjoying his vlogs, watching almost all of them on repeat. I still think he’s incredibly creative and changed the way people make content online. But I also think his story shows how dangerous it can be when fame, money, and pressure to entertain go too far. The line between funny and harmful gets blurry fast, and when it does, the internet won’t hesitate to call it out.
At the end of the day, David’s rise and fall show how forgiving and powerful the online world can be. Whether he truly redeems himself or fades into the background, his name will always be part of Youtube, and social media....
What do you guys think?
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Comments
wooooahhhh david dobrik sucks. I heard about the Jeff incident a while ago. Thanks for covering this 🙌