Goodbye

Shane Dawson: The Final Chapter of Internet Redemption

When I started this series, I knew I wanted to end with someone who has really shaped cancel culture, and everyone knows. No one fits that role better than Shane Dawson. For over a decade, Shane has been one of YouTube’s most popular figures, going from one of the platform’s biggest stars to one of its most controversial personalities. He’s been adored, dragged, defended, and canceled more times than most people could survive. But through it all, Shane never gave up, and is still being supported.

The Rise of Shane Dawson:

Long before TikTok ruled the internet, there was YouTube, and Shane Dawson was the king. In the early 2010s, he built an empire through skits, comedy videos, and shocking humor. His early content was outrageous, and back then, that was what people loved. The wigs, the characters, the unpredictable chaos, Shane had a recipe that made millions of people click “subscribe.”

He didn’t just post videos; he built a personality. Audiences saw him as an outsider who turned pain into humor. He connected with people in a way few creators could at the time. But that connection came with a cost, because as his old content resurfaced, it revealed a side of him that didn’t age well.

His Fall/Controversy:

By 2020, Shane’s entire career seemed to crumble overnight. People started revisiting his old videos, exposing racist jokes, blackface sketches, and alarming comments about minors. What once passed as acceptable humor became inexcusable. YouTubers, fans, and even major media outlets called him out.

More drama happened with Jeffree Star, Tati Westbrook, and the infamous beauty community fallout. The internet turned on him faster than ever. Shane’s cancellation wasn’t just about old videos anymore. What used to be brushed off as “dark comedy” now felt like a window into something toxic that had been ignored for too long.

In one viral clip, Shane was seen yelling during a livestream as his name trended on Twitter. It was pretty intense and raw. For the first time, the man who once documented everyone else’s downfall was now having his own. 

The Return: 

After disappearing from the internet for a while, Shane quietly started posting again, uploading slow-motion videos on YouTube with his fiancé, Ryland Adams. His new content was different: softer, calmer, and focused on his personal life. The jump from scandal-heavy documentaries to lighthearted vlogs felt strange to many, but maybe that was the point. Although he still had his humor, he started doing it about himself. 

He talked about therapy, growth, and learning from the past. Some fans forgave him. Others never did.

But whether people love him or hate him, Shane still is THE Shane Dawson, who never loses his views. That says something about the internet’s complicated relationship with forgiveness.

Why Shane still matters:

Shane’s story isn’t just about one creator; it’s about the internet itself. He was one of the first influencers to experience a full on cancellation before it became an actual trend. His story really shows how cancel culture nowadays works. 

There’s no denying that Shane made mistakes, and big ones.

But he also represents something many creators fear: the moment when your past catches up with your present. In today’s world, the line between growth and guilt is pretty strange. Shane’s career shows both the danger and the humanity behind that truth.

A Final Reflection:

Writing about drama, controversy, and internet hate each week has shown me something I didn’t expect: I never want to be famous...  Behind every “cancelled” headline is someone human, someone who messed up, but also someone who built a community and a fan base. 

Shane Dawson’s career is messy, emotional, and flawed, but so is the internet. Maybe that’s why people still talk about him. His story is a reminder that being online means living under a microscope, where every decision, joke, and apology lives forever.

And I'm gonna go ahead and say this... The internet has turned into such a sensitive baby. Even people in the real world find everything offensive, and can't have real conversations. Just like the internet can't go about educating anyone, they have to go to extremes to cancel someone. It is important to relax and try not to get offended by things that don't really have anything to do with you. If you don't like the influencer, then simply stop following them, even block them if it makes you sleep better. But going out of your way to send death threats and try to ruin someone's life doesn't make you any better of a person than they are. 

The End of the "Drama and TikTok hate"💋

And just like that, this blog series comes to a close. Over the weeks, I’ve explored some of the most talked-about names in influencer culture... Tana, Brooke, David, Jeffree, Trisha, Cierra, and now Shane.

Each one shows a different side of what it means to live online in a world where fame and criticism go hand in hand.

Thank you to everyone who’s read along, commented, or shared a post. This project started as a simple idea to explore online drama, but it’s become something deeper. I heavily enjoyed researching into these celebrities and showing you guys who I grew up with, and my opinion. They all showed us a little something different, and that's what makes this topic so interesting. 

This might be the final post for Drama and TikTok Hate, but the conversation doesn’t stop here. Stay tuned, because if there’s one thing the internet promises, it’s that the next big scandal is always just around the corner. Bye for now....