In the YouTube world, Cody Ko was generally considered a wholesome streamer. He has had a few transgressions over the years, but in comparison to a Jeffree Star or a Colleen Ballinger, he looks like an angel. However, there have been some rumors hovering over the head of the YouTube star, and they’re now coming to light in full force. Other famous streamers like Penguinz0 and Ethan Klein are not letting the allegations be swept under the rug again. Let’s get into the details of Ko’s controversy below!
The Recent Allegations
Information always comes to light in podcasts. In May, Tana Mongeau revealed on her podcast, Cancelled, that she had an affair with YouTube’s ‘golden boy’ when she was 17 and he was 25. This is seemingly substantiated by fellow streamer Gabbie Hannah, who allegedly warned Cody Ko that he was locking lips with a child at a party. She said he thanked her for letting him know and then continued to kiss and, later, allegedly bed the underage teen anyway.
Ko has not yet responded to these claims. He has also not responded to Mongeau’s scathing critiques of his manhood either. Awkward. We all feel just a little bit worse for his wife, Kelsey Kreppel, who is also facing heat on her YouTube channel despite her total lack of involvement in her husband’s indiscretions. Leave the new mother alone; she has enough on her plate.
Cody Ko Too Popular For Accountability?
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In more recent times, we have seen more people being held accountable for their problematic behavior due to the #MeToo movement than ever before. With that being said, we have a long way to go. Men with good reputations, like Cody Ko, are more likely to be excused than held accountable. Especially considering his alleged victim, Tana Mongeau, is more infamous than famous and has faced hate regarding this.
Thankfully, major YouTubers have made a point of calling out Cody Ko, despite his popularity. Ethan Klein dissected the rumors and handed out harsh takes for Ko in the H3 Podcast. Penguinz0 also had no misgivings about holding Ko’s feet to the preverbal fire in a video he posted for his 16 million subscribers on the platform.
A consistent theme across all of the videos covering the Cody Ko controversy is reminding viewers that 17 is not 18. It appears that some people do not have a firm grasp on math and are not aware that there is a difference between those numbers. It’s scary that this is something that needs to be brought to anyone’s attention in 2024. However, it’s relieving that so many people with huge platforms are simultaneously helping their audience with math and keeping Cody Ko responsible for his alleged behavior. Keep up the great work; we are taking note of your inspirational behavior as content creators.
YouTube’s Dark History
The social media platform has no shortage of popular streamers that have used their influence over their following to allegedly prey on children. Star James Charles publicly admitted to sending “flirty messages” to underage boys while he was an adult; Colleen Ballinger allegedly sent adult images of fellow YouTuber Tricia Paytas’ to underage fans; and the rumors surrounding Dr. Disrespect allege that he was banned from Twitch after speaking to underage followers. He was also demonetized on YouTube over the same alleged claims.
Parents, keep an eye on who your children are communicating with online. It’s not anyone’s fault besides the influencer if they use their platform to target children, but we can all help contribute to protecting our children. The National Children’s Advocacy Center has helpful tips on how to protect your children online in this ever-evolving world we call the internet.
