All Aboard Colleen Ballinger’s Toxic Gossip Train

CREATOR NEWSLETTER


All aboard the toxic gossip train. 

In case you don’t know what I’m talking about, boy, do we have a story for you. YouTuber Colleen Ballinger, widely known as alter ego Miranda Sings, finally responded to those accusing her of forming inappropriate relationships with young fans

How, you ask? In a ukulele song. No, I’m not kidding. This mega-cringe train crash is arguably more culturally significant in internet history than ‘Draumageddon’ or the impending Musk-Zuckerberg cage match.

While strumming on her ukulele, Ballinger sings about the “toxic gossip train,” which she accuses of spreading “misinformation” about her online. Why would she address such severe allegations in this wildly inappropriate fashion? She says her team “strongly advised” her not to speak her mind, but they didn’t tell her she “couldn’t sing.”

Within an hour of the video’s upload, social media users exploded in outcry, calling the video the “worst apology in YouTube history.” We’ve seen all kinds of viral discourse surrounding influencer apologies (or lack thereof) this year: whether it be people unpacking iDubbbz’s apologies for his controversial past or fans calling out Matty Healy for skirting responsibility for his problematic podcast appearance. But this Ukulele-ridden “apology” must be the most notorious one yet.

If you don’t want to give Ballinger an extra view or cent in ad revenue, Passionfruit contributor Steven Asarch has you covered with a breakdown of the full video and the viral controversy it unleashed.


ALL ABOARD

Colleen Ballinger Responds to Accusations in ‘Toxic Gossip Train’ Ballad


Filming yourself has never been easier

Meet SwitchPod: the minimal, versatile handheld tripod. SwitchPod works with any camera, from a phone to a DSLR, and simplifies video making for creators. Lightweight and nearly indestructible, the mini tripod makes it easy to travel to awesome locations for the ultimate photo or video shoots.


THE COMMENTS SECTION


IN THE BIZ


NOTED BY LON HARRIS

A Bad Trip: What We Can Learn from the Shein Influencer Trip Backlash

Brand deals are the lifeblood of the creator economy, but they come with risks.

By Lon Harris, Passionfruit Contributor

Shein influencer trip

PRIDE MONTH

Spotlight on LGBTQ+ Creators: Inspiring Voices and Stories

Find new LGBTQ+ faves to follow across social media this summer.

By Rachel Kiley, Passionfruit Contributor


TIKTOK MADE ME DO IT

Content for Creators.

News, tips, and tricks delivered to your inbox twice a week.

Newsletter Signup

Latest Newsletters

  • The Faux Charitable Endeavor of ‘Creator Funds’

    The Faux Charitable Endeavor of ‘Creator Funds’

    CREATOR NEWSLETTER Issue #185 | November 14, 2023 “Is anybody else seriously depressed that they’re getting rid of the Creator Fund?” TikToker @laurawiththecurls said in a video this week. “Was I ever making an earth-shattering amount of money on here? No. … But it was nice to get just a little bit of extra money…

  • While Hollywood Celebrates Its Fairytale Union Wins, Content Creators Get Played for Pinocchios

    While Hollywood Celebrates Its Fairytale Union Wins, Content Creators Get Played for Pinocchios

    CREATOR NEWSLETTER Issue #184 | November 9, 2023 It’s Thursday evening, and my timeline is full of rejoicing. Following September’s historic wins by the Writers Guild of America, the Screen Actors Guild has seemingly (conditional upon vote approval) followed suit, ending its strike against major studios to a series of cheers and applause from its…

  • The Internet Is Trash. Who’s Going To Clean It Up?

    The Internet Is Trash. Who’s Going To Clean It Up?

    CREATOR NEWSLETTER Issue #183 | November 7, 2023 For years, writers have been calling out cyberspace for being full of garbage. It’s a permanent archive of all the weirdest, grossest, darkest, and most disturbing parts of ourselves — immortalized into offensive memes, snarky Reddit threads, and bad tweets. If you’re anything like me, you probably…