- YouTube has had its 20th anniversary of the first YouTube video
- The site was created in February 2005, the first video was uploaded in April
- Over time, there have been some of the biggest dramas on YouTube
Happy 20th birthday to the first YouTube video. Yes, on 23 April 2005, the first video, ‘Me at the Zoo’, was uploaded to YouTube. The video by Jawed Karim goes down in history as one of the most important videos on the site, but it is not the only one. Also, the 20th YouTube anniversary was celebrated in February 2005. Oh, the days before YouTube drama.
After YouTube took off in the 2000s, the platform became a place for creators. Not just any creators, but some of the biggest internet celebrities. The Paul brothers, IShowSpeed, Jenna Marbles, Mr Beast, and James Charles, to name a few.
With the rise of creators on YouTube, there has been an increase in drama. Drama between creators, drama caused by videos, and drama at YouTube events, but we will get into it.
Here are some of the biggest YouTube drama moments of all time.
20th YouTube Anniversary: the biggest dramas
1. Logan Paul’s suicide forest video (2017)
Undoubtedly, the biggest YouTube drama of all time is the Logan Paul suicide forest video, a darker mark on the 20th YouTube anniversary to reflect on.
Paul, 30, uploaded a video to YouTube in a vlog from Japan. In a specific part of the vlog in Japan’s Aokigahara Forest, a surprised Paul comes across a dead body.
The forest is known to Japanese people to be a frequent place for suicides, which is why so many people were angry. However, it wasn’t going into the forest that had people angry, it was Paul filming the deceased man and making jokes.
Audiences were disgusted by the video, which Paul promptly took down. He apologized in a video and said, “I should have never posted the video. I should have put the cameras down and stopped recording what we were going through.”
At the time, his channel was removed from the Google Preferred Programme, where brands sell ads on videos by the platform’s biggest creators. Also, his projects were suspended.
Later, he returned to the platform, but it did tarnish his reputation.
2. Bye, Sister – James Charles and Tati Westbrook (2019)
In May 2019, YouTuber Tati Westbrook, 43, posted a since-deleted 43-minute video titled Bye Sister, publicly ending her friendship with fellow beauty influencer James Charles, 26. The drama began at Coachella when Charles promoted Sugarbear Hair vitamins— a rival to Westbrook’s company, Halo Beauty. She expressed hurt over the move, claiming he chose money over loyalty.
In the wake of the 20th YouTube anniversary, Dramageddon became one of the biggest scandals.
Charles denied being paid, saying he received Coachella artist passes in exchange for the post, and apologized. However, as he addressed the incident with YouTube drama channels, Westbrook escalated the situation with her video, which also accused Charles of inappropriate behavior.
She described an incident where Charles allegedly made lewd comments to a waiter at her birthday dinner, reportedly saying, “It doesn’t matter, I’m a celebrity,” when told the waiter was straight.
Charles responded with an apology video and later uploaded No More Lies, in which he shared receipts disproving claims about the Coachella deal and defending himself against accusations from Westbrook and YouTuber Jeffree Star, 39, who had called him a predator.
Amid the fallout, YouTuber Nikita Dragun, 29, backed Charles, showing evidence he needed protection at Coachella. Westbrook followed up with Why I Did It, explaining she hoped to wake Charles up to his actions. He lost many subscribers in the first 24 hours after Bye Sister dropped.
After Charles’s rebuttal, Westbrook criticized what she called “half-truths” and said she’d take conversations offline. Charles thanked her in response.
The feud became one of YouTube’s most dramatic sagas, sparking wider debates about influencer accountability and cancel culture.
3. David Dobrik and the Vlog Squad scandal (2021)
Once he had one of the biggest platforms on YouTube with his group, The Vlog Squad. David Dobrik, 28, regularly posted vlogs and prank videos until the group unraveled in 2021.
That year, allegations surfaced against Dom Zeglaitis, 29, a former member. A woman claimed Zeglaitis sexually assaulted her in 2017 while she was drunk. Dobrik was reportedly nearby during the incident, which happened after he invited girls over 18 to film a skit. Insider published the detailed report.
Previously, former member Seth Francois, 31, said he was tricked into a non-consensual kiss in a 2020 prank. He also accused the group of racism and shared his experience in a video titled Accountability to All the Creators.
Separately, former member Nick Keswani, 26, said he was mocked in videos for his disability. He revealed the impact it had on his mental health during the H3H3 podcast in February 2021.
Meanwhile, Scotty Sire, 33, first defended Dobrik but later apologized and walked back his support. On June 30, Dobrik addressed the backlash in a podcast, though many criticized the apology as inauthentic.
Later, he posted Let’s Talk, stating he had distanced himself from Zeglaitis. However, he did not address all accusations.
During this period, Dobrik faced brand deals being dropped. YouTube demonetized his and Zeglaitis’ channels temporarily.
Around the same time, Jeff Wittek, 35, revealed a serious injury caused during a 2020 stunt with Dobrik. Wittek hit an excavator and suffered a fractured skull, broken bones, and torn ligaments. He later sued Dobrik for $10 million, but the case has stalled.
In January 2025, Dobrik returned to YouTube with a body transformation video, attempting a comeback.
4. Miley Cyrus, Mandy, Selena Gomez, and Demi Lovato (2008)
Before YouTubers existed and before the 20th YouTube anniversary, the platform was filled with Disney Channel royalty. Disney best friends Selena Gomez, 32, and Demi Lovato, 32, frequently made YouTube videos back in the late 2000s.
The drama started when Lovato and Gomez posted a video where they said, “Yo, Yo,” and Lovato says, “Yeah, I said it twice, got a problem with that?” Then Gomez goes on to talk about how she got a “cool” shirt. Just a mundane video of teenagers goofing around, right? Well, not without drama.
Fellow Disney star Miley Cyrus, also 32, posted a video with her best friend Mandy Jiroux, 37, in 2008, mocking Gomez and Lovato’s video.
Later, Cyrus claimed she was supporting the other girls, but fans didn’t think so. The drama is believed to surround Gomez dating Cyrus’ ex, Jonas Brothers singer Nick Jonas, 32. From June 2006 to December 2007, Jonas dated Cyrus. Then he briefly dated Gomez in 2008 and 2010, which may’ve made a teenage Cyrus angry.
Hey, Disney stars were very tight-knit back in the day.
5. KSI Vs. Logan Paul (2018)
Oh the coveted KSI versus Paul feud. This started the epidemic of YouTuber boxing matches. KSI, real name JJ Olatunji, 31, challenged the Paul brothers to a boxing fight in 2018. The first fight took place in August 2018 in Manchester, England, which was a draw.
During the event and before for the press, the two hyped up their rivalry. They even released diss tracks on each other, which racked up millions of views.
A year later, in November 2019, they had a rematch in a professional setting, KSI won, and the two became friends. After becoming friends, the two co-founded the successful energy drink company Prime and have remained cool since. Along with Mr Beast, 26, Paul, and KSI also co-created the lunchable snack box Lunchly.
6. Tanacon (2018)
As we mark the 20th YouTube anniversary, it’s impossible not to revisit one of its most infamous disasters: TanaCon. In 2018, Tana Mongeau—then 19 and known for her storytime videos—launched the event as a rebellious alternative to VidCon, after publicly calling out the convention for not recognizing her as a featured creator.
Promising fans an inclusive, creator-driven experience, she scheduled TanaCon in the same city and same weekend as VidCon, with major YouTubers slated to appear.
But what was meant to be a fan celebration quickly unraveled into chaos. Held at the Anaheim Marriott Suites, the venue was woefully unprepared for the crowd, with far more tickets sold than capacity allowed.
Attendees waited in the sun for hours, some reportedly fainting or getting sunburned, and there was a lack of security, food, and water. The event was shut down on day one, with day two canceled entirely. The backlash was swift—TanaCon was likened to Fyre Festival, and while Mongeau apologized, she initially pointed fingers at co-organizer Michael Weist and his company, Good Times Live. A Shane Dawson three-part docuseries helped unpack the fallout, but the fiasco remains a cautionary tale in YouTube history.
20th YouTube anniversary: a look back
While more YouTube drama moments occurred before the 20th YouTube anniversary, there are too many to count. These moments before the 20th YouTube anniversary remind us that there is a rich history of a site that was once known for funny animal videos.
If you are experiencing feelings of distress or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans in confidence on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.
