After a brief hiatus from his YouTube Channel, Shane Dawson has announced his return to the platform. In an Instagram post on Wednesday, June 9, the YouTuber let his fans know he is “re-evaluating [his] life” and his plans moving forward. Dawson’s hiatus came as a result of internet backlash from offensive videos he uploaded during his early YouTube days.
Dawson Announces His Return To YouTube
Dawson announced to his fans he will be posting soon. “I know I haven’t posted a video in a long time and I promise it’s not because I don’t want to. I’m just trying to stay in a good mindset and be happy,” he said.
Dawson, who has made content on YouTube since 2008, states he won’t be leaving YouTube as opposed to earlier speculation that he was done with the platform. “I promise I’m not going to abandon my channel after 15 years of creating. Just been re-evaluating my life the last year and figuring out what I want to do with it. Life is short and I’m grateful for every second of it. Hope you guys are doing well! I miss you!” he said.
Last year, Dawson was ostracized by online communities for his conduct and language in resurfaced videos from his YouTube channel. Overnight, Dawson’s channel lost millions of subscribers as a result. This came shortly after the release of his collaborative makeup line with Jeffree Star Cosmetics.
How Have People Reacted to This?
The news of his return spread quickly on social media, however, he isn’t met with positive reactions. Popular tweets in relation to the news show disappointment towards his return.
“The fact that there are still people that support Shane Dawson after the insane amount of disturbing videos/comments from him just boggles my mind.” they said.
“Literally no one wants you back Shane Dawson we already discussed why you don’t deserve your platform please go back to not posting.” said another user.
“I don’t ever say anything bad about no one, and it’s difficult for me to be DISGUSTED at a specific person.. but Shane Dawson coming back is definitely not needed.” they tweeted.
While people on Twitter do not seem pleased about his return, over on Instagram he is welcomed by his friends and fans. Collaborators and long-time friends of the YouTuber like GloZell and Alisha Marie showed their support.
GloZell, who appeared on his channel around 2012 shared some advice to the social media personality. “Understand take care of self xoxo,” she said.
Alisha Marie sent out a white heart to him.
That’s So Raven and Raven’s Home actress Anneliese van der Pol showed her support as well. “Makes ABSOLUTE sense. Stay off this thing as long as you need. Seriously not worth it and you owe no one nothing. Xoxo,” she wrote.
Earlier this year, Dawson appeared on his fiancé Ryland Adams’ YouTube channel after a long social media absence. In the video titled, Extreme Hoarder Room Makeover!, Dawson jokes that his career “is over.”
It’s rumored the YouTuber is tapping into the #FreeBritney movement and will use that as the subject of his first video back on the platform. Allegedly, Dawson has been interviewing people on the Britney Spears movement as a part of his video, however, he has not commented on it.
What Led to the YouTuber’s Downfall?
Back in June of 2020, Dawson uploaded a video titled Taking Accountability. In the 20-minute video, he apologized for using blackface and racial slurs in his earlier content. “Blackface was something that I did a lot… on my channel. And there’s no excuse for it. There’s literally no excuse. I made a video six years ago talking about it and I gave excuses and it was wrong.” He goes on to explain that he now sees what was wrong with his actions. He also apologized for the use of the N-word in his videos. “I’m sorry that I added to the normalization of blackface or the normalization of saying the N-word. It’s not a funny word. Especially for a white person to say.” he said.
Prior to uploading Taking Accountability, Dawson had a long trajectory on the platform, even earning the title “King of YouTube” from some of his loyal subscribers. Over the years, he shifted from controversial comedy skits and rebranded as a Docu-series channel, bringing redemption to other controversial YouTubers like Tana Mongeau and Jake Paul. Dawson also collaborated with Jeffree Star, who is now a close friend of the 32 year-old YouTuber. Dawson released a makeup palette with Jeffree Star Cosmetics last year.
After the apology video from Dawson, fans called out the YouTuber for his lack of makeup content after the release of his palette and accused him of using the palette as a quick cash grab. This was among the other offensive videos that resurfaced after his apology video. The videos showed a younger Dawson joking inappropriately about children, using blackface and racial slurs, and even a clip of him displaying sexual behavior towards a then underage Willow Smith poster.
This caught the attention of the Smith family who publicly spoke out and condemned Dawson’s behavior. “Shane Dawson … I’m done with the excuses.” said Jada Pinkett Smith.
Jaden Smith was “disgusted” by the YouTuber in now-deleted tweets, stating his behavior was “far from funny and not okay in the slightest bit.”
Brands like Morphe pulled Dawson’s products from their website shortly after and YouTube demonetized his videos.
Since then, Dawson has quietly sold his products with Jeffree Star Cosmetics and other merchandise through Star’s Killer Merch website.
