Current:Home > NewsMiranda Sings YouTuber Colleen Ballinger Breaks Silence on Grooming Allegations With Ukulele Song -Streamline Finance
Miranda Sings YouTuber Colleen Ballinger Breaks Silence on Grooming Allegations With Ukulele Song
View
Date:2025-04-18 08:13:07
Colleen Ballinger is singing her side of the story.
The YouTuber, best known for her awkward alter ego Miranda Sings, refuted allegations of grooming and forming inappropriate relationships with underage fans in musical vlog on June 28. While strumming a ukulele, Ballinger likened the accusations to a "toxic gossip train" headed for "manipulation station" as the rest of the internet "tie me to the tracks and harass me for my past."
"Some people are saying things about me that just aren't true," she said in a sing-song voice. "Even though my team has strongly advised me not to say what I'm going to say, I realized they never said I couldn't sing about what I want to say."
Ballinger, 36, went on to explain how she used to message her fans "to be besties with everybody" earlier in her career, but "didn't understand that maybe there should be some boundaries there."
As a result, according to the Haters Back Off star, there were "times in the DMs when I would overshare details of my life—which was really weird of me—and I haven't done that in years because I changed my behavior and took accountability."
Earlier this month, Ballinger was accused of grooming her fans when YouTuber KodeeRants shared screenshots of an alleged text exchange between actress and her fans. Per NBC News, the unverified group text was named "Colleeny's Weenies," with Ballinger allegedly asking fans their "favorite position" during one conversation.
In her ukulele video, Ballinger addressed the recent online chatter over her past, singing, "I thought you wanted me to take accountability, but that's not the point of your mob mentality. Your goal is to ruin the life of the person you despise while you dramatize your lies and monetize their demise."
"I'm sure you're disappointed in my s--tty little song, I know you wanted me to say that I was 100 percent in the wrong," she continued. "Well, I'm sorry I'm not gonna take that route of admitting to lies and rumors that you made up for clout."
And while Ballinger confessed to making "jokes in poor taste" and "lots of dumb mistakes," she denied ever sending inappropriate messages to teenage fans with the intention of grooming them.
"I just wanted to say that thing I've ever groomed is my two Persian cats," Ballinger added. "I'm not a groomer. I'm just a loser who didn't understand I shouldn't respond to fans."
Allegations over Ballinger's behavior previously surfaced back in 2020, when fellow YouTube star Adam McIntyre accused her of putting him in uncomfortable situations between the ages of 13 and 16. In a video titled "colleen ballinger, stop lying," he specifically called out a past livestream where Ballinger sent him lingerie.
At the time, Ballinger responded to McIntyre and acknowledged that the underwear stunt was "completely stupid," saying in a separate apology video, "I should have never sent that."
"I don't know what part of my brain was missing at the time that I thought, 'Oh, this is a normal, silly thing to do,'" added Ballinger. "But I am not a monster."
(E! and NBC News are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News AppveryGood! (8681)
Related
- Rolling Loud 2024: Lineup, how to stream the world's largest hip hop music festival
- Texas women denied abortions for ectopic pregnancies file complaints against hospitals
- Left in Debby's wake: Storm floods homes, historic battlefield
- 17 RushTok-Approved Essentials to Help You Survive Rush Week 2024, Starting at Just $2
- Macy's says employee who allegedly hid $150 million in expenses had no major 'impact'
- Injured Ferguson police officer wanted to improve department ‘from the inside,’ ex-supervisor says
- Fans go off on Grayson Allen's NBA 2K25 rating
- Below Deck Med's Captain Sandy Confronts Rude Guests Over Difficult Behavior—and One Isn't Having it
- 2 killed, 3 injured in shooting at makeshift club in Houston
- Kourtney Kardashian, Blake Lively, and Kate Hudson's Favorite BaubleBar Halloween Earrings Are Back!
Ranking
- Opinion: Gianni Infantino, FIFA sell souls and 2034 World Cup for Saudi Arabia's billions
- Fall in Love with Disney X Kate Spade’s Lady and the Tramp Collection: Fetch Deals Starting at Just $29
- British energy giant reports violating toxic pollutant limits at Louisiana wood pellet facilities
- New York’s Green Amendment Would Be ‘Toothless’ if a Lawsuit Is Tossed Against the Seneca Meadows Landfill for Allegedly Emitting Noxious Odors
- Federal Spending Freeze Could Have Widespread Impact on Environment, Emergency Management
- Get 1000s of Old Navy Deals Under $25, 72% Off T3 Hair Tools, 70% Off Michael Kors & More Discounts
- Massachusetts fugitive wanted for 1989 rapes arrested after 90-minute chase through LA
- All-Star Dearica Hamby sues WNBA, Aces alleging discrimination, retaliation for being pregnant
Recommendation
DoorDash steps up driver ID checks after traffic safety complaints
Why Chappell Roan Scolded VIP Section During Her Outside Lands Concert
Chick-fil-A's Banana Pudding Milkshake is returning for the first time in over a decade
Death of Ohio man who died while in police custody ruled a homicide by coroner’s office
Warm inflation data keep S&P 500, Dow, Nasdaq under wraps before Fed meeting next week
Matt Kuchar bizarrely stops playing on 72nd hole of Wyndham Championship
Montana State University President Waded Cruzado announces retirement
Porsha Williams Mourns Death of Cousin and Costar Yolanda “Londie” Favors