Current:Home > ScamsMiranda Sings YouTuber Colleen Ballinger Breaks Silence on Grooming Allegations With Ukulele Song -AdvancementTrade
Miranda Sings YouTuber Colleen Ballinger Breaks Silence on Grooming Allegations With Ukulele Song
View
Date:2025-04-19 03:13:28
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! (52566)
Related
- Former longtime South Carolina congressman John Spratt dies at 82
- Nine QB trade, free agency options for Vikings after Kirk Cousins' injury: Who could step in?
- The Nightmare Before Christmas Turns 30
- Israel opens new phase in war against Hamas, Netanyahu says, as Gaza ground operation expands
- Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
- U.S. attorney for Central California told Congress David Weiss had full authority to charge Hunter Biden in the state
- Ex-cop who fired into Breonna Taylor’s apartment in flawed, fatal raid goes on trial again
- Mega Millions winning numbers for Oct. 27: See if you won the $137 million jackpot
- 'Survivor' 47 finale, part one recap: 2 players were sent home. Who's left in the game?
- Travis Barker Slams “Ridiculous” Speculation He’s the Reason for Kourtney and Kim Kardashian’s Feud
Ranking
- Federal appeals court upholds $14.25 million fine against Exxon for pollution in Texas
- Death toll lowered to 7 in Louisiana super fog highway crashes involving 160 vehicles
- Kaitlin Armstrong murder trial set to begin in slaying of professional cyclist
- How does 'Billions' end? Axe falls on a rival. Your guide to the dramatic series finale
- NHL in ASL returns, delivering American Sign Language analysis for Deaf community at Winter Classic
- A cosplay model claims she stabbed her fiancé in self-defense; prosecutors say security cameras prove otherwise
- No candy for you. Some towns ban older kids from trick-or-treating on Halloween
- NFL Sunday Ticket streaming problems? You're not alone, as fans grumble to YouTube
Recommendation
Biden administration makes final diplomatic push for stability across a turbulent Mideast
Why Matthew Perry was 'Friends' with all of us: Remembering the iconic actor
Can you dye your hair while pregnant? Here’s how to style your hair safely when expecting.
Barack Obama on restoring the memory of American hero Bayard Rustin
Who's hosting 'Saturday Night Live' tonight? Musical guest, how to watch Dec. 14 episode
Newly elected regional lawmaker for a far-right party arrested in Germany
Israel opens new phase in war against Hamas, Netanyahu says, as Gaza ground operation expands
Mass shootings over Halloween weekend leave at least 11 dead across US