*Trigger Warning* AIBU to not understand how this YouTuber isn't being investigated for child abuse?

[milkmilklemonade12]

So I actually found out about this channel via another large forum I post on. Essentially, a YouTube channel which is called DaddyOFive (it's reasonably large, around three quarters of a million subscribers) centres around a blog made by the father, with 5 children. The upshot of it is, people were angry about how the family, lead by the father; bully one of their children Cody, and pass it off as just 'good old fashioned parenting!'

At first until I checked out the videos I honestly thought it couldn't be that bad. I was horribly wrong. Some of the videos are entitled:
Dad burns Cody's Pokemon cards
Dad destroys son's DS
Dad forces son to throw away his toys
I'm sending Cody to military school

In their most recent video, because Cody had been bad (smeared poop on the walls; a recognised sign of abuse and distress), they took all the other kids to DisneyLand.

These videos are horrific, and despite them being located in the US, I really feel like CPS should be investigating and YouTube should shut the channel down for child abuse.

If you can bear to watch the videos, the guy's name is DaddyOFive, and I'd urge you to take a few minutes and report their videos for child abuse. I really don't understand how in this day and age, this kind of thing isn't investigated more quickly. The child is sobbing, and regularly in horrendous distress at the bullying at the hands of his parents and siblings, so these videos could trigger people; that's why I haven't directly linked them and why I've placed a warning on the top of my post.

Merch is standard for most youtubers, hats, t-shirts baseball caps. Then of course there are the makeup colabs with the likes of tarte cosmetics etc. In the Uk Zoella and Sam and Nic have their own line and thats just to name a few.

I never said it did negate it. It's horrible abuse. But in all likelihood they have two unsuitable parents not one.

Nobody said they had a nice house so couldn't be abusive either. Some of you appear to be reading imaginary posts.

People were complaining that CPS should have known this was going to happen and not sent the children there. I pointed out that they don't have a crystal ball and there were no obvious problem signs like untidy houses or financial problems or substance abuse.

But carry on frothing at the mouth against CPS and judges on the basis of a clearly faked report, you're clearly enjoying being outraged.

I've signed the petition. This is awful :(

All the videos have been made Private. The only one still up is their newest one where the parents talk and comments have been disabled for it. I didn't get to view any of their videos but from what I've seen in reaction videos (Daz Games, etc) it's not nice.

Can someone post the link to the petition again please?

Also where did OP hear about this guy? People are really starting to take notice and I'm wondering if it's because of the MN action or if there were already rumblings aside from the Phil DeFranco vid? Just curious. Seems everyone is talking about it now! Twitter, youtube etc.

I received this email back this morning from someone called Dave Snyder, having emailed my concerns to the address that the OP posted.

Hello, thank you for your email. We are aware of this matter.

The Frederick County Department of Social Services is the agency that would be handling this issue.

Please forward any of your concerns to Katherin Morris, Director of Communications at [email protected] or call 301-600-2401.

I think there were rumblings before, but it was the Philip D video that did it, because he has umpteen million subscribers on YT, and nearly 1m twitter followers.

I only heard about it from this thread though.

There was a twitter report and a screenshot of a GoFundMe page by Daddyofive to sue Philip D earlier today. It's apparently been taken down now - but I think the Dad is absolutely unconcerned about the children and only concerned about the money.

The really good point here is that whatever those videos are - pranks, acting or whatever - he is unconcerned about the welfare of those children. Completely unconcerned - children who act in movies have advocates looking out for them, making sure their interests are looked after. Even so, many of them end up screwed up. How screwed up are these kids going to end up?

I think the fact that mum and dad seem to have fallen silent for the last 24 hours may be indicative of something going on behind the scenes. When it was just public outrage he was very quick to talk about it. I hope the fact they've piped down and that this material is disappearing left right and centre is an indication that the appropriate agencies have stepped in and are acting

JessKM fingers crossed that Social Services are now involved.

I've seen the DeFranco posts and am absolutely shocked that any parent could treat their child this way, and also post it online for everyone to see too. There's no way that Cody won't also be being bullied at school by any kids who have seen this footage online.

No way is this "pranking". There's nothing at all funny about any of their videos. Also, if the family was pranking, then surely all of the children and the parents would be pranked, not just the youngest every single time. It's bullying plain and simple.

Hopefully Social Services will at the very least ban the parents from posting any more videos of poor Cody. A few parenting classes wouldn't do any harm either.

Also, if anyone does intend to forward their concerns to Ms Morris (as the email above suggests) please note you'll need to add an "e" to the end of her first name so - Katherine.Morris

The petition currently only has 2000 signatures... perhaps this being shared could increase the level of interest so it doesn't just die away...

The worry is that if this all just goes away, at the simplest level, all that will happen is that Cody will be punished..

Notstoppedallday was that the Ingham family by any chance?

I follow them and I was gobsmacked when the dad gave up his job, what a waste, youtube isn't going to be around forever.

Have you seen the clip daddyofive put on Twitter of Cody and Emma comforting step mum as she's crying - what I didn't realise until I watched a video talking about them if that they are listening to the interview with their real mum - making the kids listen whilst stepmum sobs and says she's a liar. Why would you even let them listen to that? Insane

Yes Darbs. The way they manipulate those children is shameful.

I'm taking this FB post as a positive step, it looks like the matter is going to court...thank the Lord

If they get prosecuted I hope they get some sort of literacy class offered in there.

What amazes me is that they have 800,000 subscribers and that's nearly a million people who think these videos and images of the kids looking terrified and confused are ok. Even as an adult some of the things that are done in them according to the titles are scary!

There is only one thing worse than an asshole and that is an asshole with a tin foil hat.

Actually I can believe 800,000 followers. I just started a thread about some boys at school and how desensitised thy are at 15. I'm going to bet now a vast amount of their subscribers are kids/teens and find it hilarious because they don't know what it is to love a child and feel the heartache and guilt of seeing them cry. My DS walked into the doorframe yesterday (he had a blanket on his head pretending to be a ghost) and I feel awful because whilst I'd warned him he'd bump into something I should have just stopped the game. Deliberately hurting a child... that's not what a real parent does.

I despise the prank culture, actually. It's not funny - and it's got so bad, so bad that an awful lot of people don't bat an eyelid at children's very real distress. Bollock is that 'acting'. I try to impress on my children that it's only funny if everyone's laughing/it's not at someone's expense.

I can't watch the videos (my choice not because they're gone!)
Those stills are etched on my brain.

I just can't comprehend how this has been allowed to happen.

@shestoodinthestorm do you want a picture of a happy child? I'm only 99% sure my son bumping his head was an accident because he instantly asked for a plaster and looked happy a kid in a sweet shop!

plain plasters have magical healing powers don't they!!!

I accidentally threw a melon at my child today whilst he was already having a tantrum - I felt like I deserved to be arrested. Don't feel bad!!!!

I haven't watched the videos of know the family but is it possible if they're big that he broke the DS for example because it'll get views and make money that to just buy a replacement DS and the videos are fake?