*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.

I heard about their channel last night from Philip DeFranco talking about it and I'm genuinely shocked that the family claim they have been investigated by CPS and where cleared. One of the videos shows the dad pushing Cody face first into a bookcase. Another where the dad picks up Cody by the arms and legs and chucks himont the floor whilst hitting his head on the bedframe. The things they say to him too are so cruel. Then there's the fact they stand back and film the other kids attacking him. I've no idea how they get away with it. I've reported to YouTube and would happily report to police etc but I don't know how to do that. Don't know the family's name or where they live. They've also had the cheek to take all the other kids to Disney World except Cody for bad behaviour. I wonder why he has bad behaviour?!

Thank you SO much for all the reporting and emails being sent!

feedtheshark thank you so much for getting your DH to do that; although your English appears to be perfectly understandable on this forum!

They ARE getting money from advertising, and also from merchandise. They also have instagram accounts which I will attempt to find the names for. These people should be barred from all platforms.

That poor child, If you find their Instagram account and it contains child abuse please PM me.

This is one thread I hope the Daily Mail do pick up on. The more people who flag this up the better. I can't bear to watch it as the stills are enough for me. Poor little boy deserves so much better

Yes codename you are correct; Cody's dad picks him up in the adoption video and he drops onto the floor and as he lands; his head hits the bed frame and it looks sickeningly painful.

He wasn't taken to Disney because he smeared faeces over the walls in his bedroom. This is a major flag for abuse and emotional distress. I would estimate Cody is between 6 - 8. His teen brothers also assault him; and in the DS video, they 'fake' run at him as if they will attack him, and Cody cringes away into a little ball whilst sobbing.

I am very sorry if my descriptions are upsetting anyone; it's just I feel that some people may not want to watch the videos, or really understand just how bad they are. Yes, they are that bad. Again, I apologise to anyone who feels triggered by reading this thread and the descriptions within.

Can I just say OP I think you've done a really good thing in bringing this to everyone's attention on here. It may not be to everyone's liking but I will be one trigger, one email, one person that could save that young man! Thank you OP!!!

The mother has a YouTube account under MommyOFive, but I don't believe there are any videos containing this level of abuse on there. She has just over 95k followers.

His Twitter handle is @ MikeMartin1982

His Instagram is now private, but you can request to follow theofficialdaddyofive although I have no idea if he will accept new followers.

He also runs another YouTube channel; DaddyOFive Gaming.

I may actually email the DM tomorrow with this; they may well follow up on it.

JessKM

DJBaggySmalls I have requested to follow his account on Insta. If he accepts, and I find anything on there I will PM you, no fear.

This is sick. The poor poor child. Who on earth does things like that to a frightened child? To not take one child to Disney when his behaviour was clearly a sign for help is astounding. They are sick. I'm going to email too

I can't and won't watch but make sure you email the Mail. They'd be likely to pick up on this for sure and their readership - regardless of what you think of them - is massive

I actually cannot believe this. It's so utterly, utterly vile. It makes me sick. That poor little boy. His poor little face. I just couldn't watch anymore. I hope to God that something is done and done quickly before he's damaged any further.

I fail to see how any of the dad's behaviour can be seen as 'funny' and their language directed at their children is just foul. How that alone can't be seen as abuse I do not know.

I watched two of the clips (disgusted that that means I could have helped line their pockets further) and there's no way on earth that the little boy is acting. His distress and whole demeanour is far too real for it to be acting. How on earth could parents make their child's home life hell like this? I don't care what material goods they have.Respect, love and a home that's a safe haven will far outweigh material goods every time.
That oldest boy, Jake or whatever his name is, seems to be an out and out bully. One scene had him doing some sort of wrestling manoeuvre on the little boy which must have been extremely painful. Then again, the "mother" caught him in some type of "straightjacket" manoeuvre, for the want of a better way to describe it, so I suppose the son was emulating her. I really really hope something is done about this.
In their "defence video", Cody seemed to be far less enthusiastic about the "pranks and fun" than the rest of them did. However, I suppose with bully Mom and Dad pointing a camera at him, he couldn't exactly say how he really felt about the whole horrible exploitative nature of things, could he?
Anyway, I'm going to see if I can do that "report" thing and send an email. Such vileness really needs to be stopped.

I've reported without watching... I clicked on the Disney one then instantly paused it and reported.

From the comments it does look like other people are in to them.

OP Thankyou for flagging this up and handling it so well.

I watched the Phillip DeFranco video from the BBC link upthread, it features some pretty shocking clips. Including one where the father pushed Cody face first into a shelf, and later films him crying in his bed begging to be left alone with some red liquid on the pillow.
The father claimed it was not blood, but ink. And the mark on Cody's face was a scab

Thankyou for flagging this up. Another who will report and email where necessary to protect this little boy as much as possible

I can't bring myself to watch the videos but I will of course be reporting the videos and the channel. Poor little boy! this is so, so sad and I really hope that something gets done! Well done op for bringing it to people's attention. Let's hope this makes a difference and puts a stop to it. How disgusting.

cherry you absolutely should NOT watch if you don't want to. I feel my descriptions are more than adequate!

They are SCREAMING at the child. The father's voice actually breaks sometimes with the level of sound he is producing. The sessions go on for around 15-35 minutes, and again; that's what WE are seeing, this is the edit.

He actually has the audacity on a few of his videos, to walk round the corner after one of these sessions and start tearing up and whilst sad piano music plays in the background, says how upset he is with the situation and how he 'just can't reach' Cody and how he's just 'so tired of his behaviour'. As if Cody is the one with the problem.

All those watching the video - you DO know you're giving them even more hits and money just by watching, right?!
The more people that click and watch for whatever reason, the more money they'll get if they have ads enabled.
FGS, if it's that bad (I don't know, I've never watched it and don't want to) DON'T watch it, as you're contributing to encourage them to make more! Just report it. Don't watch.

Jeez, I aint watching but the descriptions alone are enough to shock. The moment that boy is old enough to go, he'll be out the door.

I watched the de Franco video which contains enough clips to give a flavour of these so called pranks. There is no way Cody is acting in those videos, no little boy is that good an actor! He's clearly very upset and stressed and it's horrible to watch.

Fucking hell, is this what it's come to? Thousands and thousands of people tune in to watch children being abused and nothing is actually done about it? Pretty damn depressing

How is this entertainment? Poor little boy

Has anyone been getting "error reporting video" messages?

I've also just found this from Facebook....

www.change.org/p/youtube-ban-daddyofive-from-youtube?recruiter=710209874&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=autopublish&utm_term=des-lg-no_src-reason_msg

I reported one video and the channel procrastination and didn't get an error message...