Sponsors drop David Dobrik after Vlog Squad controversies: EA, HBO, Bumble, more

YouTube sensation David Dobrik is having a tough time following allegations made against the Vlog Squad, and that includes losing out on sponsorship money.

Earlier in March 2021, allegations surfaced regarding Dominykas Zeglaitis, better known as former Vlog Squad member ‘Durte Dom,’ regarding sexual assault of a woman “too intoxicated to consent” during the filming of a video in 2018.

Hannah, who was 20 years old at the time, claims Zeglaitis, then aged 23, of engaging in sexual activity while she was “so incapacitated” she couldn’t consent. Dobrik filmed Hannah and her friends engaging with several members from the Vlog Squad.

Now, following the allegations, Dobrik himself is potentially missing out on hundreds of thousands of dollars through the collapse of business relationships. The likes of EA Sports, Audible, HBO, and General Mills have all confirmed that they will no longer work with him.

List of sponsors that have dropped David Dobrik

While Dobrik does indeed generate revenue from adverts on his videos, it’s clear that sponsorships are a big driver of income for him.

• Read More: Trisha Paytas slams David Dobrik’s apology video

A report from Business Insider states that Dobrik’s sponsorship from grooming brand Dollar Shave Club has ended, delivery service DoorDash explained that they “profoundly condemns the behavior of the Vlog Squad members,” and FIFA developers EA Sports (who once gifted him a Lamborghini for a YouTube video) have no plans to continue their relationship.

Streaming platform HBO Max, social platform Facebook, Amazon’s audiobook company Audible, browser extension Honey, delivery service Postmates, and food companies General Mills, Chipotle, Frank’s RedHot, and Hello Fresh have also confirmed they’re no longer working with Dobrik and his fellow Vlog Squad members.

Additionally, Bumble, the dating app, has cut all ties with the YouTuber as well citing a “zero-tolerance policy when it comes to abuse, misogyny, or threatening behavior of any kind.”

Previously, Dobrik had run giveaways through the app, with a profile of him appearing, letting users swipe right to ‘virtually date’ him.

https://twitter.com/defnoodles/status/1374027587945517063

Sponsorships allow Dobrik and his team to execute on lavish and adventurous video ideas, like gifting his friends Teslas, paying off college tuitions, and expensive giveaways. The creator broke his silence on the matter on March 17, releasing a short apology video on the YouTube channel for his VIEWS podcast.

“I love being able to make people happy for a living. That’s all that I want to do,” he said. “That being said, consent is something that’s super important to me. Whether I’m shooting with a friend or a stranger, I always make sure I have the approval from that person. There’ve been moments where I’ve looked back on videos and I’ve realized these don’t represent me anymore.”