YouTube has become a source of different kinds of entertainment, but the type that draws the most attention a.k.a. “views” are pranks, both the good-natured and mean-spirited ones. To what extent would a YouTuber go in a prank to get lots of views on YouTube?
It looks like Cordero James Brady, a famous YouTuber known as CJ So Cool, can go as far as putting the health of his kids at risk.
In a video that has since been taken down, CJ could be seen pouring laxatives on ice cream that he then served to his kids. An hour and a half later, the children experienced stomach pains and they could be seen crying, holding their stomach, and running to the toilet. It was grueling to watch, but what was more appalling was that CJ followed his kids to the toilet while cracking jokes and laughing at them.
The 29-year old father seemed to be unaware about the health risk he exposed his children to. Taking excessive laxatives when your bowel movement is normal could make your stomach hurt so much you could faint. More harmful and long term side effects include dehydration and kidney failure.
While this isn’t the first time that CJ pulled pranks on his family, this can very well be the worst. The video was taken down after Babe.net listed all the demeaning things CJ did to rack up YouTube views.
The article cited Dr. Kortney Peagram, the founder of an organization called Bulldog Solution which aims to end child abuse. Dr. Peagram said, “Harming your child on purpose with laxatives is child abuse. That’s child endangerment. [He is] ‘harming his children and bullying them to pull pranks on each other, it is really disturbing. He’s modeling inappropriate behavior and encouraging it by laughter… He’s teaching his children that it’s okay to harm each other for a good laugh.”
Other pranks CJ pulled on his family ar:
- He made his wife think that one of their kids drowned in the pool.
- He made his family think they’d lost their house.
- He woke his children up by lighting fireworks inside their room.
- He threw a waterproof speaker on the pool to make his kids think that they are going to be electrocuted.
- He made them think someone stole their brand new car.
- He convinced his kids that he cut their hair.
- He destroyed their toys to see their reaction.
Some of these videos are already taken down, but this about sums up what this father can do just to garner views and earn money on YouTube. Of course, CJ also has some good deeds on published YouTube such as feeding the homeless, surprising his family with a grand mansion, and giving away gifts. These videos show how much of a loving father and caring person he could be if he wasn’t acting like a complete and totally irredeemable ass.
The laxative video was used in a criminal case against CJ Brady who now has a record with Child Protective Services. CJ’s YouTube channel was disabled during the investigation, but it is now up again with more than 6.5 million subscribers and the YouTuber had been posting regular content ever since.
For the sake of YouTube views
CJ Brady is only one among thousands on YouTube that are willing to do degrading, unthinkable, and sometimes offensive things for the sake of YouTube views:
- Logan Paul is one good example of this. The YouTube star vlogged his way to a Japanese suicide forest and didn’t stop filming even when they found a body hanging on a tree. Not only that, but he cracked jokes, seemingly making light of the man’s suicide.
- In another video, Logan Paul can also be seen mocking people who toss coins in the Sensoji Temple offerings box.
- Another YouTuber known as DaddyOfFive was charged with child neglect after they pulled a prank on their children. He lost custody over two of his kids as a result.
Several YouTubers do similar things to gain thousands and even millions of views which translates to income. The majority of the time, this is the only source of income for these families so they have to find a way to catch the attention of the viewers. Even so, money is too shallow a reason for subjecting children to humiliation and physical or emotional pain.
We hope that the CJ Brady, Logan Paul and DaddyOfFive on YouTube will find other ways to earn money on YouTube that doesn’t require tormenting their family members in pranks and gags that can affect them psychologically.