31 July 2023 at 20:11
Jake Paul is not only a professional boxer, but with twenty million subscribers, he is one of the largest American YouTubers. He mainly makes the news with his bad boy-image. Now he tells his story in his own Netflix documentary.
The 26-year-old boyfriend of skater Jutta Leerdam started making videos for the Vine app, which was popular at the time, in high school. With his short videos he quickly manages to rake together five million followers and about two billion views.
The films prove so successful that Paul decides to drop out of school. Together with his two year older brother Logan, he moves to Los Angeles. They rent a gigantic villa in an upscale neighborhood, where they create content for their YouTube channel with a group of friends.
The videos – mainly those in which others are fooled – quickly become so successful that large groups of fans gather around the gates of the villa every day. Much to the chagrin of local residents. They are not only bothered by the hordes of fans, but also by the Paul brothers and their friends. The police are regularly on the doorstep after complaints about noise nuisance, or because a stunt gets out of hand.
Thanks to his success on YouTube, Paul signs a contract with Disney and stars in the series Bizaardvark. But when Paul comes into contact with the police several times, the entertainment group decides against further cooperation.
Paul in the ring against boxer and Love Island contestant Tommy Fury Photo: Getty Images
‘I’m an entertainer, period’
Paul decides to make a trip to music in 2017 and releases the single I’ts Everyday Bro in which he sings about how rich and famous he is. The video clip has now been viewed almost 300 million times, but it is also one of the videos with the most dislikes on Youtube.
Again Paul takes a different tack: in 2019, the influencer announces that he aspires to a professional boxing career. He appropriately chooses the nickname ‘The Problem Child’. “I’m an entertainer, period,” he says in a profile of ESPN about this career switch. “Only the way I entertain changes as I get older.”
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Looting, Scams and Sexual Misconduct
The American media also gives Paul a nickname: ‘bad boy’. His controversial statements are regularly discussed. For example, he calls the corona pandemic a hoax and organizes large parties despite the restrictions.
In addition, the YouTuber would be involved in looting after Black Lives Matter protests. He apologizes for this, but denies all allegations of violence. In 2020, the FBI raids his home. According to the YouTuber, this has to do with the looting, but this has never been confirmed.
The influencer is also linked to several scams. For example, he sells an online program in which he teaches young people how to become successful online, but this turns out to be only a list of tips. In addition, he would promote giveaways where the winners never get their prize. His name is also linked to crypto company SafeMoon, which is being sued for providing misleading information.
The controversy surrounding Paul does not end here. In 2021, American TikTokker Justine Paradise claims that Paul forced her to perform oral sex. Paul denies, after which his fans threaten the woman online. Model and actress Railey Loillie also accuses the YouTuber of sexual misconduct.
Leerdam and Paul announced their relationship in April. Photo: Jutta Leerdam Instagram
‘My story has never been told before’
All the controversy turns out to be a great revenue model for Paul. In 2018, he is in second place of the Forbes top ten highest paid YouTubers, with an estimated turnover of 21.5 million dollars (more than 20 million euros). The magazine estimates that by 2021 he will have earned about $38 million from professional boxing. That makes him the first influencer to rank so high in the sports list Forbes stands. His current value is estimated to be between $17 and $30 million.
With the documentary UNTOLD: Jake Paul The Problem Child Paul wants to tell his story himself. “People have been able to follow my life since I was sixteen, but my story has never been told,” says the influencer on Instagram. According to Netflix, it is a “fascinating portrait” that takes the viewer through Paul’s turbulent life. The documentary – which also discusses his relationship with Leerdam – will appear on Netflix on August 1.
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2023-07-31 18:11:00
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