Onision

Jackson created his channel in 2006 but did not upload any content until October 2007.[2][10] His earliest clips featured a character named Chibi, whom fans interpreted as a parody of Fred Figglehorn.[2] In 2019, Insider wrote that Jackson was "best known for his objectifying content and controversial reputation", and detailed that "he rates pictures that women submit to him, gives his opinions on their bodies, and comments on other YouTubers".[3]

In 2009, Jackson uploaded "Banana Song (I'm a Banana)", which went viral. The video featured Jackson "jumping around screaming in a banana suit",[3] as well as his first wife, Skye Tantaga.[2] "Banana Song" was featured on Comedy Central series Tosh.0 as the "Viewer Video of the Week" in 2010.[13]

In 2011, Jackson posted a number of clips with his then-girlfriend Shiloh Hoganson.[2] The clips were scripted but presented in a manner many fans interpreted as unscripted. In some of them, however, Hoganson is seen apparently experiencing transient amnesia; Adrienne Jourgensen, an ex-girlfriend of Jackson's, published a letter stating that Jackson believed Hoganson was lying about her memory loss.[2] Jackson and Hoganson later stated that she was pregnant but suffered a miscarriage.[2][8] In 2019, a video featuring Hoganson resurfaced online; in it, Jackson is heard telling her, "You know this video is never going to be online, right? No one will ever know how much I abuse you", before hurling candy corns at her and laughing.[14]

Jackson's on-camera and off-camera activity has received criticism from online media outlets as well as from fellow online content creators. In 2010, Tubefilter listed Jackson as one of "5 YouTubers On Their Way Up", alongside Shane Dawson and the Fine Brothers. The outlet described Jackson's channel as frequently updated with a "very rough, in-your-face R-rated style" and called Jackson "the most controversial YouTuber."[7] In 2012, The Daily Dot described Jackson as "known for his militant vegetarianism, sex appeal, comedic skits, and controversial views on topics like circumcision."[15] The publication has also criticized his content on multiple occasions; in 2013, James Cook wrote for the outlet, calling Jackson "YouTube's most troubled star".[8]

In 2018, Jackson was included on a Daily Dot-published list of six YouTubers "worse" than Logan Paul.[9] The outlet opined that "[Jackson's] videos these days [2018] are just as obnoxious and irritating as they were nine years ago when he first struck YouTube gold with a truly terrible song about being a banana."[9] Jackson has also received criticism from fellow YouTubers, notably Daniel Sulzbach (known online as "MrRepzion" or "Repzion") and Blaire White.[2][16] In a 2019 email to Insider, Jackson shared that "People hated me, with a passion, for my opinions I openly held."[3]

Jackson was banned from VidCon 2012 due to a video in which he stated that, since Jourgensen slept with more than 20 people before she was with him, she is a "slut" and therefore cannot be "raped".[2][15] The video then received backlash from viewers outside of Jackson's core audience, as noted by NewMediaRockstars and The Daily Dot.[2][15] VidCon co-founder Hank Green issued an email to Jackson stating "if it is possible that you will not be safe, we will not let you come [to VidCon]."[2]

In November 2019, Jackson was banned from Patreon after posting the phone number of fellow YouTube creator Billie Dawn Webb, who claimed she had been groomed by and manipulated into a sexual relationship with Jackson. At the time, Webb was among several women who had accused Jackson and his spouse of harassment, manipulation, and abuse.[16][17] Patreon confirmed in a statement to The Verge that they had banned Jackson "as he violated our Bullying and Harassment [policy] as it relates to doxing."[17] In response to the ban, Jackson uploaded a video of him seemingly contorting himself, screaming, pouring kombucha on himself, and shouting, "What am I going to do now?"[16] Jackson subsequently opened a new web site where his supporters could re-donate.[16] In a video soon after, Jackson announced that the site was shut down shortly after its launch.[18]

In January 2021, following the release of Onision: In Real Life, Jackson's channels were suspended from the YouTube Partner Program.[19][20][21]

In 2019, allegations of child grooming and abuse were levied at Jackson and his spouse, Kai Avaroe.[3] Jackson responded by stating that "the grooming stuff is absolute nonsense."[3] As aforementioned, Webb also made allegations of abuse by Jackson and Avaroe, stating that she was sent texts asking her to "be chained to [the] basement wall for a week with a sign around [her] neck that says 'I'm sorry for lying.'"[3]

When reached by Insider for a comment in response to these allegations, Jackson requested $10,000 for an interview and stated: "I do not want to participate in this circus without compensation, I should be paid to endure to [sic] stupidity of the current state of outrage/online culture."[3]

On January 9, 2020, Jackson called 9-1-1 on American television journalist Chris Hansen and his lawyer, Mike Morse, for knocking on his door. He described Hansen and his crew as "YouTuber stalkers... Yelling things at [him] through the door", although footage taken by Hansen's crew on the day of the incident showed no such incidents taking place. He had previously asked Hansen for $350,000 in order to be interviewed. Morse stated that "It concerns me that he [has] two kids in the home," and that he "really didn't like hearing about this guy on Have a Seat with Chris Hansen."[22] Jackson and Avaroe have since filed two petitions for an order of protection from unlawful harassment conduct, one (also on behalf of their children) against Hansen and the other against Sulzbach, who has hired a criminal attorney for the case, which was on January 24 at the Pierce County District Court in Washington state, according to their court database.[4] There, it turned out Jackson had served the wrong Chris Hansen[23] and had requested to dismiss both petitions because he was advised to consider an "alternative, more effective legal action against both defendants".[24] This dismissal request was granted.[25]

In 2019, Jackson was fined $90,000 by the Planning & Public Works Department of Pierce County, Washington for disturbing a wetland area.[26] As of December 2019, Jackson claimed that he had paid the fee and that he was currently replanting the area.[26]

In early 2020, a police report detailing an incident from September 2019 was leaked, in which Jackson's two-year-old daughter had fallen from Jackson's second-story window onto their concrete driveway. The report further states, however, that the incident was deemed accidental and judged insufficient for Child Protective Services to get involved.[27] Police reported the child is recovering well.[28]