Evie Summers
YouTuber Cody Ko has been accused by fellow YouTuber Tana Mongeau of having sex with her when she was 17 and he was 25. Mongeau, now 26, first made the allegations during a live recording of her podcast in Sacramento, California. Ko, a Canadian YouTuber, podcaster, comedian, and rapper, has over nine million subscribers across five channels. He took a hiatus from YouTube following the allegations, and his channel lost around 250,000 subscribers in the following 30 days.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the accused | Cody Ko |
| Name of the accuser | Tana Mongeau |
| Age of the accuser at the time of the incident | 17 |
| Age of the accused at the time of the incident | 25 |
| Year of the incident | 2024 |
| Location of the incident | Florida |
| Nature of the incident | Sexual intercourse |
| Status of allegations | Unproven |
| Response of the accused | Denial |
| Impact on the accused | Loss of subscribers, sponsors, and income |
| Current status of the accused | Active on YouTube |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
YouTuber Tana Mongeau's allegations
YouTuber Tana Mongeau alleged that Cody Ko had sex with her when she was 17 and he was 25. The claim was made during a live recording of her podcast 'Cancelled' in Sacramento, California, in May 2024. During the show, Mongeau said she slept with Ko when she was 17 in response to a question from an audience member. She said: "Oh my god, no one look at me. Cody Ko". She further addressed her statement during an episode of her podcast, saying: "To be 100 percent truthful, when I look back at the Cody situation, I definitely am...". Mongeau also reflected on the situation, saying that she thought it was wrong of Ko and that she wouldn't do something like that now. She said: "I hooked up with Cody Ko when I was 17 and he was 25... At 25 now, I would never do anything like that so I'm like, 'What the fk was wrong with you?'".
YouTuber D'Angelo Wallace addressed the allegations in a video in July, and they gained widespread attention. According to Florida law, sex between someone under 18 and someone over 24 is categorised as statutory rape. There are currently no court cases related to the allegations.
Cody Ko took an unofficial hiatus from his YouTube channel, which has 5.76 million subscribers, following the allegations. He broke his silence six months later in a 21-minute video uploaded to his side channel, which has 272,000 subscribers. In the video, he said: "Obviously, I understand I've been offline for months, haven't made videos for that whole time. I also understand if your opinion of me has potentially changed over the last few months. I spent the first half of my career criticizing people and judging people online, so I don't begrudge your judgement of me by any means".
Sleep Training a 2-Month-Old: Is It Possible?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The incident at Playlist Live in Florida
In May 2024, YouTuber Tana Mongeau stated on her podcast Cancelled that she and YouTuber Cody Ko had sex when she was 17 and he was 25. This incident allegedly took place at Playlist Live in Florida.
During the podcast episode, Mongeau was asked a question by an audience member, to which she replied, "Oh my god, no one look at me. Cody Ko... I can say that, I was literally 17." Mongeau further reflected on the situation, stating that she now believes it was wrong of Ko and that she wouldn't do something like that now being that age. She also shared that YouTuber Gabbie Hanna had informed Cody about her age before the incident.
Following Mongeau's allegation, Ko took a hiatus from his YouTube channel, which has 5.76 million subscribers. In December 2024, he broke his silence in a 21-minute video uploaded to his side channel, where he briefly addressed his absence from the internet. While he acknowledged that people's opinions of him may have changed, he did not directly address the allegations.
In Florida, where the incident allegedly occurred, the law for statutory rape states that "a child under 16 years of age cannot consent to sexual activity, regardless of the age of the defendant. A child who is at least 16 years of age and less than 18 years of age cannot consent to sexual activity if the defendant is 24 years of age or older."
The allegation caused a significant backlash for Ko, with his YouTube channel losing around 250,000-300,000 subscribers in the following 30 days, according to Social Blade. In July 2024, he was spotted DJing in a club in Las Vegas, where he played the song "Sorry" by Justin Bieber, which some fans interpreted as an apology.
Establishing Healthy Sleep Patterns for Your One-Year-Old
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Cody Ko's hiatus from YouTube
YouTuber Cody Ko took an unofficial hiatus from his YouTube channel in July 2024, following allegations that he had sex with internet personality Tana Mongeau when she was 17 years old and he was 25. Mongeau first made the allegations during a live recording of her podcast in Sacramento, California. She later doubled down on the allegations on her podcast and the Trisha Paytas podcast, Just Trish.
Ko's channel, which has over 5.76 million subscribers, laid dormant for six months. In December 2024, Ko broke his silence, uploading a 21-minute video to his side channel with 272,000 subscribers. However, he only spent around two minutes explaining his recent absence from the internet.
During his hiatus, Ko reportedly got into marathon running and signed up for his first ultramarathon. He documented his running training on a separate channel, Cody Trains, and ran three more marathons and an Ironman Triathlon by late 2023.
It is unclear whether Ko plans to return to his primary YouTube channel. In his December 2024 video, he acknowledged that his opinion of certain people may have changed over the years:
> I spent the first half of my career criticizing people and judging people online, so I don’t begrudge your judgement of me by any means.
Some sources claim that Ko's hiatus was not related to the allegations but rather a pursuit of his dream to become a DJ.
Safe Tummy Sleeping for Babies: When to Start?
You may want to see also
Mongeau's reflection on the situation
YouTuber Tana Mongeau's allegation that Cody Ko had sex with her when she was 17 and he was 25 has sparked widespread controversy and caused significant damage to Ko's career and reputation. Mongeau, now 26, made the allegation in May 2024 during a live recording of her podcast "Cancelled" in Sacramento, California. She later elaborated on the situation during an episode of the same podcast and on Trisha Paytas' podcast, "Just Trish".
Reflecting on the situation, Mongeau expressed that she now sees that she was taken advantage of and that it was wrong of Ko to have slept with her when she was underage. She also claimed that fellow YouTuber Gabbie Hanna had informed Ko of her age before the incident, but he still proceeded. Mongeau acknowledged that she does not associate the experience with trauma, but the negative reaction from people online was still "heartbreaking".
The allegation has had a significant impact on Ko's career, resulting in a loss of subscribers and a hiatus from his main YouTube channel. Ko eventually broke his silence in a 21-minute video uploaded to his side channel, where he addressed his absence and expressed understanding if people's opinions of him had changed. He also mentioned his preparation for a marathon, which may be a reference to his focus on marathon running during the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to deal with the controversy.
While there are no court cases related to the allegations, public figures like Dave Portnoy have shared their opinions, stating that Ko "should be in jail" for his actions. The situation has also led to discussions about the legality of the incident, as Florida law, where the alleged sex took place, forbids sexual activity if one partner is under 18 and the other is over 24.
Overall, Mongeau's reflection on the situation seems to be one of regret and disappointment. She recognizes that she was taken advantage of and that Ko's actions were wrong, especially considering her underage status. The incident has also sparked conversations about consent, statutory rape, and the power dynamics between older and younger individuals in relationships.
Sleep-talking in Children: What It Means and How to Help
You may want to see also
The legal implications
YouTuber Cody Ko took a hiatus from his channel after allegations surfaced that he had sex with internet personality Tana Mongeau when she was 17 years old and he was 25. The age of consent is the age at which a person is considered legally able to agree to sexual activity. While the age of consent is typically 16 in most countries, it varies depending on the jurisdiction.
Legal Implications
In the United States, the age of consent varies from 16 to 18 years, depending on the state. There are also federal laws that apply in specific cases, such as when the sexual activity involves interstate travel or online communication with a minor. These laws set the age of consent at 18. If the partner is in a position of trust or authority towards the minor, this also affects the legal implications.
In the case of Cody Ko and Tana Mongeau, the incident allegedly took place in California, where the age of consent is 18. Therefore, even if Mongeau had consented, she was below the legal age to do so. This would constitute statutory rape, which is a criminal offence.
In Canada, the age of consent is 16 years. However, there are exceptions to this rule. For example, if the older person is in a position of power, trust, or authority, the age of consent may be higher. Additionally, a 16 or 17-year-old cannot consent to sexual activity if they are dependent on their sexual partner or if the relationship is exploitative.
It is important to note that, as of the time of the allegations, there were no court cases related to the incident. However, the legal implications could include criminal charges for Ko, potentially resulting in jail time.
Taggie Time: Safe Sleep for Your 6-Month-Old?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
YouTuber Cody Ko has been accused by fellow YouTuber Tana Mongeau of having sex with her when she was 17 and he was 25.
Mongeau first made the allegations in May 2024 during a live recording of her podcast Cancelled in Sacramento, California.
Ko initially did not respond to the allegations. He stepped down from day-to-day operations at TMG Studios and took a hiatus from YouTube for several months. He eventually returned to his side channel in December 2024, uploading a 21-minute video that briefly addressed his absence.
Ko's YouTube channel lost around 250,000
The allegations sparked a backlash against Ko, with some calling for him to be held legally accountable. YouTuber D'Angelo Wallace uploaded a video covering the subject, and fellow YouTuber Gabbie Hanna claimed she had warned Ko about Mongeau's age. Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports, stated that Ko "should be in jail" for the alleged incident.
