YouTube star Jenna Marbles quits channel amid blackface backlash

June 26, 2020

YouTube star Jenna Marbles says she’s signing off… for now.

The YouTube star, whose real name is Jenna Mourey, announced Thursday via her channel that she will no longer be producing content due the backlash she has faced over past videos, including several in which she dons blackface.

In a video called “A Message,” Mourey says, “I feel like we’re at a time where we are purging ourselves of anything and everything toxic.”

She has over 20.2 million followers on the video-based platform.

The videos in question, now made private by Mourey, were made from 2011-2012. In one, she dons blackface to impersonate rapper Nikki Minaj. In another video widely scorned on social media, she raps about Asian people with lyrics that include “Hey Ching Chong Wing Wong, shake your King Kong ding dong.” Yet another video is dedicated to shaming women who “slept around.”

“I do want to tell you how unbelievably sorry I am if I ever offended you by posting this video or by doing this impression, and that that was never my intention,” Mourey said.

“It’s not okay. It’s shameful. It’s awful. I wish it wasn’t part of my past.”

Mourey created her channel back in 2010, when YouTube was in its infancy. Her videos quickly racked up over 3 billion views.

In her apology video, the internet sensation says she’s moving on “for now.”

“I don’t know how long it’s going to be. I just want to make sure the things I’m putting in the world aren’t hurting anyone … so I need to be done with this channel, for now or for forever.”

Her video was met by fans with mixed feelings on social media.

“Hold social influencers accountable. Hold public figures accountable. Do not let people get away with problematic things just because they’re famous or rich,” one fan wrote on YouTube.

“Let’s stop normalizing going back through 10 years of somebody’s life hoping you stumble upon a mistake to try and ruin their life,” YouTube star and singer Gabbie Hanna said.

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