Onision, once a dominant figure in early YouTube culture, became infamous for his controversial behavior, volatile relationships, and accusations of grooming and manipulation. His edgy content, which initially focused on comedy and shock value, gradually gave way to disturbing allegations from former partners and fans. Investigative efforts by YouTubers like Chris Hansen and journalists exposed a pattern of predatory behavior, leading to Onision being deplatformed from major sites. Though he still lurks online, his influence has waned, cementing his legacy as one of YouTube’s most notorious figures.
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00:00What happens when a YouTube cult leader loses his grip on the internet?
00:03Oh my god! Why do you do this?
00:08At one point, Onision was one of the most recognizable faces on YouTube,
00:12known for his quirky humor, viral hits, and controversial takes. But today, his name is
00:16synonymous with grooming accusations, internet scandals, and AI-generated content that's mostly
00:21ignored by the public. Once hailed for viral videos like I'm a Banana, Onision, born Gregory
00:27James Daniel, rose to prominence during YouTube's early days with his random, eccentric humor and
00:31catchy songs. Yet his fame quickly unraveled as darker allegations about his treatment of fans
00:36and partners surfaced. Onision launched his YouTube channel in 2006 while transitioning
00:41from a stint in the U.S. Air Force. His first viral hit came with I'm So Emo, but it was the
00:452009 classic I'm a Banana that catapulted him into internet stardom. I'm a banana,
00:51I'm a banana, I'm a banana. Look at me, man!
00:57The video, featuring Onision dancing in a banana costume and repeatedly singing I'm a Banana,
01:02gained over 95 million views and solidified his status as a king of quirky early YouTube humor.
01:07His fan base primarily consisted of young, impressionable viewers who adored his random,
01:12over-the-top content. But as Onision grew his audience, cracks began to form in his
01:16carefully curated image. Onision's shift from quirky sketches to vlogs exposed a much darker
01:21side. Among his first controversies was his tendency to rate young fans' photos on his forums,
01:26critiquing their appearances — behavior many called out as predatory.
01:29Another infamous controversy involved fellow YouTuber Eugenia Cooney. Onision repeatedly
01:34made unsolicited, public comments about her appearance and health,
01:37leading to accusations of harassment and bullying.
01:42I love cucumbers!
01:44Then came the incident with Shiloh, his then-partner. Shiloh was 17 when she started
01:48dating Onision, who was 25. Their relationship reached a horrifying low point when he filmed her
01:53having a seizure and uploaded the video, drawing immense backlash. Shiloh later revealed that the
01:58stress of their relationship caused her medical issues. These events marked the beginning of
02:02Onision's downfall. By 2019, the allegations against Onision escalated when Sarah, a young
02:08woman who had lived with Onision and his partner Kai, accused them of grooming her. Sarah's claims
02:12were backed by multiple other women who detailed similar experiences of manipulation and predatory
02:17behavior. Chris Hansen, famous for To Catch a Predator, took notice and launched an investigation.
02:22He interviewed several of Onision's accusers and delved into his troubling behavior in a
02:26documentary series for Discovery+. Public outrage was swift. Onision's YouTube channel was demonetized,
02:32his Patreon account was banned, and he became a social pariah in the YouTube community.
02:36Though Onision lost his mainstream relevance, he continues to post content on YouTube,
02:40now filled with AI-generated songs and low-effort videos. His current YouTube bio reads,
02:45AI is taking over the world, so what I used to be able to do in a day,
02:48I can now do in an hour. Crazy, right?
02:57His recent uploads feature bizarre songs like No One Will Remember Your Name,
03:01seemingly aimed at his critics, and LOL, where an AI version of him walks away from explosions
03:06while claiming he did nothing wrong. On TikTok, Onision sporadically posts across three accounts,
03:11though his content receives little engagement. Most notably, on January 21,
03:152025, Onision uploaded a video titled, I'm Back, hinting at a possible comeback. The 19-second clip
03:21featured him delivering an awkward joke, leaving viewers skeptical about his future in the online
03:25world. Onision's story is a cautionary tale about the power and pitfalls of early internet fame.
03:30While his past controversies have effectively exiled him from the mainstream, his recent
03:35attempts at relevance leave many wondering if he's truly learned anything, or if he's simply
03:39waiting for his next scandal.