The first YouTube video was uploaded in 2005. It is barely 20 seconds and it features a young man at the zoo. Who could have predicted the cultural juggernaut it would become?!
Today, we're going to look at one of the world's biggest YouTube stars. His name is JiDion, and he rose to fame through his pranks and comedy. I'd like to discuss his career trajectory and the morality of his work. I feel that this is a pertinent issue as we face multiple cases of YouTubers being shot for pranks. Apologies if the writing is sloppy, this is a somewhat rushed piece.
Who is JiDion?
Born on 12 December 2000, JiDion is a Houston native whose legal name is Jidion Adams. According to him, he was a football player in high school and quite a troublemaker. His YouTube career when he hosted a dance-off at his school. It didn't get a lot of views, but it does demonstrate that JiDion is a charismatic, confident person. Completely unflappable.
He posted more videos, but they never gained much traction until his "giving people the N-word pass" video.
Today, it has 3.6 million views. Jidion has revealed that during this time, he was desperate to create more videos and grow his career, but he didn't have anyone to film his videos. Eventually, he would find a friend, but he would need to pay him a full time salary in order to film videos at the rate and quality he wanted. To do this, Jidion sold off almost all his electronics.
Today, Jidion has close to 8 million subscribers, making him one of the most popular YouTiubers. He's also ranked as one of the most popular YouTubers among GenZ viewers. His rise hasn't been without tribulations, and at one point he found himself banned from Twitch after he sent his viewers to harass Pokimane. At this point, if you haven't heard of him, you might be curious about his content. Woo hoo hoo. Ha ha. Oh hee hee. Let's begin.
Jidion's Pranks
Before we delve into Jidion's content, it is worth noting that he goes by many names, including Demarcus Cousins III. Admittedly, I'm not entirely sure how all these names come about. Secondly, be warned that his content is offensive, rude, and crass.
The uber prank
Sp I thought I'd start with the very few JiDion pranks that I actually like. This one has him pretending to be an Uber driver, and then proceeding to do insane things. At one point he plays a tape of himself screaming, to the shock of the passengers! He also pretends to drink alcohol, and surprisingly, while it is evident that the passengers are uncomfortable with the situation, very few actually freak out or demand to be let out. I wonder whether people are really that afraid to speak up, or whether he just edited out all the people who told him to frick off.
I wish he did more pranks of this nature. Unfortunately, that's not the case.
Jidion goes bowling
There's two reasons I dislike Jidion's content
1. He's an attention whore
2. He's mean
The bowling videos demonstrate his mean side. He goes to bowling alleys and bowls with coconuts and watermelons. It is quite evident that the people there are trying to enjoy their game, and he is literally rolling food into the gutter, and disrespecting the workers. A woman yells at him, and Jidion says "I'm him". The woman responds by saying "you're not Him!" as she points up! This is not a prank. It is him going to various places and being an butthole.
Jidion vs Tyrone
This is a series of videos in which Jidion harasses a single person. The prank begins with him going to a shoe store to return an empty box. The manager, Tyrone, is obviously a busy man and he doesn't have time for that shit so he slaps the box out his hand and tells him and his cameraman to frick off. Eventually, Jidion does leave, but Tyrone insults Jidion's mother. For this, Jidion insists that he must seek retribution. He returns in a silly disguise, but he is obviously recognised. He then returns once more. This time, he brings speakers, and plays a Tyrone diss track. At this point, there is nothing Tyrone can do except call security and attempt to ignore this man ruining his business and driving customers away. At one point, an entrepreneur from another store comes and tells Jidion to turn off the ruckus because its interfering with her business. Overall, I think Jidion's being a bully here, but its not even his worst bully moment.
Jidion goes to Best Buy shirtless
Jidion enters a Best Buy not wearing a shirt. A worker tells him to either wear a shirt or frick off. His choice. Jidion doesn't like this, so he returns the next day with scores of his fans and they all take off their shirt as they harrass the worker who eventually has to retreat to the staff room. This is bullying, plain and simple, and I think he is being a bad person here. I don't find it funny at all.
Jidion at sports games
I thought we'd end off with what could be his most impactful videos. JiDion has attempted plenty of his pranks at sports games. The one you're probably familiar has him getting an autograph from the NBA star Demarcus Cousins, only for a security guard to come and attempt to separate him from the basketballer. The basketballer tells the security to not take his job so seriously.
I don't want to discuss this video. Instead, I'd like to discuss the time he got a haircut at the NBA. To me, this video sums up why I don't find him funny. You see, trolling is an art. It's not just about annoying people. It's about triggering their ire, but not making it obvious that your intentions are necessarily malicious. There are very few people who have mastered the art of trolling, and Jidion definitely isn't one of them. So he manages to finally get into the NBA game and sneak in a hair clipper. It's not enough for him to simply do this though, he needs to speak to people and demand their attention with his unfunny quips. It's so cringe. Just let your trolling play out. The humor should come from their reactions, not your attention whoring.
I like the idea of the next video. He went to the WNBA and proceeded to sleep across three seats. It's a funny concept but he ruined it again with his attention whoring. What I'm more interested in was the public response. Many deemed the prank misogynistic because it makes light of how poorly attended WNBA matches are. I don't agree. Upsetting women isn't inherently misogynistic.
JiDion turns a new leaf
At this point, it should be obvious that JiDion does not impress. I do not like his content, and I think he is harming society. It appears that Jidion has also come to the same conclusion, as just a week ago he turned his life to Christ!
Though JiDion has given thanks to the Most High in his prior videos, he claims he is now taking his religious life far more seriously. He admits that he is wealthy, but he would rather focus on his heavenly wealth. Of course, this means no more pranks.
My personal opinion? He's young. He's having a phase. This is like me and asexuality, I think everyone goes through a phase in their 20s. He's also at the age where he believes that he can replicate his success in a different field. I don't think he fully comprehends how lucky he was to find success as a YouTuber. The sad truth is that the immorality of his content was a selling point. He was doing things other people wouldn't, because we have shame and morals.
The effect on his channel has been steep and definite. This is his secondary channel. Almost all his videos easily scored over a million. Since the religious turn, he is struggling to crack 500k. It's over.
Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk. Tune in next week when we review Assassin's Creed: Mirage and take a terrific trip through Islam 
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
I first saw this guy at the US Open doing the haircut bit and it was funny cause some old white guy sitting next to him had to act like he found it funny and not annoying cause he knew cameras were on them
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context