Colleen Ballinger, the popular YouTuber known for her Miranda Sings alter ego, has refuted accusations of child grooming through an unconventional medium — a song. This departure from the customary tearful apology video has stirred controversy around her response to the allegations.

Unlike the typical routine of apology videos, Ballinger’s 10-minute video does not follow the established formula of tearful apologies and pleas for forgiveness. Let’s delve into the accusations against her and the mixed reactions to her unconventional response.

Colleen Ballinger, an American comedian, YouTuber, actress, and singer, gained fame through her viral internet persona Miranda Sings, with a YouTube channel launched in 2008 that now boasts over 10 million subscribers. She extended her success with a two-season Netflix series, “Haters Back Off!” from 2016-2017, and currently maintains over 22 million subscribers across her three YouTube channels.

The allegations against Ballinger include claims of child grooming and inappropriate behavior with minors, initially surfacing in April 2020 when a 22-year-old named Adam McIntyre accused her in a YouTube video titled “Colleen Ballinger, stop lying.” McIntyre, who befriended Ballinger at the age of 14, accused her of exploiting their friendship for free labor and receiving lingerie from her and fellow YouTuber Kory DeSoto during a live stream when he was 13.

Recently, Rolling Stone published interviews with four former fans, including McIntyre, who shared negative experiences with Ballinger, describing their interactions as “toxic, exploitative, and hurtful.” Ballinger did not respond to Rolling Stone’s inquiries.

In response to these allegations, Ballinger chose an unusual path — she addressed the accusations through a 10-minute song titled “hi.” In the video, she dismisses the allegations as “toxic gossip,” playing the ukulele throughout. Ballinger acknowledges some inappropriate behavior in her past, such as oversharing details of her life with fans, but denies being a groomer, asserting, “I’m just a loser.” She expresses regret for making jokes in poor taste but denies any intention to manipulate.

Public reaction to Ballinger’s song has been swift and largely negative. The video amassed over 3.7 million views within 24 hours, but many criticized her decision to sing, arguing that it minimized the gravity of the allegations. Prominent YouTuber Tyler Oakley distanced himself from Ballinger and other influencers facing criticism in a statement on Discord.

Adam McIntyre expressed disappointment, labeling Ballinger as an “evil woman” in his tweet. The backlash intensified as more former fans shared negative experiences in interviews with publications like TIME Magazine and HuffPost UK.

Amid the ongoing controversy, additional allegations surfaced, including claims of racist behavior on the set of her Netflix series and accusations of sending explicit photos of Trisha Paytas to fans. The public’s response has led to the cancellation of Ballinger’s live shows and the end of her podcast with Trisha Paytas.

As the situation unfolds, Colleen Ballinger’s response in the form of a song continues to be a point of contention, sparking further discussions about accountability, appropriate responses to serious allegations, and the impact of social media controversies on content creators.