Miranda Sings Ghostwriter Controversy | Know Your Meme

Overview

The Miranda Sings Ghostwriter Controversy refers to a series of allegations about Colleen Ballinger, who plays the comedic character Miranda Sings made by Adam Mcintyre, a 17-year-old who claimed to be Ballinger’s unpaid ghostwriter in a YouTube video. Additionally, he accused Ballinger of sending him lingerie when he was 13. In response, Ballinger admitted to sending him underwear was part of a live-stream unboxing of unused clothes and to using his ideas but expressed regret for sending the underwear and for not properly vetting ghostwriters.

Background

In March 2020, Miranda Sings published a series of posts that teased her “coming out.” While many believed this to be her coming out as LGBTQ, Sings later announced that she was coming out as a fan of Megan Trainor (examples below). She later apologized for the tweets following a backlash in which many accused her of queerbaiting or the act of teasing that a fictional character might be queer but not actually following through with it. Many consider this to be an offensive marketing technique to attract LGBTQ fans.

Developments

Adam Mcintyre Video

The following month, on April 28th, 2020, a 17-year-old YouTuber named Adam Mcintyre published the video “colleen ballinger, stop lying.” In the video, he claims to have been Ballinger’s unpaid ghostwriter for the comedian. Mcintyre posted direct messages between the two of them, which he claims were made in an attempt to “guilt” Mcintyre. The post received more than 131,000 views in less than two days (shown below).

That day, other YouTubers began posting about the controversy. YouTuber Spill Sesh shared a reaction video that received more than 469,000 views in less than two days (shown below, left). Some on social media criticized Ballinger’s relationship with Mcintyre. Twitter user @GranatePomme tweeted, “A 30-year-old (especially one in a position of power) “befriending” a 13-year-old and asking them for favors is textbook grooming. Normal 30 year olds are not seeking friendships with children, making them promises, sending them things. That. Is. Not. Normal.” The tweet received more than 120 likes in less than two days (shown below, right).

Colleen Ballinger’s Response

On May 12th, 2020, Colleen Ballinger published a video entitled “addressing everything.” In the video, she apologizes for a series of racially insensitive videos from her past, which she claims were made out of ignorance when she was a teenager.

She also addresses the underwear incident, claiming that the incident took was the result a live-stream unboxing, where she gave away new clothes that she purchased but did want. The video features clips from the live stream and includes a boy asking for the bra and underwear. Ballinger claims the boy was Adam Mcintyre.

Ballinger admits that she never should have sent the underwear. She said:

In my mind at the time, this was no different than the other stuff I send to my fans as a joke. Now in hindsight, I realize how completely stupid of me… I should have realized and recognized how dumb that was and never sent it to him.

But it was never a creepy, gross thing that I was doing in secret. It was a silly, stupid mistake, that now is being blown way out of proportion.

Ballinger also comments on the allegations that Mcintyre’s parents were uncomfortable with their interactions, pointing to social media posts and a birthday card where they appear to be supportive of her son’s fandom.

She stated that he only access to her Twitter for one day. Ballinger claims she regularly crowdsources ideas for her comedy, including Mcintyre’s. She says that he offered to tweet for her again and he was given a “trial” run tweeting for her before being hired officially. Soon after, he tweeted a “problematic” post. Ballinger said that she takes responsibility for “oversharing” with fans and that she should have vetted the posts made under her name.

The post received more than 2.3 million views in less than two days (shown below).

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