A couple of days ago, a story pitch was sent to us from Fullscreen’s PR representatives cluing us in about all the cover songs Fullscreen-backed YouTube musicians have done in conjunction with Sony to promote the upcoming Annie remake. There are talented YouTubers with some interesting and catchy takes on the tunes, no doubt.
But there was one name glaringly absent from the list: Luke Conard.
In case you’re unaware, Luke Conard was one of the YouTubers accused of inappropriate sexual behavior back in March 2014. After a couple of apologies that he later deleted, he disappeared quietly for awhile, but gradually rejoined social media and began posting videos again in October.
The most recent of those videos was a cover of “It’s the Hard Knock Life” from Annie. Much like the cover videos listed in the press release, Conard’s video features an Annie-themed endscreen as well as links in the description box to buy the soundtrack and check out the playlist of all the Sony-sponsored Annie YouTube covers.
Comments had already popped up across Tumblr, Twitter, and Conard’s videos from people concerned about his coming back to the YouTube space after the allegations against him at all, but the possibility that Sony Pictures might be sponsoring him to create content to promote their film sparked even more dissent.
In addition to his own cover of “It’s the Hard-Knock Life,” Conard had also been involved in a remix of the song in collaboration with the other YouTubers Sony had tapped to create covers, with the video ultimately being posted to Tyler Ward’s channel.
This collaboration with Conard received immediate backlash from Ward’s fans and members of the YouTube community.
According to this post by YouTube Speaks, people were also voicing their disappointment in the comments section of the video itself, and shortly thereafter, the video was made private.
The YouTube community has been speaking out against allowing YouTubers accused of sexual misconduct to continue to have the privilege of their platform for as long as these accusations have been occurring. But before this, there haven’t been many opportunities to see how that outspokenness would translate once they attempted to jumpstart their careers again.
Curtis Lepore was dropped from Rainn Wilson’s TV series after people reminded Wilson and his company of the rape charges that had been brought against him. Sam Pepper was dropped from Collective Digital Studios after his pranks caused outrage and accusations of sexual misconduct started coming out. Even former sitcom king Bill Cosby is having shows canceled as the rape allegations against him continue escalating.
In Conard’s case, as there are no reports of court proceedings (unlike the above), it’s not quite as cut and dry. If Ward’s video take down and failure to include Conard’s video in the e-mail sent to us/other outlets are a reaction to people drawing attention back to the accusations against him, this may indicate more trouble to come for the former YouTube star as he tries to find his way back into people’s subscription boxes. And he may not be the last.
Fullscreen and Conard have been contacted. In lieu of commenting on the outrage, Conard has passed along comments from the community praising his work.
Well in all fairness he did apologize and then left YouTube for months. Whether or not it was sincere he was off of YouTube for awhile he probably learned his lesson, but with that said it’s not shocking Sony did that because movie studios don’t necessarily vet online stars for past behavior and a lot of execs and managers don’t even know the drama around their own talent half the time so is it shocking? Not really…but does it matter I guess that’s dependent on the stance on the subject.
I love how you just ‘assume’ he learned his lesson when there’s nothing to indicate that’s true. He “apologized” in a vague post where he didn’t actually address anything that happened and shifted blame onto his victims, saying he’s “sorry they feel that way”. He left YouTube because he had no other choice – he was run off. There’s no other reason why. And he’s back now because he hopes people have mostly forgotten what went down in March. He has not learned his lesson. If he had, he would not be on YouTube. He wouldn’t be back to using the platform that allowed him to manipulate people.
That’s why I said probably. Do people not understand that ‘probably’ means it could go either way? No one can no for sure what he went through behind the scenes it’s complete speculation. Not protecting him at all, but I’m just saying it could go either way. If this is anyone’s fault it’s Sony’s for not vetting online talent before hand, but again it’s hardly shocking. And just because you wanted him to quit doesn’t mean he should people can be sorry and still go on with their lives doing what they wanted to do and they can also not be sorry and keep doing it I think there are people who do that all the time. It’s just a matter of what your options are at the end of the day don’t expect anyone to look out for you, but you people’s alliances can change in a heart beat and with that said he made his choice he can deal with whatever happens, but he clearly has his supporters so maybe you should go over to them and say things, but again if Chris Brown can be used as an example again some people just will not care and that is the reality of it.
Great. Except I do know what went on behind the scenes. And I’ve known Luke for a long time and know how he works pretty well.
I just hope you realize that, even if you use the word “probably” and think the situation could go either way – by only posting “he probably learned his lesson” you do come off as protecting him and giving him the benefit of the doubt over others.
Well that’s your opinion I don’t watch him so it doesn’t matter to me. I know you are a YouTuber so yes I’d guess you probably do know him especially if you are in LA. I’ve worked at the MCN’s though I know how some tubers can be manipulative just as bad as some of the companies can be, but the fact is this is a public forum with people who aren’t best buds with other tubers so it only makes sense it should get treated as speculation unless you are one of the girls who posted on Tumblr about it I can’t remember. If so, sorry for what happened, but overall I think it’s best to understand in these situations you can hate on Luke, but it was Sony’s choice to do this so even though Sony is getting enough hate already for their leaks, but they are really the ones to blame here. I was just talking about this with an ex-tuber and even he can see that.
My issue isn’t with Sony, even tho they are dumb for paying him to promote for them. My issue is with Luke being back on YouTube and making it an unsafe community for others.
Okay…well that’s your thing the fact is the story that I was commenting on is about Sony. They messed up. If people were mad about Luke he’s been back for what a month or two? Why not start the torches when he just came back? Overall this is why I think tubers need media training just like celebrities get then maybe just maybe it wouldn’t be such an unsafe place on YouTube because he’s also clearly not the only one who has caused problems. I mean heck it doesn’t even have to be this even the entire Zoella thing that was trending seemed like she needed training, but that’s another conversation. There is a reason celebs pay their management so well during things like this, but YouTubers they have a ways to go, but that’s just an opinion, but not one I came up with I’ve seen others talk about it.
People have been making a fuss since he reappeared, but it only became apparent when Tyler Ward posted his video. Luke will delete every negative comment on his videos, but he was not able to delete the negativity on Tyler’s video – so it was fully seen for the first time since the allegations.
He’s been deleting comments? That’s just dumb. I don’t even recommend that for brands I manage though some brands don’t listen. It’s sad that’s why I think they need media management or a swift kick in the butt from mom whichever works. Deleting comments wont make it go away and no one seems to realize that.
What surprised me is that he hasn’t deleted any of my comments yet, and I’ve been posting links to Whitney and Kristina’s Tumblr posts and calling him out on stuff. Maybe he’s just selectively deleting negative posts. I know he remembers me because he DMd me in the past too and I think he knows I’ll blow this out of the water if he dared delete my comments.
It’s unclear to me how youtube is related to what Luke did. It’s true that some of his girlfriends were already on youtube and that common interests can play a part in forming relationships, but is there more to it than that? I suppose you can say youtube made him very popular and thus that fame made him attractive, but his girlfriends were not under-age impressionable fans. It’s true that attacking him through youtube is effective, high-profile, and convenient, but I’m not sure if youtube was an instrument for his behavior.
There are so many allegations these days, it’s hard to keep track. Honestly, it’s really sad to see. Treating people with respect and having a solid moral/ethical compass to follow needs to become more common.