Onision

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Onision
Personal information
BornGregory James Daniel[1]
(1985-11-11) November 11, 1985 (age 36)
Auburn, Washington, U.S.
Occupation
Partner(s)Lyldoll
(2010–2012)
Spouse(s)
Skye Tantaga
​
​
(m. 2005; div. 2010)​
[2]
Kai Avaroe
​
​
(m. 2012)​
[3]
Website
YouTube information
Channels
Years active2006–present
Genre
  • Comedy
  • commentary
Subscribers
  • 2 million (Onision)
  • 1.86 million (UhOhBro)
  • 1.49 million (OnisionSpeaks)
  • 512 thousand (OnisionArchive)
  • 143 thousand (OnisionEncore)
  • 36 thousand (OniChan)
[4]
Total views2 billion (combined)[4]
YouTube Silver Play Button 2.svg 100,000 subscribers 2009
YouTube Gold Play Button 2.svg 1,000,000 subscribers 2013
Updated: January 13, 2021

James Jackson[1] (born Gregory James Daniel; November 11, 1985),[1][5][6] known professionally by his online alias Onision (/oʊˈniːsiːɒn/), is an American YouTuber. His primary YouTube channel, "Onision", featured sketches and satirical clips; videos posted to his other channels focus on personal stories covering controversial topics as well as discussion with his viewers. His online content has attracted controversy and criticism from online media outlets and viewers alike,[7][8] as well as allegations of misconduct in his private life.[3]

As of November 2019, Jackson's main Onision channel had received over 2 million subscribers and over 330 million video views;[9] his secondary channel "UhOhBro" had received just under 2 million subscribers and over 370 million video views;[10] and his vlog channel "OnisionSpeaks" had received over 1.6 million subscribers and over 550 million video views.[11] A music video titled "Banana Song (I'm a Banana)", written and performed by Jackson, is his most-viewed video; as of June 2021, it had garnered over 88 million views.

Early life[]

Jackson was born Gregory James Daniel on November 11, 1985, in Auburn, Washington.[1][5][6] Jackson has told fans his mother raised him and his older sisters in a rural environment and that they were Seventh-day Adventists.[5][6] Additionally, in his 2014 self-published Facts About Onision (Story Time) video, Jackson states that his mother "filed for divorce once it was made clear his father was a child predator".[6] During his teenage years, Jackson composed music and worked on web and graphic design.[6] He was an Airman in the United States Air Force.[citation needed]

Online career[]

Video content[]

Jackson created his YouTube channel in 2006 but did not upload any content until October 2007.[2][9] His earliest clips featured a character named Chibi, whom fans interpreted as a parody of Fred Figglehorn.[2] In 2019, Insider wrote that Jackson was "best known for his objectifying content and controversial reputation", and detailed that "he rates pictures that women submit to him, gives his opinions on their bodies, and comments on other YouTubers".[3]

In 2009, Jackson uploaded "Banana Song (I'm a Banana)", which went viral. The video featured Jackson "jumping around screaming in a banana suit",[3] as well as his first wife, Skye Tantaga.[2] "Banana Song" was featured on Comedy Central series Tosh.0 as the "Viewer Video of the Week" in 2010.[12]

In 2011, Jackson posted a number of clips with his then-girlfriend Shiloh Hoganson.[2] The clips were scripted but presented in a manner many fans interpreted as unscripted.[citation needed] In some of them, however, Hoganson is seen apparently experiencing transient amnesia; Adrienne Jourgensen, an ex-girlfriend of Jackson's, published a letter stating that Jackson believed Hoganson was lying about her memory loss.[2] Jackson and Hoganson later stated that she was pregnant but suffered a miscarriage.[2][7] In 2019, a video featuring Hoganson resurfaced online; in it, Jackson is heard telling her, "You know this video is never going to be online, right? No one will ever know how much I abuse you", before hurling candy corn at her and laughing.[13]

Reception and criticism[]

Jackson's on-camera and off-camera activity has received criticism from online media outlets as well as from fellow online content creators. In 2010, Tubefilter listed Jackson as one of "5 YouTubers On Their Way Up", alongside Shane Dawson and the Fine Brothers. The outlet described Jackson's channel as frequently updated with a "very rough, in-your-face R-rated style" and called Jackson "the most controversial YouTuber."[14] In 2012, The Daily Dot described Jackson as "known for his militant vegetarianism, sex appeal, comedic skits, and controversial views on topics like circumcision."[15] The publication has also criticized his content on multiple occasions; in 2013, James Cook wrote for the outlet, calling Jackson "YouTube's most troubled star".[7]

In 2018, Jackson was included on a Daily Dot-published list of six YouTubers "worse" than Logan Paul.[8] The outlet opined that "[Jackson's] videos these days [2018] are just as obnoxious and irritating as they were nine years ago when he first struck YouTube gold with a truly terrible song about being a banana."[8] Jackson has also received criticism from fellow YouTubers, notably Daniel Sulzbach (known online as "MrRepzion" or "Repzion"), Strange Æons, and Blaire White.[2][16] In a 2019 email to Insider, Jackson shared that "People hated me, with a passion, for my opinions I openly held."[3] In late 2019, Insider called Jackson "one of YouTube's most reviled personalities."[3]

Controversies[]

Event and platform bans[]

Jackson was banned from VidCon 2012 due to a video in which he stated that since his then girlfriend Shiloh Hoganson slept with more than 20 people before she was with him, she is a "slut" and therefore "cannot be raped".[2][15] The video then received backlash from viewers outside of Jackson's core audience, as noted by NewMediaRockstars and The Daily Dot.[2][15] VidCon co-founder Hank Green sent an email to Jackson stating "if it is possible that you will not be safe, we will not let you come [to VidCon]."[2]

In November 2019, Jackson was banned from Patreon after posting the phone number of Billie Dawn Webb, a fellow YouTuber. Webb was one of several women who claimed Jackson and his spouse had groomed and manipulated them into a sexual relationship or otherwise engaged in harassment and abuse.[17] Patreon confirmed in a statement to The Verge that they had banned Jackson "as he violated our Bullying and Harassment [policy] as it relates to doxing."[17] In response to the ban, Jackson uploaded a video of him seemingly contorting himself, screaming, pouring kombucha on himself, and shouting, "What am I going to do now?" Jackson subsequently opened a new web site where his supporters could re-donate, but shut it down shortly after its launch.[18]

In January 2021, following the release of Onision: In Real Life, Jackson's channels were suspended from the YouTube Partner Program.[19]

Allegations of abuse and child grooming[]

In 2019, allegations of child grooming and abuse were leveled at Jackson and his spouse, Kai Avaroe, formerly known as Lainey.[3] Jackson responded by stating that "the grooming stuff is absolute nonsense."[3] As aforementioned, Webb also made allegations of abuse by Jackson and Avaroe, stating that they were sent texts asking them to "be chained to [the] basement wall for a week with a sign around [their] neck that says 'I'm sorry for lying.'"[3]

When reached by Insider for a comment in response to these allegations, Jackson requested $10,000 for an interview and stated: "I do not want to participate in this circus without compensation, I should be paid to endure to [sic] stupidity of the current state of outrage/online culture."[3]

On January 9, 2020, Jackson called 9-1-1 on American television journalist Chris Hansen and his lawyer, Mike Morse, for knocking on his door. He described Hansen and his crew as "YouTuber stalkers... Yelling things at [him] through the door", although footage taken by Hansen's crew on the day did not confirm Jackson's account. He had previously asked Hansen for $350,000 in order to be interviewed. Morse stated that "It concerns me that he [has] two kids in the home," and that he "really didn't like hearing about this guy on Have a Seat with Chris Hansen."[20] Jackson and Avaroe have since filed two petitions for an order of protection from unlawful harassment conduct, one (also on behalf of their children) against Hansen and the other against Sulzbach, who has hired a criminal attorney for the case, which was on January 24 at the Pierce County District Court in Washington state, according to their court database. There, it turned out Jackson had served the wrong Chris Hansen[21] and had requested to dismiss both petitions because he was advised to consider an "alternative, more effective legal action against both defendants".[22] This dismissal request was granted.

In media[]

A documentary about Onision titled Onision: In Real Life was broadcast on January 4, 2021, during the launch of Discovery+, with Chris Hansen as producer and consultant.[23]

Bibliography[]

Novels

  • Stones to Abbigale (2015)
  • This Is Why I Hate You (2015)
  • Reaper's Creek (2018)

Discography[]

Albums

  • Young Eye (2009)
  • Onision (2012)
  • Explicit (2012)
  • Flucking Blitch (2013)
  • Black Ink (2014)
  • The Puppet (2018)
  • Shut Up (2018)
  • With Character (2018)
  • The Banana Man (2019)
  • I'm a Meme (2019)

Singles

  • "I'm a Banana" (2009, re-released in 2020)

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d Jackson, James. I Legally Changed My Name... Onision. Archived from the original on December 12, 2019. Retrieved January 27, 2020 – via YouTube. My mom named me, as a child, Gregory James Daniel.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Manarino, Matthew (June 27, 2013). "Onision: The Definitive Timeline Of YouTube's Perfect Villain". NewMediaRockstars. Archived from the original on July 3, 2013. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Graves, S. (December 10, 2019). "One of YouTube's most reviled personalities is crumbling under scandal and asked us to pay $10,000 for an interview". Insider. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  4. ^ a b "About Onision". YouTube.
  5. ^ a b c Jackson, Gregory Daniel. "Onision FAQ". onision.net. Archived from the original on October 17, 2014. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
  6. ^ a b c d e Jackson, Gregory Daniel (January 13, 2014). Facts About Onision (Story Time). Onision. Archived from the original on December 11, 2019. Retrieved May 15, 2019 – via YouTube.
  7. ^ a b c Cook, James (December 10, 2013). "YouTube's most troubled star". The Daily Dot. Archived from the original on January 3, 2017. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
  8. ^ a b c Katzowitz, Josh (January 23, 2018). "Forget Logan Paul—these 6 wildly popular YouTube pranksters are worse". The Daily Dot. Archived from the original on November 27, 2019. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  9. ^ a b Jackson, Gregory Daniel. "Onision – YouTube about page". YouTube. Archived from the original on January 17, 2019. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  10. ^ Jackson, Gregory Daniel. "UhOhBro – YouTube about page". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 8, 2019. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  11. ^ Jackson, Gregory Daniel. "OnisionSpeaks – YouTube about page". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 7, 2019. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  12. ^ "Tosh.0 - February 3, 2010 - Friendly Tackle - Full Episode". Comedy Central. January 13, 2010. Archived from the original on December 7, 2019. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
  13. ^ Schroeder, Audra (December 6, 2019). "Video of YouTuber Onision threatening ex-girlfriend resurfaces". The Daily Dot. Archived from the original on December 7, 2019. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  14. ^ Hyde, William (April 12, 2010). "5 YouTubers on Their Way Up". Tubefilter. Archived from the original on January 2, 2017. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
  15. ^ a b c Eördögh, Fruzsina (January 25, 2012). "YouTuber inflames viewers with rape comments". The Daily Dot. Archived from the original on March 10, 2014. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
  16. ^ Asarch, Steven. "Who is Onision? YouTuber banned from Patreon after doxxing". Newsweek. Archived from the original on November 27, 2019. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  17. ^ a b Kelly, Makena. "Controversial YouTuber banned from Patreon after alleged doxxing". The Verge. Archived from the original on November 27, 2019. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  18. ^ Jackson, Gregory (November 27, 2019). hiatus. UhOhBro. YouTube. Archived from the original on December 12, 2019. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  19. ^ Sung, Morgan. "YouTube demonetized Onision". Mashable. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  20. ^ Ikonomova, Violet (January 13, 2020). "Why Is Mike Morse Chasing Accused YouTube Sex Predator Onision?". Deadline Detroit. Archived from the original on January 14, 2020. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  21. ^ Mike Morse Law Firm [@855mikewins] (January 25, 2020). "Here's the official response from the "wrong" Chris Hansen. Good guy who wrote an appropriate response to the court."(Tweet) Archived from the original Archived January 26, 2020, at the Wayback Machine on January 26, 2020 - via Twitter.
  22. ^ Repzion [@DDsulzbach] (January 24, 2020). He dismissed his own case against me. I guess he's going to sue me in civil court at some point is my guess for attempted "slander" and "damages"...(Tweet) Archived from the original on January 26, 2020 - via Twitter.
  23. ^ "Discovery+ Sets More Than 50 Original Titles for Launch Month | Hollywood Reporter". www.hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved January 3, 2021.

External links[]

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