In June 2020, Shane Dawson faced a major reckoning when old videos of him wearing blackface resurfaced. He admitted to the behavior in a public apology, and YouTube responded by indefinitely demonetizing all three of his channels. The controversy also drew condemnation from Jada Pinkett Smith and Jaden Smith over a separate resurfaced clip.
Shane Dawson blackface became a defining controversy of the 2020 online racial reckoning. The YouTuber, who built a following of nearly 23 million subscribers, had spent years performing comedy sketches that included blackface and racist stereotypes . On June 26, 2020, he posted a 20-minute video titled “Taking Accountability” to address the resurfaced clips .
In the video, Dawson directly admitted to the behavior. “Blackface was something that I did a lot,” he said. “There’s no excuse for it. I didn’t do the work. I didn’t look into the history of it and why it’s so wrong” . He acknowledged that a previous apology from roughly six years earlier had been evasive and driven by fear rather than genuine understanding .
Dawson also apologized for his use of racial slurs. “I’m sorry that I added to the normalization of blackface or the normalization of saying the N-word,” he stated in the video . He told viewers he was willing to “lose everything” to take accountability for the harm he had caused .
The consequences arrived quickly. On June 29, 2020, YouTube confirmed it had suspended advertising on all three of Dawson’s channels: Shane, Shane Dawson TV, and Shane Glossin’ . The three channels had a combined subscriber base exceeding 34 million at the time . YouTube described the demonetization as indefinite but not permanent, citing the nature of the past videos and their ongoing impact on the creator community .
Retail consequences followed as well. Target confirmed it was removing Dawson’s two published essay collections, I Hate Myselfie and It Gets Worse, from its stores. The retailer stated it was “committed to creating an experience in which all guests feel welcomed and respected” . Makeup retailer Morphe also appeared to remove Dawson’s collaboration products with Jeffree Star from its website .Quick Bio: Shane Dawson
A separate resurfaced clip intensified the backlash. The video showed Dawson pretending to masturbate to a poster of Willow Smith, who was 11 years old at the time . Willow’s mother, Jada Pinkett Smith, responded on Twitter with a direct message to Dawson: “I’m done with the excuses” . Her son Jaden Smith was more forceful. “Shane Dawson I am disgusted by you,” he wrote. “You sexualizing an 11-year-old girl who happens to be my sister!!! is the furthest thing from funny and not okay in the slightest bit” .
Dawson’s controversy unfolded alongside a parallel case involving fellow longtime YouTuber Jenna Marbles. On June 25, 2020, one day before Dawson’s apology, Marbles posted an 11-minute video apologizing for past blackface and racist content and announced she was leaving her YouTube channel . Marbles, who had over 20 million subscribers, said she wanted to ensure the things she put into the world were not hurting anyone . The timing drew comparisons between the two creators, though their outcomes differed: Marbles stepped away voluntarily, while Dawson remained on the platform but without advertising revenue .
The blackface admission was not the only subject Dawson addressed in his apology video. He also acknowledged making jokes about pedophilia and creating a “child molester character” in past content . He attributed some of that behavior to unresolved personal trauma, stating he should have gone to therapy instead of projecting his pain onto the internet . However, critics emphasized that his apologies could not undo the harm, and many argued that forgiveness was not owed by the communities he had mocked .
Dawson’s channels remained demonetized indefinitely following the June 2020 decision. The case became a reference point for how platforms respond when a creator’s past racist content surfaces years later. It also illustrated a distinction between apologies and consequences: Dawson publicly owned his actions, yet YouTube determined that the nature and impact of the videos warranted financial penalties regardless . The controversy remains one of the most prominent examples of a major YouTube creator facing institutional consequences for blackface.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly did Shane Dawson admit to in his 2020 apology?
In his June 26, 2020 video titled “Taking Accountability,” Dawson directly admitted to wearing blackface repeatedly on his channel. He stated, “Blackface was something that I did a lot” and acknowledged that his previous apology years earlier had been filled with excuses rather than genuine understanding . He also apologized for using racial slurs and contributing to their normalization .
What immediate consequences did Shane Dawson face after the controversy?
YouTube suspended advertising on all three of his channels indefinitely on June 29, 2020, cutting off his primary income source . Target also removed his two published books from stores, and Morphe stopped selling his collaborative makeup products . His main channel lost approximately 600,000 subscribers within days of the apology .
Why did Jada Pinkett Smith and Jaden Smith publicly condemn Shane Dawson?
A separate resurfaced clip showed Dawson pretending to masturbate to a poster of Willow Smith, who was 11 years old at the time. Jada tweeted, “I’m done with the excuses,” while Jaden stated he was “disgusted” by the sexualization of his sister . Jaden also referenced Dawson’s history of blackface in his response .
How did Shane Dawson’s situation compare to Jenna Marbles’ controversy?
Both creators faced backlash over past blackface videos during the same week in June 2020. Marbles posted her apology and announced she was leaving YouTube on June 25, one day before Dawson’s video . Dawson, by contrast, remained on the platform but lost monetization indefinitely . Dawson stated in his video that he was inspired by Marbles’ apology .
Is Shane Dawson’s YouTube channel still demonetized?
YouTube described the demonetization announced in June 2020 as indefinite but not permanent . The platform stated it considered both the nature of his past videos and his off-platform behavior when making the decision . No verified reporting confirms whether the suspension has since been lifted.
