YouTube comedian Colleen Ballinger made a singing apology video – and people aren’t too happy about it. 

In light of the grooming accusations and alleged inappropriate actions with teenagers that the comedian has been facing, Ballinger made a ten-minute apology video titled “Hi.” Throughout the video, the 36-year-old strums her ukulele as she sings her side of the allegations and although it’s meant to be an apology video, doesn’t actually apologize. 

“I know you wanted me to say that I was 100% in the wrong,” Ballinger sang. “Well, I’m sorry I’m not gonna take that route of admitting to lies and rumors that you made up for clout.”

Ballinger says in the video that she was “strongly advised” against saying what she wanted to say but realized she was never told she couldn’t sing.

“The only thing I’ve ever groomed are my two Persian cats, I’m not a groomer, just a loser who didn’t understand I shouldn’t respond to fans and I’m not a predator even though a lot of you think so because five years ago, I made a fart joke,” she sang. 

“Even though I know this video won’t change anyone’s mind about me, I still felt it was important to come on here and defend myself a little and take accountability,” she continued.

“For what it’s worth, I never had any bad intentions,” she said. “But I do feel like sh—.” 

At one point in the video, Ballinger takes a long pause, moves closer to the camera, and acts as if she’s done singing but retreats and sings another song. 

“Sometimes people make a mistake and it doesn’t make them a horrible person… and you can kindly let them know and help them to grow,” she said.  

At the very end of her video, she said, “But what do I know? F— me, right?” 

Amid the drama, Ballinger has apparently lost over 100,000 subscribers on her YouTube channel and several sponsorships with companies like OneSkin and ZocDoc. 

The allegations made against the comedian began with a former fan, Adam McIntyre. 

McIntyre initially posted about Ballinger in 2020 when he was 17 years old and spoke about the comedian sending him underwear when he was 13 years old, but was brushed off when many of Ballinger’s fans defended her after she posted an apology video. 

Earlier this month, another former fan, Kodee, posted a now private video titled “Why I left the Colleen Ballinger fandom.” Kodee’s video led to McIntyre making another video about Ballinger, doubling down on the prior accusations that he made against the actress and saying that he felt “emotionally groomed.”

A third former fan, Becky, attended a Miranda Sings show when she was 16 years old and was invited onstage to participate in one of Ballinger’s sketches. In a TikTok video Becky posted, she explained her experience. 

“I was terrified that my body wasn’t covered enough,” Becky said. “I basically felt naked, so it felt incredibly sexually violating. I was younger and my body was still developing, and I was still becoming comfortable with myself.” 

“Colleen exploited my minor body for entertainment and money and did not protect my safety at this show,” she added. 

Reactions to Ballinger’s apology song were mixed.  

Many people felt gaslit and said, “I’ve never been gaslit in a song before” and “Why do I feel gaslit?” 

Others reacted to her lack of apology and questioned, “Did she just say she took accountability?” 

A few commended her for her creativity and said, “Well, I have to hand it to her. This is the most original apology video I’ve seen.”

Although it seems that the hate surrounding Ballinger is all there is for the comedian, some of her current fans have offered her words of love and support in her YouTube comment section. 

“You are loved. You are valued. We know you are only human. Don’t let them dim your light,” wrote one fan.

“I’ve missed your vlogs so much they always make my day I’m so sorry Colleen you don’t deserve any of this,” another said.

Since the YouTube star’s apology video, former fan McIntyre posted a reaction video, expressing his disappointment in the melodic apology. 

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