Colleen Ballinger admits her ukulele response to grooming allegations was “embarrassing”

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Colleen Ballinger has spoken out about the controversial ukulele video she posted in response to accusations of grooming. She admitted the video was a mistake and said she didn’t handle the situation well.

Colleen Ballinger, famous for her Miranda Sings character, faced significant criticism in 2023 when a former fan, Adam McIntyre, publicly accused her of inappropriate behavior towards young fans, including grooming, manipulation, and bullying. Other fans came forward with similar concerns, making this one of the biggest controversies on YouTube that year.

Following the controversy, Ballinger posted a ten-minute song where she played the ukulele and made light of the situation, referring to it as a “toxic gossip train.” She tried to downplay the accusations without actually apologizing, but the video backfired and became widely criticized as one of the worst responses ever seen in the online creator community.

Now, two years later, Ballinger says she regrets ever picking up the instrument.

Colleen Ballinger says she regrets controversial ukulele video

Appearing on the Tea Time with Raven and Miranda podcast, she opened up about the ordeal.

She admitted she didn’t deal with things well and felt embarrassed about it, wishing she’d reacted differently.

Ballinger clarified that she was specifically referring to the ukulele video.

(segment begins at 22:40)

She confessed she regretted starting to play the ukulele. She realized she should have paid attention to others’ concerns, and acknowledged they were right to ask for an apology, which she offered.

She also pushed back on the idea that the song was ever an apology.

She clarified that the song isn’t an apology, stating, “I didn’t apologize in it.” She explained that when someone makes a mistake, continued apologies are sometimes necessary, and that’s what she should have offered.

During the podcast, Ballinger apologized to her fans, explaining that when she first started making videos on YouTube almost twenty years ago, she wasn’t aware of issues like power imbalances or one-sided fan connections.

She admitted she hadn’t considered the possibility of an imbalance of power in the relationship. She now realizes she should have acted more carefully, as she’d previously just assumed they were equals as friends.

Adam McIntyre has publicly responded to Colleen Ballinger’s statements, releasing a video on YouTube where he strongly criticized her podcast appearance. He stated his frustration with the situation grows over time and accused Ballinger of portraying herself as a victim.

“F**k you, Colleen Ballinger,” McIntyre said. “You are f**king scum. You are absolute scum.”

Ballinger has not responded to McIntyre’s latest comments.

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2025-11-18 22:19