In his latest “Content Deputy” video, YouTuber iDubbbz (Ian Carter) has kicked off controversy by presenting what many consider a misleading timeline of events surrounding a Child Protective Services visit to H3H3’s Ethan Klein and his family.
The video, released this week, suggests that Klein’s on-air discussion about his children’s illness directly led concerned viewers to contact CPS. However, this timeline appears significantly flawed when compared to documented events.
According to multiple sources familiar with the situation, Klein mentioned on his podcast (episode 111) that his children and household members were sick, possibly connected to their dog’s giardia infection. This disclosure didn’t immediately trigger any official intervention.
About three to four weeks later—not right away as iDubbbz’s video makes it seem—other content creators including streamers close to Hasan Piker and content creator Bad Empanada found and shared the clip. These third party streamers like Denims started suggesting Klein’s children were in unsafe conditions, which inevitably led to the CPS call shortly after.
“The CPS visit was an extremely stressful experience for my family,” Klein has stated on his podcast. The investigation ultimately found no evidence of neglect or unsafe conditions in the Klein household.
iDubbbz’s take notably leaves out this crucial weeks-long gap between Klein’s original comments and the eventual CPS visit, instead pulling together a story that puts the blame on Klein’s audience rather than the creators who later blew up the story.
This also isn’t the first time iDubbbz has been called out for playing fast and loose with timelines in creator disagreements. Similar complaints came up during his public disputes with other creators like Sam Hyde, where critics say context and timing were misrepresented.
For Klein, the CPS visit is just the latest in a pattern of real-world harassment. His family has even received human skulls sent to their home, and dealt with other forms of coordinated online abuse.
All of this brings up tough questions about what kind of responsibility content creators should take on when they talk about other creators’ private lives, and how online callouts sometimes cross over into real-life harassment.
