What Happened to David Dobrik? All About His Return to YouTube Nearly 4 Years After Vlog Squad Sexual Assault Scandal

Mar. 15, 2025

(L): David Dobrik shows off his two Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award blimps ; (R): David Dobrik during Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity at Spotify Beach on June 18, 2024, in Cannes, France.Photo:David Dobrik/ Instagram ; Dave Benett/Getty

David Dobrik/ Instagram ; Dave Benett/Getty

The social media mogul first found internet fame on the now-discontinued video platform Vine in 2013, which he joined at 16 years old, perRolling Stone. Soon after, Dobrik created a YouTube channel, where he built a brand off goofy pranks and viral stunts, from shocking fans when hemarried his best friend’s momtoturning a Vlog Squad member’s room into a beach.

Then came TikTok, where Dobrik continued to grow his following, amassing millions of fans who followed his comedic antics alongside his Vlog Squad.

“I couldn’t be more grateful for the people around me that pushed me this year to be a better version of myself,” he wrote in the caption.

From the status of his YouTube career to his body transformation, here’s everything to know about where David Dobrik is today.

What happened to David Dobrik?

David Dobrik smiles in a YouTube video in April 2020.David Dobrik/ YouTube

David Dobrik/ YouTube

In 2021, Dobrik’s reputation began to unravel when several allegations of sexual assault and bullying surfaced around him and members of his Vlog Squad, specificallyDominykas Zeglaitis, a.k.a. Durte Dom.

That month, Dobrik posted the first of multipleapology videoson his podcast YouTube page titled “Let’s talk,” in which he addressed Zeglaitis and stated that they no longer film together.

When Wittek took his turn, Dobrik swung him higher before abruptly stopping, causing him to collide with the machine and crash into the water with his foot still tangled in the line. As a result, he broke parts of his face and skull and was required to have surgery, which led to additional backlash online about Dobrik taking his stunts too far.

It didn’t stop there — in February 2022, Wittek released another video on hisJeff FMpodcast titled “DEAR DAVID…” in which he said that he had “protecting this guy for so long.”

“He is a scumbag friend, a fake friend, now that the documentary is over doesn’t give a f—, doesn’t text me, doesn’t check in,” he said. “The other reason, him saying now, flipping the script, saying, ‘Oh, it was f—— Jeff’s idea. He’s crazy.’ Complete b——-.”

What other controversies has David Dobrik been involved in?

David Dobrik attends Nickelodeon’s Kids' Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on March 13, 2021, in Santa Monica, Calif.Amy Sussman/KCA2021/Getty

Amy Sussman/KCA2021/Getty

A year before the scandals involving his fellow collaborators Zeglaitis and Wittek, Dobrik faced criticism for racist remarks after former Vlog Squad member Seth Francois released aYouTubevideo in June 2020 titled “‘Accountability’ to all Content Creators.”

In the video, Francois shared clips of some offensive moments he experienced while part of the squad, including Dobrik and his friends joking about taking him to a police station, doing Blackface, offering him watermelon and labeling him “their only Black friend.”

A few weeks later, Dobrik released apodcastepisode in which he apologized for times in which he “missed the mark” and made anyone feel uncomfortable. However, he received backlash for not having directly addressed Francois and for seeming superficial, perVulture.

Additionally, former Vlog Squad member Nick Keswani appeared on theH3podcast in February 2021 and opened up about how his time with the crew negatively impacted his mental health. Specifically, Keswani lives with a rare form of dwarfism that has caused him to be blind in one eye and alleged that he was often mocked for his height and disabilities.

“For a long time, I felt worthless being in those videos,” Keswani said. “I was like, ‘Dude, why am I even like here? What’s the point of my existence?’ Because I was just treated like this punching bag.”

In March,Trisha PaytastoldVulturethat Dobrik was a driving force behind her breakup with Nash, and said that she had “more PTSD from David and Jason than I do hooking on Santa Monica Boulevard.”

What was the aftermath of David Dobrik’s controversies?

David Dobrik and Natalie Mariduena attend The Hollywood Reporter Creators A-List event on Oct. 10, 2024, in West Hollywood, Calif.Matt Winkelmeyer/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty

Matt Winkelmeyer/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty

In the months that followed the initial allegations against Dobrik, his channel began to lose millions of viewers and his businesses began to experience significant fallout, including losing partners and sponsorships.

Additionally, he began stepping away from leadership roles in his own companies. In March 2021, he announced in a statement toThe Informationthat he would no longer sit on the board of Dispo, a photo-sharing app he founded in 2019, as “to not distract from the company’s growth."

According toVulture, Dobrik also began losing his deals with companies such as Bumble, Chipotle and SeatGeek, the latter having funded several of his car giveaways over the years.

In the days that followed, YouTube temporarily suspended Dobrik and Zeglaitis from monetization following the rape allegation, as the company toldBusiness Insiderin a statement that the pair had violated their “Creator Responsibility policy.”

Dobrik took a brief hiatus from his channel in March 2021 in light of the sexual assault scandal facing his Vlog Squad, butreturned with weekly videos that June. However, in the middle of 2022, he stopped vlogging altogether.

Is David Dobrik still friends with the Vlog Squad?

David Drobrik takes a selfie with his friends as they celebrate his 27th birthday in July 2023.David Dobrik/ Instagram

David Dobrik/ Instagram

“Nope, not a text or nothing,” he said. “Not surprised, you know? It is what it is.But I’m done being fake friendswith that motherf—–.”

During the “DEAR DAVID…” podcast episode that month, Wittek revealed he no longer speaks to Dobrik, saying, “It feels good to cut bad people out of your life and it took a while to see it.”

Meanwhile, some of his crew remain closer than ever. Mariduena, his former assistant, has been president of David Dobrik LLC since October 2022. She shared her excitement onInstagramfollowing the announcement, writing, “I’m ready and excited to take on this next chapter with my favorite business partner and forever friend.”

She added, “The past five years together have been some of my favorite and the rest will be no different!”

Dobrik also maintains a tight-knit bond with Ilya Fedorovich, who he said played a big part in the fitness transformation he unveiled in January 2025.

“I owe everything to all my friends and especially Ilya who has literally changed my life,” Dobrik wrote on Instagram.

As for some of the other Vlog Squad members — Nash, Toddy Smith, Heath Hussar, Nick Antonyan (a.k.a. Jonah), Zane Hijazi,Scotty Sire, Kopf, Mariah Amato andJac Anderson— they’ve all been pictured on Dobrik’s social media throughout the last two years, includingcelebrating his 27th birthdayin July 2023 and attendingCoachellatogether in April 2024.

Where is David Dobrik now?

David Dobrik before and after photos following his fitness journey.David Dobrik/Instagram

David Dobrik/Instagram

Although Dobrik seemingly stepped away from his vlogging and podcast success, he continued to remain active on platforms such as Snapchat and TikTok, and made lucrative business moves. In November 2022, he launched Los Angeles restaurantDoughbrik’s Pizza.

In honor of the establishment’s anniversary in November 2023, he wrote onInstagramthat he “couldn’t be more proud of our restaurant and happy that you all enjoy eating and hanging there as much as i do.”

Dobrik surprised the internet in January 2025 when he not only posted a body transformation photo, but also announced his return to vlogging after a nearly 3-year hiatus.

“new year, new me, new vlog,” he wrote.

His firstvideoback was titled “SURPRISING FRIENDS WITH BODY TRANSFORMATION!!” and showcased his body before and after his year-long fitness journey. It also featured a trip around the world with his fellow Vlog Squad members and the surprise of gifting new Teslas to his Doughbrik’s employees as a thank you for keeping the business afloat during his travels.

Nash joined the announcements and wrote onInstagramthat he was “so happy and excited” to announce the return of his and Dobrik’s podcast,Views.

“Thank you to everyone for your patience and all the well wishes,” he wrote. “We are back!”

In the podcastepisode, titled “David Returns to Vlogging,” Dobrik apologized for his hiatus before the two joked that it ended over a lost microphone and “cord issues.”

He joked that he “wasn’t in a place to conversate with Jason” but, more seriously, said that he felt “really energized now.”

“You’re different now,” Nash added.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go torainn.org.

source: people.com