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Who Is Eugenia Cooney? The Goth Influencer And Her Weight Loss Controversy Explained
Now well-known as an internet celebrity, Eugenia Cooney joined YouTube over a decade ago, and ever since, she has been the subject of viral discourse and even controversy around the web.
Since being introduced and rising to viral fame during the 2010s, her videos have captivated social media and led to lots of debate online, and now, she's lost her "blue checkmark" on TikTok, reigniting the interest in her highly publicized health concerns.
But what's Cooney's story, and why are people so obsessed with her health? Here's everything to know about social media influencer and content creator Eugenia Cooney, including why she's become something of a contentious figure online over the years.
Who Is Eugenia Cooney?
Eugenia Cooney is a YouTuber and model who posts content about goth fashion, lifestyle vlogs and cosplay videos. She got her start on YouTube in 2011, posting her first video, "Outfits of the Week." As of January 2024, she's accumulated over 2 million followers on YouTube and 2.7 million followers on TikTok.
Cooney continues to post to this day, both on YouTube and TikTok, but fans have been growing increasingly concerned for her well-being over the years.
While she isn't banned on either platform, she has taken breaks from posting for an extended period of time but is currently still active. However, she recently lost her blue check (verification) on her TikTok account, which many speculate is TikTok's response to her weight loss controversy potentially affecting app users.
https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7243890421510704427
Why Is Eugenia Cooney Considered Controversial By Some?
After becoming a public figure on YouTube, Cooney soon found herself at the center of a weight loss controversy that's garnered significant attention and press. During this, many viewers noted how quickly Cooney, who was already skinny, continued to lose weight.
This led to both genuine concern for Cooney and a lot of harassment towards her. Even in 2024, this weight loss and worry among her fandom appears to be continuing, and her YouTube and TikTok comments are filled with both shows of support and rude jokes about her appearance.
https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7197503646278552878
Cooney has a large mix of both concerned fans and people who want her removed from social media for what they perceive as promoting an unhealthy lifestyle.
Back in 2016, a Change.org petition was even started, advocating to "Temporarily Ban Eugenia Cooney off of YouTube," and arguing that Cooney was a bad influence on her viewers due to her unhealthy weight. The petition received over half of the goal signatures of 25,000 before being taken down. An excerpt can be seen below:
Eugenia Cooney has a serious medical condition and needs to seek help. She has been influencing her viewers by her serious underweight condition. She has not been getting better since the day she started YouTube, she's getting more and more sick each day. And it's honestly like she does this bodily harm to herself and shows young girls, such as her viewers on social media that it is "okay", to be suffering from a medical condition such as Anorexia-Nervosa. It is physically & medically to be that skinny without denying treatment such as she does. She has not got any treatment. And is triggering her fan base.
How Are People Responding To Cooney's Weight Loss?
Many large YouTubers, including PewDiePie, have spoken out about their concern for Eugenia Cooney. Others, like Shane Dawson, have posted documentary-style videos about Cooney, theorizing about her weight loss and often voicing a suspicion that her mother may have a role in preventing Cooney from seeking help.
However, she has mentioned working with a doctor on social media and has thanked her fans for showing support, though her last comments like these were several years ago.
Amid the online community's outspoken response, it's many have also noted that there is no reason to believe that Cooney intends any harm by posting her content, and it's often speculated that she is not aware of the extent of her weight loss, which is why many influencers advocate for compassion towards her rather than harassment and body-shaming.
To learn more about Eugenia Cooney, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.
