ProJared Finally Responds To Sexual Misconduct Allegations Made During Cheating Scandal

Three months since Jared Knabenbauer, better known by his YouTube handle ProJared, announced his divorce from Heidi Atelier and inadvertently kicked off one of the wildest YouTube scandals in recent memory, the disgraced YouTuber has finally issued a response.

In an exhaustive 42-minute video, a beleaguered-looking Knabenbauer denies allegations against him that he was soliciting nudes from minors via a private Tumblr account. Discussions about the account widely circulated online after it was included in Atelier's accusations that Knabenbauer was an abusive husband that cheated on her with YouTuber Holly Conrad, the ex-wife of Game Grumps member Ross O'Donovan.

In response to the allegations, two Twitter users known as "Chai" and "Charlie" both accused Knabenbauer of soliciting nudes from them with the full knowledge that they were under 18. As soliciting nudes from minors is a serious crime, the majority of Knabenbauer's video is dedicated to denying Chai and Charlie's allegations with receipts and evidence, claiming that their stories are fictional and, in Charlie's case, a misleading lie.

In the video, Knabenbauer asserts that he never singled out any followers and asked for nudes from them, that all pictures he received were given voluntarily and that he had asked all who volunteered if they were over 18-years-old.

Knabenbauer then examines Chai's accusations, that stated Knabenbauer had solicited nudes from them in 2016 even though they were underage at the time. Chai, however, never posted any evidence regarding their claims. In his video, Knabenbauer states he has no memory of ever interacting with Chai. He then examines a Medium post of Chai's in which they admit to having a traumatic brain injury that wiped out their memory for months between late 2015 and May of 2016, which is when they allege Knabenbauer had solicited the nudes. Furthermore, Chai's post talks about the hallucinations and violent thoughts they'd suffered as the result of their brain injury. Using this post, Knabenbauer asks the viewer if they still believe Chai's allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.

Charlie made a similar accusation that Knabenbauer knowingly solicited nudes from him and that Knabenbauer either knew he was under 18 or that he didn't care. When Charlie made his accusation, he provided screenshots of explicit conversations he had had with Knabenbauer, including admitting to Knabenbauer he had once been offered to participate in a gangbang. Charlie said he did not participate in said sex act because "I'm Baby". The "I'm Baby" quote was used to support Charlie's claim Knabenbauer knowingly was engaging in explicit conversation with a minor.

Knabenbauer, however, provides receipts of the rest of their conversation, including the initial message Charlie sent him, which shows Charlie asking Knabenbauer if he can send him nudes, and Knabenbauer's first message asking if Charlie is over 18. Charlie stated he was over 18 and continued messaging Knabenbauer over the following months asking if he could send him more nudes. Knabenbauer concludes by asserting that Charlie had been lying about his allegations and presenting cropped pieces of information to support the lie. He also argues that both Charlie and Chai participated in the lie for internet clout.

In the final third of the video, Knabenbauer addresses the cheating allegations that started the entire fiasco. He again asserts that he had attempted to divorce his ex-wife Atelier in October of 2018 but was denied. He states that Holly Conrad never cheated on Ross O'Donovan, and that O'Donovan was aware of the romantic entanglements of all parties involved. He also asserts that the relationships are "none of our business." He also discusses the fallout of the allegations and the massive public outcry they caused. He reflects on how the internet had jumped to conclusion and punched down on him from the start. He notes how several YouTubers who covered the drama in videos such as Keemstar, Treesicle, and Philip DeFranco made no effort to contact him to hear his side of the story (he also includes a subtle but poignant snipe at how the Game Grumps handled the situation).

Knabenbauer states towards the end of the video that if those viewing wish to support him, they can continue watching his videos. He stated he would make more about the topics he had been covering since before the scandal broke. He also stated he would like to return to making Dice, Camera, Action!, the Dungeons and Dragons show he participated in with Conrad and several others. On a final note, he states a desire that everyone be more patient and suspicious the next time a person is cancelled online and wait to hear their side of the story. He concludes by stating, "Nobody likes cancel culture until they get an opportunity to cancel someone."