ACE Family Phallic Lollipop Controversy

Overview

ACE Family Phallic Lollipop Controversy refers to a public backlash following a video posted by YouTuber Austin McBroom, owner of the ACE Family YouTube channel, in which he buys a phallic lollipop for his child daughter.

Background

In January 2019, Austin McBroom posted a video to Snapchat of himself purchasing a penis-shaped candy for his daughter. On January 7th, 2018, Twitter ^[1] user @mustbtaste tweeted the videos. They captioned the post, "this disgusting grown ass man brought A CHILD TO A SEX SHOP AND BOUGHT A DICK SHAPED LOLLIPOP FOR HER." The post received more than 22,000 retweets, 52,000 likes and 4 million views in four days (shown below).

Developments

Online Reaction

That day, others shared the video as well as their opinions of the video. Twitter^[2] user @bangtansdurag tweeted, "Austin McBroom took a CHILD into a SEX STORE and bought her a DICK LOLLIPOP. I would LOVE to hear how he and other men try to defend this." The post received more than 17,000 retweets and 41,000 likes in four days (shown below, left). Twitter^[3] user @aussielawleyy tweeted, "I'm lost for words. I loved the ACE Family, but I dont know how to feel now, especially cause this wasn't a joke. What the fuck. Austin and Catherine Mcbroom this is sickening" (shwon below, center).

Twitter^[4] user @DEVILISHGRAYSON tweeted, "the ace family are cancelled cancelled who the fuck takes a child to a sex shop but not even just that, austin then lets her buy a lollipop in the shape of a dick- that’s so disgusting." The user clarified, "the ace family are cancelled cancelled who the fuck takes a child to a sex shop but not even just that, austin then lets her buy a lollipop in the shape of a dick- that’s so disgusting." The initial tweet received more than 1,000 retweets and 5,100 likes in four days (shown below, right).

On January 8th, Redditor ^[6] okayalanna posted the video in the /r/iamatotalpieceofshit subreddit. The post received more than 140 points (95% upvoted) and 35 comments.

McBride Family Response

The family has not publicly addressed the video. However, on January 9th, two days after the clips went viral, Austin McBride tweeted, "Where’s all my lady hoopers???" Some responded to the tweet by asking about the video. Twitter^[5] user @J3nnie15 tweeted, "So you just gonna ignore the video going around of you buying the girl the lollipop?! You probably praying for people to stop talking about it bc you know that’s gonna ruin you career which Means no more Gucci no more supreme." The tweet received more than 500 likes in two days (shown below).

Media Coverage

Several media outlets reported on the story and the outrage, including BuzzFeed, ^[7] Newsweek,^[8] BET^[9] and more.

Search Interest

External References