Summary
Jason Matthew Ethier, popularly known as ImJayStation or JayStation, is a Canadian Internet personality and former YouTuber, noted for controversial content produced between 2015–2021.[1]
| ImJayStation | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | ||||||||||
| Born | Jason Matthew Ethier | |||||||||
| Occupation | YouTuber (formerly) | |||||||||
| YouTube information | ||||||||||
| Also known as | JayStation, 666 | |||||||||
| Years active | 2015–2021 | |||||||||
| Subscribers | 6.28M (Terminated) | |||||||||
| Total views | 1.3B (Terminated) | |||||||||
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Career edit
Ethier began his YouTube career in 2015 as JayStation,[2] showcasing controversial content that included him allegedly breaking and entering into empty homes, stadiums and office buildings overnight (although some instances of these were later revealed to have been staged).[3][4][5] In 2016, Ethier was arrested by Ottawa police for trespassing as evidenced by the videos he posted, which lead to demonetization of his YouTube channel. He resurfaced under the channel name "ImJayStation" later in 2016, having reuploaded much of his previous content, except that related to his trespassing charges.[1]
In 2018, approaching 2 million YouTube subscribers, Ethier was arrested at Florida's Walt Disney World for trespassing and resisting arrest.[6] He later called for a boycott of Walt Disney World and threatened legal action.[7][8]
In 2019, Ethier attracted controversy once more due to a series of videos in which he attempt to contact dead celebrities through paranormal means (notably Ouija and "spirit boxes"). He received a particularly negative response to a video wherein Ethier apologized for capitalizing on the deaths of well-known figures and criticized other internet personalities for doing the same, despite this message being contradicted by the clickbait title of the same posted video, referencing the very recent death of YouTuber Etika.[9]
In 2020, Ethier announced his girlfriend, fellow YouTuber Alexia Marano, had been killed by a drunk driver. Later content showed him visiting a memorial and attempting to contact her through Ouija.[10] Following an investigation however, it was revealed that this was a publicity stunt to gain subscribers, that Marano was alive and well, and that Ethier was intending to "resurrect" her in a later video.[11] Marano separated from Ethier and deleted her own YouTube channel, with a warrant for Ethier's arrest being issued by Toronto Police due to allegations of abuse against her.[12]
Later in 2020, Ethier and Marano returned to YouTube on a joint channel known as Dream Team,[13] although the content of this channel was removed following a second separation. The channel was subsequently restructured with the new name "666", containing only Ethier and consisting mostly reaction and gameplay content.
In 2021, both the extant "ImJayStation" and "666" YouTube channels were removed from the platform for breaching their Terms of Service, and Ethier threatened to sue over this decision.[14]
References edit
- ^ a b Asarch, Steven. "JayStation, the YouTuber who faked girlfriend's death, threatened to sue the platform for removing his channels". Insider. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
- ^ "ImJayStation: the YouTuber who faked his girlfriend's Alexia's death for hits". Dazed. January 28, 2020. Archived from the original on February 27, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
- ^ "Ottawa man vowing to cease after-hours store stunts after police weigh charges". CBC News. October 27, 2016. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
- ^ Schnurr, Joanne (November 15, 2016). "Ottawa Police say trespassing charges to be laid against 24-hour 'overnight challenger'". Ottawa. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
- ^ "YouTuber faces charges for after-hours stunt videos at empty homes, businesses". CTVNews. November 16, 2016. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
- ^ "This YouTube star was arrested at Disney World—and he has the video to prove it". The Daily Dot. March 29, 2018. Archived from the original on February 27, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
- ^ Williams, Michael. "YouTube star claimed to be 'very powerful,' threatened lawsuit during Disney arrest, deputies say". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on February 27, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
- ^ O'Shea, Sean (March 28, 2018). "Ottawa-based YouTube star charged after dispute with Disney World security officers". Global News. Archived from the original on February 27, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
- ^ "A YouTuber is being called out for clickbaiting Etika's death for views". We The Unicorns. Archived from the original on February 27, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
- ^ Katzowitz, Josh (January 23, 2020). "YouTuber accused of faking the death of his girlfriend for views". The Daily Dot. Archived from the original on February 27, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
- ^ White, Adam (January 28, 2020). "YouTube star admits to faking girlfriend's death to gain subscribers". The Independent. Archived from the original on February 27, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
- ^ Justich, Kerry (February 1, 2020). "YouTuber under fire after faking girlfriend's death for views. She's alive – and is accusing him of abuse". Yahoo! Lifestyle. Yahoo! News. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
- ^ Harris, Margot (April 5, 2020). "Infamous YouTuber JayStation reunited with his ex-girlfriend months after faking her death and quitting YouTube". Insider. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
- ^ Edwards, Luke (March 13, 2021). "JayStation threatens to sue YouTube for deleting his channel: YouTube responds". Dexerto. Retrieved March 13, 2021.