Tech fans and gamers lined up outside the Vancouver Convention Centre during last year’s Linus Tech Expo. The pressure was on to test drive the newest pieces of tech for sale from various companies. General tickets began at $35 and went up to a top-tier VIP pass that cost as much as $10,000. The expo was hosted by the YouTube channel Linus Tech Tips from British Columbia. Linus has become something of a fan favorite. But recently, there has been buzz questioning the legitimacy of their videos. In addition, a former employee accused the company of ‘sexual harassment’, which the company has vehemently denied. Let’s learn the details of the Linus Tech Tips controversy and what really happened.
Linus Tech Tips: The Empire
Linus Tech Tips is the place for those interested in computers and gaming. The channel, which boasts 15.5 million subscribers today, has come a long way since Linus Sebastian first started it out of his garage in Surrey back in 2008. Linus has now grown to 7 additional YouTube channels and a successful podcast with a crew of over eighty people.
You will find a blend of categories here, ranging from how to build PCs and gaming tips and tricks to tech guides and reviews. They have even aligned with Microsoft, GoPro, and Samsung.
Yes, Linus officially resigned as CEO in July, but make no mistake—he is still instrumental in company guidance.
Linus Tech Tips Controversies
In 2023, another popular YouTube channel (Gamers Nexus) released a video that still has 4 million views. It accused Linus Tech Tips of opting for high-speed content rather than informative content and also questioned ethics.
However, Gamers Nexus hinted that Linus Tech Tips might have been less careful than they should have been when checking the products.
Linus Media Group CFO Yvonne Ho shared a video. She mentioned they’d halt making Linus Tech Tips videos to help fix these problems. Ho said she understood the community’s anxieties and explained that the breather happened immediately to address systemic changes.
Linus Sebastian also acknowledged the errors in product testing and he retracted his defense of not retesting. He acknowledged the flaws called out by fans and pledged to do better.
Poisonous Workplace, Accusations Filed For Sexual Assault
On Wednesday, Madison Reeve, former Linus Tech Tips social media manager, tweeted her story, which has been viewed more than six million times.
Reeve, who left Linus Tech Tips in 2021 after two years, discussed how the job negatively impacted her mental health. She recalls how she was weighed down with work and was told not to complain because, after all she had ” the fun job.”
She shared being called “incompetent,” and when she asked for help, she was often ignored or told to be “more assertive” and “put on her big girl pants.” Reeve also referenced an act of unwelcome physical contact and other significant offenses.
The Canadian CBC News attempted to reach Reeve for comment, but she did not respond.
Third-Party to Investigate
CBC News requested comment from Linus Sebastian and the CEO of his company, Linus Media Group, Terren Tong, but they did not respond. However, the company shared on X that they are conducting an outside investigation into Reeve’s allegations.
Tong told CBC he does not believe Linus Media Group has a toxic work culture. He said that the former employee’s allegations surprised him, and that they don’t align with the company’s principles.
In the mood for more controversies? Read the Sound of Freedom Controversy and all allegations against the Movie.
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Images are from Youtube.com/user/linustechtips
