Natalie Mariduena – David Dobrik’s assistant and childhood best friend – finally speaks out on recent allegations against Dobrik and the Vlog Squad via Twitter.
Mariduena took a neutral stance and extended her support to the victims who came forward to share their stories:
“I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the recent allegations, and because of the severity, it’s taken me time to process. Like many of you, I’m upset and angry and do not condone the behavior detailed in the article or any sexual misconduct/abuse for that matter. I want to make it clear that I acknowledge, hear and support those who came forward and I stand by the victims”.
— Natalie Mariduena (@natalinanoel) March 23, 2021
Dobrik and the Vlog Squad have had a tumultuous couple of weeks, with multiple former Vlog Squad members and video participants coming forward to share their negative experiences with the notorious influencer group. The Business Insider and the H3 podcast – in particular – have brought allegations against the Vlog Squad to the public eye and have ignited widespread fury amongst social media users: as a result, Dobrik’s subscriber count on YouTube has plummeted, with many brands such as SeatGeek, HBO Max, DoorDash, and Bumble cutting ties with the vlogger all together.
Mariduena’s statement comes a week after the Business Insider published an article detailing sexual assault allegations against former Vlog Squad member, Durte Dom. Other Vlog Squad members – such as Scotty Sire and Jeff Witek – have tried to salvage their public image by addressing these allegations. The public – however – has not responded kindly, with many accusing Sire and Witek of covering up for Dobrik.
On March 22, the H3 Podcast did a live stream YouTube video where H3 Podcast host Ethan Klein and Trisha Paytas – the former girlfriend of Vlog Squad member Jason Nash – interviewed Witek about the night the Durte Dom allegedly assaulted a girl during one of Dobrik’s vlogs:
Witek – who appears very anxious – is unable to answer some of Paytas and Klein’s questions. Moreover, he repeatedly digs himself in a hole – with his lies being exposed directly on camera. In short, Witek’s live appearance did little – if not worsen – the controversy surrounding Dobrik and the vlog squad.
Moreover – even Dobrik’s most recent apology video titled ‘03/22/21’ did little to appease fans: although Dobrik appears more sincere in this apology video compared to his last one, many fans believe Dobrik is only speaking out because he lost key brand partnerships.
Watch Dobrik’s recent apology video below. Do you think he’s genuinely sorry or is it all an act?