YouTuber Cody Ko Leaves Podcast After Underage Sex Allegations

Posted: July 30, 2024

Cody Kolodziejzyk, widely known as Cody Ko, has announced his decision to step down from his daily responsibilities at TMG Studios, the podcast network he co-founded. This decision follows allegations from influencer Tana Mongeau, who claimed that Kolodziejzyk had a sexual relationship with her when she was 17 and he was 25. The announcement was made in a post to paid subscribers of the network on Friday evening, highlighting the network’s recent pause in new episode releases across its six shows.

The allegations surfaced in June, with Mongeau, now 26, publicly accusing Kolodziejzyk, 33, of having sex with her when she was underage. Despite facing significant backlash and losing around 250,000 subscribers in the past month, according to Social Blade, Kolodziejzyk has not issued a statement regarding the accusations. Attempts to reach his representatives for comment have been unsuccessful.

The content of the departure announcement was initially shared with TMG Studios employees in an email on Friday morning and later posted behind a paywall for subscribers. The message stated that Kolodziejzyk would be stepping back to prevent his personal issues from impacting the professional and personal lives of the studio’s staff. Noel Miller, Kolodziejzyk’s long-time creative and business partner, will continue to lead the network. The shows are expected to resume in the coming weeks.

This development follows the recent departure of podcasters Drew Phillips and Enya Umanzor from TMG Studios. Their show, “Emergency Intercom,” was acquired by the network in May, but they announced on July 19 that they would be producing the podcast independently going forward. Their statement did not directly address the allegations against Kolodziejzyk, and representatives for Phillips and Umanzor did not respond to requests for comment.

Cody Ko, who has nearly 6 million subscribers on his main YouTube channel, is a prominent figure in YouTube’s commentary community. The allegations against him have sparked widespread discussion, particularly following Mongeau’s comments on various podcasts in June. A viral clip of her stating she had sex with Kolodziejzyk when she was 17 fueled speculation and prompted her to elaborate on the situation.

On a June 21 episode of her podcast “Cancelled,” Mongeau detailed the incident, describing it as a “crime” and expressing confusion over Kolodziejzyk’s actions. She recounted an incident where influencer Gabbie Hanna warned Kolodziejzyk about Mongeau’s age during a YouTuber convention, but the two still proceeded to engage in sexual activity. Representatives for Mongeau declined further comment, and Hanna’s representatives did not respond to requests for comment.

The controversy surrounding Kolodziejzyk underscores the broader issue of accountability and ethical behavior among influential social media personalities. As TMG Studios navigates this transition, the impact on its content and audience remains to be seen.

For fans keeping up with Cody Ko’s latest updates, this situation marks a significant shift in his career. The 33-year-old, who gained fame through his comedic YouTube videos and popular podcast, now faces intense scrutiny. Listeners of the Cody Ko podcast are eagerly waiting to see how the network will address the changes. Additionally, Cody Ko’s age and involvement in the influencer community, including his interactions with other figures like Tana Mongeau, are drawing renewed attention. This update will likely be a major topic in future Cody Ko YouTube videos and discussions.