As you may have seen, a rather successful YouTube-based singer was arrested recently on two counts of producing child pornography. He’s twenty-four-year-old Austin Jones and the alleged illegal photos are of two underage (fourteen and fifteen-year-old) fans. That’s ten years and a whole bout with puberty difference there.
If your first thought is gross, you’re not alone as quite a few people have come out against the alleged hebephile and the disgust his actions inspire. And a few have even reminded the world that he’s been in trouble for inappropriate requests before, though, in his own words, they were only twerking videos and he felt so sorry and bad and all the other things creepers claim when they get caught out being filthy creepers. Jones announced he was seeing a therapist and all was swept under the rug and when he returned to his burgeoning career, no one reminded the world what a pervert he is.
Until word broke that he was at it again and this time it went beyond just dancing. The latest round of ick involved him asking for photos of the girls nude below the waist – seems he has a thing for erm, the back door – and the girls agreeing in their desire to prove their fan-ness to the creep.
You might wonder: why they would send him those pictures seeing how everyone knows his asking was wrong on multiple levels and I would wonder, too — unless you forgot what it feels like to be young and (kind of) obsessed with that cute, possibly talented celebrity who personally messages you and makes you feel all special and shit because that’s why.
(And let’s not do the whole victim-blaming thing because, really.)
Let me break it down for you
Austin Jones is famous and he’s got the pretty eyes, pretty face, and pretty hair that can make adolescent hearts pitter-patter and when that pretty slides into your DM and wants to kik or chat or text you, it’s like winning the fucking lottery. So, yeah, some of the girls he manipulated gave into his demands, even as their own brains screamed for them not to and their mouths said they weren’t comfortable bowing to his demands requests.
The fact that the warning signs were there and ignored (even defended) makes this already horrible accusation even worse. Back in 2015 when screenshots first surfaced showing his sick hobby and he was set to go on tour, his management and the tour company all attacked those who spoke out (including another YouTuber who felt he had to say something when he learned of his then-planned tour partner) and called them bullies, threatened legal action and pushed the “innocent fun” facade in the hope it would all blow over. And it did. If the wagons hadn’t circled around the then-twenty-two-year-old grown up it might not have gone this far. But as the Victor Salva (still ain’t forgot about you, motherfucker) saga has shown, money talks and sexual offender walks. Weird, it’s almost like we really do live in a rape culture…
A pass is also given by the general public
Bill Cosby, Donald Trump, Woody Allen, Roman Polanski and Michael Jackson all had charges leveled at them (and in Polanski’s case plead guilty then ran when he realized he’d actually be punished for raping a thirteen-year-old) but still have defenders who will look at the victims and evidence and shrug their shoulders. Oh, it’s not true. Liars! Thieves! Money-grubbers! Golddiggers! And those who dare to look at the alleged dirt bags and take the accusations seriously are pathetic snowflakes who hate America. Or some other stupid shit.
Jones, while not on the Cosby-Trump-Jackson-Allen-Polanski level of money and fame, may still avoid the well-earned thirty year jail sentence that he deserves; he wouldn’t be the first young white man to be slapped on the wrist for the sake of his future (where, I assume, he would again be found to prey on teenage girls) and how hard prison would be on the singing twink. And that’s only if he even manages to be found guilty.
Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash
I know “innocent until proven guilty” is how our courts operate and there is the slightest of chances in a frozen hell that he didn’t actually do anything wrong but, when there is so much clear-cut evidence of wrongdoing, it’s kind of hard to think there’s nothing to see here. This isn’t a case of he said/she said that make up so many sexual assault/abuse cases; there are screen shots and videos documenting the bastard’s sick proclivities. And would-be victims coming forward with their own stories. And, of course, the booty-shaking “apology” from two years ago that shows a possible pattern of abuse/escalation.
Society needs to stop protecting criminals and hold accountable those who do. Everyone who enabled Jones to continue preying on teenage girls needs to be brought up on charges alongside him. If any of the people around him had spoken up before it got so far, those two (possibly more) girls wouldn’t have been used and manipulated and victimized by someone looking to get off.
Society should also stop the victim blaming
I’ve seen too many responses that went the “where are the parents” and “they’re old enough to know better” and even defenses of his actions (which I refuse to link to but if you really want to see any, just check YouTube). The girls are not criminals. What Jones did isn’t normal or healthy. It’s also illegal.
How people on the outside respond says a lot about who and what they are and should keep that in mind when they attack the victims or excuse the crimes.
Will is a writer and an artist, born in Bridgeport, CT. He has always looked to the future and dreamed of what could be. After writing a short story in seventh grade, he discovered a love of writing that rivaled his love of reading. He currently lives in Ansonia, CT surrounded by character sketches and outlines. See more of his writing (and some artwork) at his
Dori Owen says
July 20, 2017 at 2:26 pmExcellent article, Will. I didn’t fully understand what this sick fuck had done until I read your very detailed information. One can only hope justice prevails.