Noah Vinter
Fans of the Shaytards, also known as YouTube's first family, were shocked to learn that the seemingly perfect family they had been following for years was not as happy as they appeared. In 2017, Shay Carl Butler, the patriarch of the Shaytards, announced that he was leaving YouTube to seek treatment for alcoholism, and the family's channel went on hiatus. The revelation of Shay's alcoholism, combined with a cheating scandal and his struggling marriage, left fans reeling. Some fans expressed disappointment and anger, while others showed support for Shay's recovery and the family's attempts to work through their issues. The Shaytards have since returned to YouTube, but their content has shifted to focus more on family-oriented topics, and their posting schedule is less consistent.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Shock | Fans were shocked to find out about Shay's alcoholism, as they saw him as embodying what everyone wanted—a big, happy family, parents who were madly in love with each other, and a house full of goofy, carefree kids. |
| Disillusionment | Fans expressed that the image of the Shaytards as a perfect and happy family was completely gone for them. |
| Support | Some fans supported Shay's decision to go to rehab and focus on his recovery. They also acknowledged that humans are flawed and make mistakes. |
| Criticism | Some fans criticized Shay for his actions and the way the scandal was handled. They also expressed disappointment in the contrast between the positive image portrayed in the vlogs and the reality of the family's issues. |
| Concern | Fans expressed concern about the impact of Shay's alcoholism on his marriage and family, especially as his children grow older and become aware of their father's struggles. |
| Defense | Some fans defended Shay, arguing that people should not police his life and that he can attend weddings and other events without drinking. |
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What You'll Learn
- Fans were shocked to learn about the alcoholism, infidelity, and crumbling marriage behind the scenes
- Some fans defended Shaytard's attendance at a wedding where alcohol was served
- Others were more concerned about Shay's weight gain
- Some fans expressed disappointment about the family's image being shattered
- Fans noticed signs of cracks in the family's image, despite attempts to portray themselves as normal
Fans were shocked to learn about the alcoholism, infidelity, and crumbling marriage behind the scenes
Fans of the Shaytards were shocked to learn about the alcoholism, infidelity, and crumbling marriage behind the scenes of the seemingly perfect family YouTube channel. Many were concerned about a potential divorce between Shay Carl and his wife, Colette Butler, following a very public cheating scandal involving an Instagram star and "cam girl" named Aria Nina. Nina released graphic text messages from Shay Carl, which he had sent over a period of weeks, and even tagged Colette in some of the messages.
Shay Carl, who has struggled with alcoholism for years, admitted to relapsing and announced that he would be entering rehab. This admission was a shock to many fans, especially given the family's Mormon faith, which forbids alcohol. Some fans expressed sympathy for Colette and the couple's children, who were now dealing with the public fallout of the scandal.
In addition to the alcoholism and infidelity, fans were also surprised by the apparent struggles within the marriage. Despite appearing happy and content in their videos, some fans noticed that Colette had stayed away from being on camera, and there were reports that Shay and Colette's marriage had been struggling for some time. One fan commented that the image of the couple having a perfect and happy life was completely gone, and that the videos now felt unnatural.
The scandal also brought attention to the weight gain and loss journey of Shay Carl, with some fans expressing their preference for "a fat, not drunk Shay, than a drunk skinny Shay." Despite the shock and disappointment expressed by some fans, others defended the couple, acknowledging that people make mistakes and that it was admirable of them to work things out for the sake of their children.
Overall, the revelation of Shay Carl's alcoholism, infidelity, and marital issues behind the scenes of the Shaytards YouTube channel shocked and saddened fans, who had previously enjoyed the family-friendly and positive content the channel was known for.
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Some fans defended Shaytard's attendance at a wedding where alcohol was served
Fans of the Shaytards had mixed reactions to Shay Carl Butler's alcoholism. Some fans defended Shaytards' attendance at a wedding where alcohol was served, arguing that it was a special occasion and that he could choose to abstain from drinking. They also pointed out that he had attended similar events in the past without drinking and that it was not healthy for him to avoid social situations where alcohol might be present.
One fan commented, ""One can attend a wedding and not drink alcohol. [...] He was allegedly sober for what four or five years? During that time, he went to parties and weddings and didn't drink. I think he'd hold it together and not be drinking in public after a huge scandal." Another fan expressed annoyance at the criticism, saying, "It was his really good friend's wedding, of course, he's going to go. Quit trying to police his life and find some other vlogger to obsess over."
Some fans also expressed happiness at seeing Shay and his wife, Colette, together at the wedding, hoping that they could work through their issues. One fan commented, "They look happy to me, and I hope they can work this out."
However, other fans disagreed with Shay's decision to attend the wedding, believing that it was unwise for an alcoholic to be around alcohol. One fan stated, "Alcoholics are powerless when it comes to alcohol, and being around all of that alcohol can be tempting for him. I truly hope he was able to continue to refrain from alcohol after the wedding."
The discussion among fans reflected a range of opinions and concerns regarding Shay's attendance at the wedding, highlighting the complexities of supporting a loved one struggling with addiction while also navigating social expectations and personal well-being.
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Others were more concerned about Shay's weight gain
While many fans of the Shaytards were shocked and saddened by Shay Carl's admission of alcoholism and subsequent rehab stint, others were more concerned about his weight gain. Some fans expressed that they would rather see a "fat, not drunk Shay, than a drunk skinny Shay".
Shay Carl had previously lost a significant amount of weight, documenting his weight loss journey on his "ShayLoss" channel. However, during his struggles with alcoholism and the subsequent rehab process, it appears that he gained weight, which some fans noticed and commented on.
One fan commented that Shay was "gaining the weight back" and that they preferred a "fat, not drunk Shay". Another fan noted that Shay "wasn't always overweight" and that he was "skinnier in his youth". They expressed concern about his health, stating that "it's not healthy being overweight".
Some fans also discussed the impact of Shay's weight gain and alcoholism on his public image and the perception of his family's life. One fan mentioned that the image of the Shaytards as having "perfect and happy lives" was gone due to the scandals and issues that had come to light.
While some fans focused on Shay's weight gain, others expressed concern about his alcoholism, potential divorce, and the impact on his family. Overall, the reaction to Shay Carl's struggles with alcoholism and weight gain generated a range of responses from fans of the Shaytards.
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Some fans expressed disappointment about the family's image being shattered
Fans of the Shaytards, also known as "YouTube's first family", were shocked by the admission of Shay Carl Butler's alcoholism. Some fans expressed disappointment about the family's image being shattered. One fan commented that they could no longer view the family as having perfect and happy lives, as their videos had portrayed. The fan also criticised the way the scandal was handled, saying that it was horrible.
Another fan commented that they were happy to see the family again but that the image of them being happy and perfect was gone. They also acknowledged that humans make mistakes but were disappointed by the way the situation was handled. Some fans also expressed concern about the potential impact of the scandal on the children in the family, who had been featured in the videos, with one fan saying that their hearts went out to Colette (Shay's wife) and the kids.
The scandal involved Shay Carl's admission of alcoholism, as well as allegations of cheating and sending inappropriate messages to another woman. This led to concerns about a potential divorce between Shay and Colette, with fans noticing their absence from the internet and speculating about a possible split. Some fans defended Shay and Colette, saying that they looked happy and hoped they could work things out, especially for the sake of their children.
The family's YouTube channel, "SHAYTARDS", had been known for its family-friendly content, featuring the couple's adventures and activities with their children, as well as aspects of their Mormon faith. The channel had won "Best YouTube Channel or Personality" at Mashable's 3rd annual Open Web Awards in 2009 and was nominated for "Best Non-Fiction or Reality Series" at the 3rd Streamy Awards in 2013.
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Fans noticed signs of cracks in the family's image, despite attempts to portray themselves as normal
Fans of the Shaytards noticed signs of cracks in the family's image, despite attempts to portray themselves as normal. The family's YouTube channel, which had won "Best YouTube Channel or Personality" at Mashable's 3rd annual Open Web Awards in 2009, had always been known as family-friendly, with Shay Carl and his wife Colette Butler documenting their family adventures and Mormon faith. However, in 2017, a cheating scandal involving Shay and an Instagram star, as well as his admission of alcoholism and abrupt departure from YouTube, shocked fans and led to speculation about a possible divorce.
Some fans noticed inconsistencies in the couple's behaviour, such as Shay's absence from the camera and irregular video posting schedule. They also expressed concern about Colette, with some commenting that she seemed to need time and space to deal with the situation privately. Others were more critical, accusing Shay of using his alcoholism as an excuse for his actions and questioning the authenticity of the couple's public image.
The scandal seemed to have a lasting impact on the perception of the Shaytards, even after their return to YouTube in 2018. Some fans shared that they could no longer view the family in the same light, feeling that the image of a perfect and happy family had been shattered. They also questioned the nature of the new videos, finding them unnatural and struggling to reconcile the idea that the family they once adored was not as ideal as they had believed.
Despite the mixed reactions, many fans continued to follow the family's journey, expressing support for Colette and hoping for a positive resolution. The scandal also sparked discussions about the nature of vlogging and the reality behind the positive and happy content often portrayed in vlogs.
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Frequently asked questions
Fans of the Shaytards have had mixed reactions to Shay Carl Butler's alcoholism. Some have expressed disappointment and annoyance, while others have shown support for his decision to seek rehab. Many have also commented on the impact of alcoholism on Butler's family and his marriage to Colette, with some noting that the illusion of a "happy family" has been shattered."
Yes, Shay Carl Butler has been open about his struggles with alcoholism and has shared his journey towards recovery with his fans. In 2017, he announced that he would be leaving YouTube to focus on his rehab and recovery. He has also discussed attending addiction meetings in subsequent videos.
Yes, the Shaytards channel has been impacted by Butler's alcoholism. The channel was suspended for a year in 2017 and has never resumed a consistent posting schedule since. While the family has returned to vlogging and continues to post sporadically, they have struggled to portray themselves as a typical family and have faced challenges in rebuilding their image.
