Philip James DeFranco
(born Philip James Franchini Jr.;
[ born December 1, 1985), commonly known by his online nickname PhillyD, is an American ]YouTube personality
A YouTuber is an online personality and/or influencer who produces videos on the video-sharing platform YouTube, typically posting to their personal YouTube channel. The term was first used in the English language in 2006.
Influence
Influen ...
. He is best known for ''The Philip DeFranco Show
''The Philip DeFranco Show'', often abbreviated and referred to as the ''PDS'', is a pop culture and news series created by American YouTube personality, Philip DeFranco, and his main claim to fame. The show has gone through several schedule cha ...
'', a news commentary show centered on current events in politics and pop culture.
DeFranco has also been involved in the creation of other successful channels on YouTube, including personal vlog channel ''Philly D'', the YouTube Original news channel ''SourceFed
SourceFed was a YouTube channel and news website created by Philip DeFranco in January 2012 as part of YouTube's original channel initiative, and was originally produced by James Haffner.
The main SourceFed channel mainly focused on popular cu ...
'' and its nerd culture spinoff ''SourceFed Nerd'', gaming channel ''Super Panic Frenzy'', and family vlogging channel ''TheDeFrancoFam''. His primary channel has accumulated over 6.3 million subscribers and 1.44 billion views, as of August 2022. Over his decade-long YouTube career, he has been cited as a pioneer of YouTube and news coverage online, and has won various awards for his online content.
Early life
DeFranco was born Philip James Franchini Jr. in The Bronx
The Bronx () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the state of New York. It is south of Westchester County; north and east of the New York City borough of Manhattan, across the Harlem River; and north of the New Y ...
, New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...
, New York. He has a stepmother who works at a car dealership. Once in Florida, he used his USF student loan
A student loan is a type of loan designed to help students pay for post-secondary education and the associated fees, such as tuition, books and supplies, and living expenses. It may differ from other types of loans in the fact that the interest r ...
to purchase a computer and camera. He is of Italian descent.
He was a student at the University of South Florida
The University of South Florida (USF) is a public research university with its main campus located in Tampa, Florida, and other campuses in St. Petersburg and Sarasota. It is one of 12 members of the State University System of Florida. USF i ...
, a biology student at Asheville–Buncombe Technical Community College
Asheville–Buncombe Technical Community College (A-B Tech) is a Public college, public community college in Asheville, North Carolina. Established in 1959, the college is one of the oldest in the North Carolina Community College System and serve ...
,[Alt URL]
/ref> and later a junior at East Carolina University.[ In 2007, Phil lived in ]Tampa, Florida
Tampa () is a city on the Gulf Coast of the United States, Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. The city's borders include the north shore of Tampa Bay and the east shore of Old Tampa Bay. Tampa is the largest city in the Tampa Bay area and ...
, and later Atlanta
Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...
, Georgia.[ He worked as a waiter in a number of restaurants while making videos in 2007.
DeFranco lived in a car until moving back with his father in Tampa, Florida, on condition that he would return to college, which he ultimately did not do.]
YouTube
2006–2011: Early years
Launching ''The Philip DeFranco Show''
On September 15, 2006, DeFranco created his YouTube account during his finals at East Carolina University, originally registered as "sxephil", in which he talks about "newsie type stuff, and things that matter to imtoday."[ DeFranco has cited his influences as ]Ze Frank
Hosea Jan "Ze" Frank (; born March 31, 1972) is an American online performance artist, composer, humorist and public speaker based in Los Angeles.
Personal life
Frank was born to German-American parents (his father is Chemistry Nobel Laureate ...
, Dane Cook
Dane Jeffrey Cook (born March 18, 1972) is an American stand-up comedian and film actor. He has released six comedy albums: '' Harmful If Swallowed''; ''Retaliation''; ''Vicious Circle''; '' Rough Around the Edges: Live from Madison Square Garde ...
, and the Vlogbrothers
Vlogbrothers (sometimes stylized as VlogBrothers or vlogbrothers) is a video blog channel on YouTube. The Internet-based show is created and hosted by the Green brothers: John Green and Hank Green. The first incarnation of the brothers' online ...
. Early on, he began calling his news-centered videos ''The Philip DeFranco Show
''The Philip DeFranco Show'', often abbreviated and referred to as the ''PDS'', is a pop culture and news series created by American YouTube personality, Philip DeFranco, and his main claim to fame. The show has gone through several schedule cha ...
''.[ All of his sxephil videos from before March 13, 2017, have been privated or deleted from the channel.
Before the ]YouTube partner program
YouTube is a global online video sharing and social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by Google, and is the second most v ...
was available, he asked for donations from his viewers after claiming to have run out of money, and selling everything except his Mac, camera, and clothes, and overdrawing his bank account so he could spend a night in a hotel as he found it too scary sleeping in a car in Brooklyn
Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...
.
An online viewer census from 2007 showed that one-third of his viewers were 16- and 17-year-old girls.[ In the same year, DeFranco opened his second ]YouTube
YouTube is a global online video sharing and social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by Google, and is the second mo ...
channel, "''PhilipDeFranco''", which includes a series of vlogs which he calls " The Vloggity". He streamed on BlogTV
BlogTV was a live-streaming video blog service reintroduced by MadCow Disease Media LLC, in January 2016. BlogTV was first established in Ramat Gan, Israel in January 2004 by founders Ilan Ben-Dov, Dan Chen, Guy Eliav, Nir Ofir, and Oren Levy ...
twice a week and took a cut of the revenue which was up to $12 CPM CPM may refer to:
Advertising
*Cost per mille, the advertising cost per thousand views
*Cost per impression, Cost per thousand impressions, the online advertising equivalent
Management
*Certified practising marketer, a qualification for Australi ...
s.
In August 2007, DeFranco conducted an experiment by uploading a video titled "Big Boobs and You". The video's thumbnail image was what the title described, except that the image only flashed for a split second. The rest of the video's content was DeFranco talking. It quickly became his most successful video at the time, with 1.8 million views. From then on he changed his content to sex
Sex is the trait that determines whether a sexually reproducing animal or plant produces male or female gametes. Male plants and animals produce smaller mobile gametes (spermatozoa, sperm, pollen), while females produce larger ones ( ova, of ...
, gossip
Gossip is idle talk or rumour, especially about the personal or private affairs of others; the act is also known as dishing or tattling.
Gossip is a topic of research in evolutionary psychology, which has found gossip to be an important means ...
, and news
News is information about current events. This may be provided through many different media: word of mouth, printing, postal systems, broadcasting, electronic communication, or through the testimony of observers and witnesses to events. N ...
. In 2012, YouTube redesigned their website, as videos with cleavage thumbnails attracted many clicks but were abandoned instead of being watched.
Fan-voting competitions and ''Hooked Up''
DeFranco used his large audience to win the Spore Creature Creator
The ''Spore Creature Creator'' is a software that allows players to create their own creatures with a standalone version of the Creature Editor from ''Spore''; the software was one of the first aspects of the game to receive focused development, a ...
, a game promotion competition, and in doing so beat celebrities such as Stan Lee, Katy Perry, and Elijah Wood
Elijah Jordan Wood (born January 28, 1981) is an American actor and producer. He is best known for his portrayal of Frodo Baggins in the ''Lord of the Rings'' film trilogy (2001–2003) and '' The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey'' (2012).
Woo ...
. The winner's prize was to choose which charity would receive a donation of $15,000. He chose the PKD Foundation, an organization dedicated to fighting polycystic kidney disease
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD or PCKD, also known as polycystic kidney syndrome) is a genetic disorder in which the renal tubules become structurally abnormal, resulting in the development and growth of multiple cysts within the kidney. These c ...
(PKD), which he attributed to his family's history with the condition.[ DeFranco's large online audience also enabled him to win '']Wired
''Wired'' (stylized as ''WIRED'') is a monthly American magazine, published in print and online editions, that focuses on how emerging technologies affect culture, the economy, and politics. Owned by Condé Nast, it is headquartered in San ...
''s Sexiest Geek of 2008 competition, a reader-voted contest.
In October 2008, DeFranco co-starred with Jessica Rose and Kevin Wu
Kevin Wu (born June 12, 1990) is an American former YouTuber best known under the username KevJumba. The ''San Francisco Chronicles Jeff Yang has noted that Wu is not a comedian in the conventional sense but that by "just talking eis, well, ...
in ''Hooking Up,'' written and directed by Woody Tondorf as a promo for HBOLabs (the online arm of HBO). ''Hooking Up'' is a scripted 10-episode web series set at a fictional university where the students spend most of their time emailing and using Facebook
Facebook is an online social media and social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. Founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with fellow Harvard College students and roommates Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin Mosk ...
, but still manage to miscommunicate. Guest appearances on ''Hooking Up'' were made by Kevin Nalty
Kevin 'Nalts' Nalty (born May 12, 1969 in New Orleans, Louisiana) is an American Internet personality and marketer better known under his YouTube username Nalts. Nalts began on YouTube as one of the top-20 most-viewed comedy channels, and collab ...
, Michael Buckley, and other popular Internet celebrities.
By the show's second day on YouTube, it had received more than 450,000 views. Bobbie Johnson of ''The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
'' said that many Web surfers have "scoffed at what they see as a cynical attempt to cash in."
In 2008, he stated in an interview that his listed salary of $250,000 from a number of sources on the Internet, including and beyond YouTube
YouTube is a global online video sharing and social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by Google, and is the second mo ...
, was initially a joke, but would become accurate.[ He has been paid by companies to create videos to promote ]Carl's Jr.
Carl's Jr. Restaurants LLC is an American fast food restaurant chain operated by CKE Restaurant Holdings, Inc., with franchisees in North & South America, Asia, Oceania, Europe and Africa.
In 2016, ''Entrepreneur'' listed Carl's Jr. as No. 54 ...
's burgers, and the US television series ''Lie to Me
''Lie to Me'' (stylized as ''Lie to me*'') is an American crime drama television series. It originally ran on the Fox network from January 21, 2009, to January 31, 2011. In the show, Dr. Cal Lightman (Tim Roth) and his colleagues in The Lightma ...
'' and ''Fringe
Fringe may refer to:
Arts
* Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the world's largest arts festival, known as "the Fringe"
* Adelaide Fringe, the world's second-largest annual arts festival
* Fringe theatre, a name for alternative theatre
* The Fringe, the ...
''.
''The Station'', ''Like Totally Awesome'', and other projects
DeFranco was a founding member of ''The Station'', but left only a few months after it was created. DeFranco's early attempts at launching channels with scopes outside of his eponymous news series included ''BamBamKaboosh'' and ''TheDeFrancoUpdate''. DeFranco also launched ''Like Totally Awesome'' (''LTA''), in which video reviews of a movie, video game, or technology were submitted by viewers and compiled into an episode of a video series called ''The Quad''. The show was run by Sarah Penna
Sarah Penna is the co-founder of Big Frame, a YouTube Multi Channel Network. Before starting Big Frame, Penna was Phillip DeFranco's manager. According to Forbes, Penna was "one of the first people ever hired to manage a YouTube career."
Person ...
, the creator of the YouTube multi-channel network
A multi-channel network (MCN) is an organization that works with video platforms to offer assistance to a channel owner in areas such as "product, programming, funding, cross-promotion, partner management, digital rights management, monetizat ...
Big Frame. Early in his YouTube career, Penna aided DeFranco, securing him coverage in news articles and magazines, such as ''Fast Company
''Fast Company'' is a monthly American business magazine published in print and online that focuses on technology, business, and design. It publishes six print issues per year.
History
''Fast Company'' was launched in November 1995 by Alan Web ...
''. One of those articles mentioned that DeFranco frequently collaborated with the advertising agency, Mekanism
Mekanism is a San Francisco-based creative agency that specializes in the development and production of marketing campaigns, commercials and branded entertainment for multinational companies.Levere, JaneUsing a Light Touch to Attack a Dark Subj ...
.
DeFranco entered the 2010s having his "sxephil" channel as the fifth-most subscribed on the platform. In July 2010, DeFranco attended the first VidCon
VidCon is an annual convention for fans, creators, executives, and online brands. The event primarily features prominent video stars from across the internet. In October 2020, VidCon Now relaunched as an ongoing, free digital offering. Vetera ...
event, where he was a speaker. Also in the month, DeFranco co-created ''CuteWinFail'', along with Toby Turner
Toby Joseph Turner (born March 3, 1985), also known by his stage name Tobuscus, is an American Internet personality and actor. Originally from Niceville, Florida, he is best known for his YouTube videos. As of November 5, 2021, Turner has a to ...
; the online series was described by Fruzsina Eördögh of ''ReadWrite
ReadWrite (originally ReadWriteWeb or RWW) is a Web technology blog launched in 2003. RW covers Web 2.0 and Web technology in general, and provides industry news, reviews, and analysis. Founded by Richard MacManus, Technorati ranked ReadWriteWeb ...
'' as "essentially the YouTube equivalent of America's Funniest Home Videos." DeFranco launched a merchandise line called ForHumanPeoples in 2011.
2012–2017: ''SourceFed'' and Discovery/Group Nine years
Launching ''SourceFed''
In January 2012, DeFranco launched ''SourceFed
SourceFed was a YouTube channel and news website created by Philip DeFranco in January 2012 as part of YouTube's original channel initiative, and was originally produced by James Haffner.
The main SourceFed channel mainly focused on popular cu ...
'', which at the time was produced by James Haffner. This came around the same time in which DeFranco signed with Revision3
Revision3 was a San Francisco-based multi-channel television network that created, produced and distributed streaming television shows on niche topics. Founded in 2005, it operated as a subsidiary of Discovery Digital Networks since 2012.
The ...
, a multi-channel network
A multi-channel network (MCN) is an organization that works with video platforms to offer assistance to a channel owner in areas such as "product, programming, funding, cross-promotion, partner management, digital rights management, monetizat ...
. In February, DeFranco stated he paid himself $100,000 a year, and reinvests the rest back into his company.
Later in the year, DeFranco hosted the 25th anniversary of Discovery Channel's Shark Week
Shark Week is an annual, week long TV programming block at the Discovery Channel, which features shark-based programming. Shark Week originally premiered on July 17, 1988. Featured annually, in July or early August, it was originally devoted to c ...
.[
DeFranco, along with ''SourceFed'' co-hosts ]Elliott Morgan
Elliott Christopher Morgan (born February 22, 1987) is an American stand up comedian, actor, writer, host, producer and YouTube personality. Morgan is best known for being a co-host of the YouTube channel '' SourceFed''. Morgan attended the Univ ...
and Meg Turney
Megan LeeAnn Turney (born March 12, 1987) is an American streamer, internet personality, cosplayer, glamour model, and vlogger. She became an internet personality through her hosting work, formerly with ''SourceFed'' and Rooster Teeth's '' The Kno ...
, joined journalists at the 2012 Republican National Convention
The 2012 Republican National Convention was a gathering held by the Republican Party (United States), U.S. Republican Party during which Delegate (American politics), delegates officially nominated former List of governors of Massachusetts, Ma ...
and the Democratic National Convention as part of YouTube
YouTube is a global online video sharing and social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by Google, and is the second mo ...
's "Elections Hub".[ ''The Philip DeFranco Show'' and ''SourceFed'' were nominated for awards in the 3rd installment of the ]Streamy Awards
The YouTube Streamy Awards, also known as the Streamy Awards or Streamys, are presented annually by Dick Clark Productions and Tubefilter to recognize excellence in online video, including directing, acting, producing, and writing. The forma ...
.
In September, it was reported that DeFranco received almost 30 million views a month, while by October, his channel was noted to have accumulated 2 million subscribers.[ ''The Philip DeFranco Show'' and ''SourceFed'' were nominated for ]Streamy Awards
The YouTube Streamy Awards, also known as the Streamy Awards or Streamys, are presented annually by Dick Clark Productions and Tubefilter to recognize excellence in online video, including directing, acting, producing, and writing. The forma ...
; ''The PDS'' was nominated for Best First-Person Series and Best News and Culture Series. ''SourceFed'' was also nominated for Best News and Culture Series, as well as Best Live Series and its "#PDSLive 2012 Election Night Coverage" program was nominated for Best Live Event.[
In January 2013, DeFranco took part in a ]Google+
Google+ (pronounced and sometimes written as Google Plus; sometimes called G+) was a social network owned and operated by Google. The network was launched on June 28, 2011, in an attempt to challenge other social networks, linking other Google p ...
Hangout with United States Vice President
The vice president of the United States (VPOTUS) is the second-highest officer in the executive branch of the U.S. federal government, after the president of the United States, and ranks first in the presidential line of succession. The vice pr ...
Joe Biden and Guy Kawasaki
Guy Kawasaki (born August 30, 1954) is an American marketing specialist, author, and Silicon Valley venture capitalist. He was one of the Apple employees originally responsible for marketing their Macintosh computer line in 1984. He popularized ...
, discussing gun laws
Gun laws and policies, collectively referred to as firearms regulation or gun control, regulate the manufacture, sale, transfer, possession, modification, and use of small arms by civilians. Laws of some countries may afford civilians a right to ...
. In February, DeFranco was a featured as a guest judge on the second season of ''Internet Icon
''Internet Icon'' is an online video-making talent competition (described as "''American Idol''-esque") that premiered on the YOMYOMF YouTube channel on June 12, 2012. The show was a competition between groups to see who can be "the next internet ...
''.
Expanding his network
Later, in May, ''SourceFed Nerd'', a branch of ''SourceFed
SourceFed was a YouTube channel and news website created by Philip DeFranco in January 2012 as part of YouTube's original channel initiative, and was originally produced by James Haffner.
The main SourceFed channel mainly focused on popular cu ...
'', was launched. In the same month, DeFranco's assets, including ''The Philip DeFranco Show'' and ''SourceFed'', were acquired by Revision3
Revision3 was a San Francisco-based multi-channel television network that created, produced and distributed streaming television shows on niche topics. Founded in 2005, it operated as a subsidiary of Discovery Digital Networks since 2012.
The ...
, which itself was a subsidiary of Discovery Digital Networks
Discovery Digital Networks was a San Francisco based multi-channel Internet television and digital cable network that created, produced and distributed streaming television shows on niche topics. It was sold by Discovery Communications into Group ...
. Upon the acquisition, DeFranco became added as an exec of Revision3, the Senior VP of a new Revision3 subsidiary, Phil DeFranco Networks and Merchandise. In October, as part of his new network, DeFranco launched the ''ForHumanPeoples'' channel, based on his clothing and merchandise line. In November 2013, DeFranco was a special guest in a live pre-show simulcast for the ''Doctor Who'' 50th anniversary from YouTube Space LA. Additionally, DeFranco has organized live shows and meetup events in locations such as Arizona
Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...
, Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...
, and Toronto
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the anch ...
.
DeFranco aspired to have launched channels within his network by the end of 2013, though due to "the logistical complications of joining Discovery, adding staff and strategizing the future," those plans did not materialize.[ DeFranco later planned 2014 to be the year that he would begin launching new channels.][ These plans once again fell through, but in 2015, DeFranco was involved in the launching of ''Super Panic Frenzy'', a gaming network, including a YouTube channel and a ]Twitch
Twitch may refer to:
Biology
* Muscle contraction
** Convulsion, rapid and repeated muscle contraction and relaxation
** Fasciculation, a small, local, involuntary muscle contraction
** Myoclonic twitch, a jerk usually caused by sudden muscle co ...
live-stream show.
2017–present: Independent content creation
DeFranco Elite and 2017 coverage
In 2017, DeFranco announced he was no longer working with Group Nine Media and would instead be an independent creator again. In addition to this, DeFranco announced the launch of DeFranco Elite, a crowdfunding initiative on Patreon
Patreon (, ) is a membership platform that provides business tools for content creators to run a subscription service. It helps creators and artists earn a monthly income by providing rewards and perks to their subscribers. Patreon charges a com ...
; DeFranco Elite functioned as a way for fans to help fund ''The Philip DeFranco Show'', which DeFranco stated would help avoid the series' funding to be tied to YouTube ad revenue. By the end of the year, ''The Outline
''The'' () is a grammatical Article (grammar), article in English language, English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite ...
'' noted that DeFranco had over 13,000 Patreon subscribers donating an amount of money that while undisclosed was enough to rank him within the platform's top 20 creators. In 2019, DeFranco was earning approximately $50,000 a month from Patreon.
DeFranco's coverage of issues concerning YouTube
YouTube is a global online video sharing and social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by Google, and is the second mo ...
culture—such as PewDiePie
Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg ( , ; born 24 October 1989), better known as PewDiePie ( ), is a Swedish YouTuber known for his Let's Play videos and comedic formatted videos and shows. Kjellberg's popularity on YouTube and extensive media coverage ...
's alleged anti-Semitism
Antisemitism (also spelled anti-semitism or anti-Semitism) is hostility to, prejudice towards, or discrimination against Jews. A person who holds such positions is called an antisemite. Antisemitism is considered to be a form of racism.
Antis ...
controversy and the DaddyOFive
FamilyOFive, originally known as DaddyOFive, was a controversial YouTube channel and online alias of Michael Christopher "Mike" Martin (born December 17, 1982), which focused on daily vlogging and "prank" videos. At its peak, the channel's videos ...
child abuse story—were among those most cited by online and mainstream media publications.[ In his stories covering the ]DaddyOFive
FamilyOFive, originally known as DaddyOFive, was a controversial YouTube channel and online alias of Michael Christopher "Mike" Martin (born December 17, 1982), which focused on daily vlogging and "prank" videos. At its peak, the channel's videos ...
channel, DeFranco highlighted the channel's creators Mike and Heather Martin, and the abuse they inflicted on their children in videos posted on the channel. DeFranco's coverage and criticism of the channel sparked a community backlash and heightened media attention that led to the Martins losing custody of two of their children,[ and ultimately being charged with and found guilty of child neglect.][
Another topic DeFranco was noted by media publications for covering in 2017, was that of demonetization of YouTube creators.] DeFranco continued to be frequently cited as critical of the platform, regarding issues involving ad revenue and demonetization, with noted criticism of ads being allowed on the YouTube channels of mainstream talk shows but not on those of native creators. Due to hot-button topics that can arise when delivering the news, DeFranco's content is particularly prone to being deemed "unfriendly" to advertisers.
In June 2017, DeFranco's channel was cited by ''The Verge
''The Verge'' is an American technology news website operated by Vox Media, publishing news, feature stories, guidebooks, product reviews, consumer electronics news, and podcasts.
The website launched on November 1, 2011, and uses Vox Media ...
'' as having over 5.4 million subscribers. DeFranco's subscriber growth slowed down in 2017, although his channel's monthly views continued to yield growing numbers.
BetterHelp controversy
In October 2018, BetterHelp
BetterHelp is a mental health platform that provides online mental health services directly to consumers. The online counseling and therapy services are provided through web-based interaction as well as phone and text communication. BetterHelp wa ...
gained attention from YouTube
YouTube is a global online video sharing and social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by Google, and is the second mo ...
personalities after concerns were raised about alleged use of unfair pricing, paid reviews from actors, and questionable terms of service. Along with creators like Shane Dawson
Shane Lee Yaw (born July 19, 1988), better known as Shane Dawson, is an American YouTuber, actor, fimmaker, writer, and musician. One of the first people to rise to fame on YouTube, he began making videos in 2008 at the age of 19 and garnered ...
, DeFranco faced backlash for being among their most high-profile supporters. Both DeFranco and BetterHelp CEO Alon Matas addressed the issue, giving statements to ''Polygon'''s Julia Alexander. On October 15, DeFranco tweeted that he had formally ended his relationship with BetterHelp.
Launching Rogue Rocket
DeFranco launched Beautiful Bastard in February 2019, a line of hair care named after his catchphrase from the introductions of his news show.
Since regaining control over his properties from the Discovery Network in May 2017, DeFranco has been working towards broadening his content and reach. He began work on Rogue Rocket and would launch the news network on April 22, 2019. The network's launch was accompanied by a website.[ A YouTube channel for the network, produced by Amanda Morones and featuring news story breakdowns launched in July; these breakdowns are presented in longer formats (such as 10- to 30-minute mini-documentaries) than those seen on ''The Philip DeFranco Show''.] Instead of being hosted by DeFranco, the channel features an on-camera cast of correspondents; the first of these correspondents was Maria Sosyan.[ In addition to the website and YouTube channel, the Rogue Rocket network also comprised a podcast named ''A Conversation With'', in which DeFranco hosts and interviews a subject.]
In 2020, YouTube tapped various YouTubers, with DeFranco amongst them, to interview Anthony Fauci, with the goal of bringing information related to the COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...
to younger audiences.
Public image and influence
Due to joining YouTube in 2006 and soon gaining a sizable audience on the website, DeFranco has been cited as a pioneer of both YouTube and new media
New media describes communication technologies that enable or enhance interaction between users as well as interaction between users and content. In the middle of the 1990s, the phrase "new media" became widely used as part of a sales pitch for ...
, in general.[ Lucas Shaw of '']TheWrap
''TheWrap'' is an American online news website covering the business of entertainment and media via digital, print and live events. It was founded by journalist Sharon Waxman
Sharon I. Waxman (born c.1963) is an American author, journalist, ...
'' described DeFranco as "one of the first video bloggers to find success on YouTube, and has since built", as well as having an, "entrepreneurial spirit and understanding of YouTube". DeFranco was described by ''The Washington Post
''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large nati ...
'' as part of the first generation of YouTube's creators, with the publication writing, "there are the originals, the older ones who became famous on YouTube when the only sort of Internet fame that existed was random viral stardom: Phil DeFranco, Jenna Marbles
Jenna Nicole Mourey (born September 15, 1986), better known as Jenna Marbles, is an American former YouTuber. Over the span of ten years, her YouTube channel has accumulated approximately 1.7 billion video views and over 20 million subscribers. ...
and Hannah Hart
Hannah Maud Hart (born November 2, 1986) is an American internet personality, comedian, author, and actress. She is known for starring in '' My Drunk Kitchen'', a weekly series on YouTube in which she cooks something while intoxicated. She als ...
, for instance."
''The Los Angeles Times
''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...
'' has described DeFranco as, "the Walter Cronkite
Walter Leland Cronkite Jr. (November 4, 1916 – July 17, 2009) was an American broadcast journalist who served as anchorman for the ''CBS Evening News'' for 19 years (1962–1981). During the 1960s and 1970s, he was often cited as "the mo ...
for the YouTube generation who generates hundreds of headlines in under 10 minutes". Sarah Kessler of ''Fast Company
''Fast Company'' is a monthly American business magazine published in print and online that focuses on technology, business, and design. It publishes six print issues per year.
History
''Fast Company'' was launched in November 1995 by Alan Web ...
'' has referred to DeFranco as his generation's " Jon Stewart, if not Rupert Murdoch
Keith Rupert Murdoch ( ; born 11 March 1931) is an Australian-born American business magnate. Through his company News Corp, he is the owner of hundreds of local, national, and international publishing outlets around the world, including ...
and News Corp". ''HuffPost
''HuffPost'' (formerly ''The Huffington Post'' until 2017 and sometimes abbreviated ''HuffPo'') is an American progressive news website, with localized and international editions. The site offers news, satire, blogs, and original content, and ...
'' has also likened DeFranco to Stewart, as well as Stephen Colbert
Stephen Tyrone Colbert ( ; born May 13, 1964) is an American comedian, writer, producer, political commentator, actor, and television host. He is best known for hosting the satirical Comedy Central program '' The Colbert Report'' from 2005 ...
and Bill Maher, commending DeFranco's ability to balance "important, controversial, and potentially dry topics" with pop culture stories.[
David Cornell of ''The Inquisitr News'' wrote that DeFranco is "one of the leading sources of news" on YouTube and one of the platform's success stories. Julia Alexander of '']The Verge
''The Verge'' is an American technology news website operated by Vox Media, publishing news, feature stories, guidebooks, product reviews, consumer electronics news, and podcasts.
The website launched on November 1, 2011, and uses Vox Media ...
'' has similarly described DeFranco as "one of the most notable voices on the site,"[ while the publication's Lizzie Plaugic described DeFranco's content as being more akin to that of a ]gossip
Gossip is idle talk or rumour, especially about the personal or private affairs of others; the act is also known as dishing or tattling.
Gossip is a topic of research in evolutionary psychology, which has found gossip to be an important means ...
or tabloid outlet. Plaugic wrote "the biggest differentiators of gossip channels are the hosts. Philip DeFranco tries to position himself as an objective, buttoned-up talk show host, even though his eponymous show is all about his take on the biggest names in YouTube drama."[
DeFranco's ventures in creating an online media network have also been noted. Alex Iansiti of '' Huffington Post'' (now ''HuffPost'') noted, "'']The Philip DeFranco Show
''The Philip DeFranco Show'', often abbreviated and referred to as the ''PDS'', is a pop culture and news series created by American YouTube personality, Philip DeFranco, and his main claim to fame. The show has gone through several schedule cha ...
'' is a great example of a media company to sprout out of YouTube". ''Variety
Variety may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats
* Variety (radio)
* Variety show, in theater and television
Films
* ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont
* ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
'' similarly expressed that DeFranco has "built upon a cult following and turned his YouTube show into a bonafide media empire."[
]
Views
Politics
Politically, DeFranco has described himself as "fiscally conservative, socially liberal, for the most part." He expresses support for LGBT rights
Rights affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender ( LGBT) people vary greatly by country or jurisdiction—encompassing everything from the legal recognition of same-sex marriage to the death penalty for homosexuality.
Notably, ...
, including gay marriage and transgender identity, but he holds conservative views on company taxation. While on ''The Joe Rogan Experience
''The Joe Rogan Experience'' is a podcast hosted by American comedian, presenter, and UFC color commentator Joe Rogan. It launched on December 24, 2009, on YouTube by Rogan and comedian Brian Redban, who was its sole co-host and producer unti ...
'' podcast, DeFranco stated that prior to moving to California he was "ultra-liberal". Starting a business there caused him to lean more center
Center or centre may refer to:
Mathematics
*Center (geometry), the middle of an object
* Center (algebra), used in various contexts
** Center (group theory)
** Center (ring theory)
* Graph center, the set of all vertices of minimum eccentrici ...
.[ He voted for Libertarian nominee ]Gary Johnson
Gary Earl Johnson (born January 1, 1953) is an American businessman, author, and politician. He served as the 29th governor of New Mexico from 1995 to 2003 as a member of the Republican Party. He was the Libertarian Party nominee for Presid ...
in the 2012 United States presidential election
The 2012 United States presidential election was the 57th quadrennial presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012. Incumbent Democratic President Barack Obama and his running mate, incumbent Vice President Joe Biden, were re-e ...
, but he no longer labels himself a libertarian. DeFranco has criticized the authoritarian nature as well as Twitter activity of former U.S. president Donald J. Trump, a prominent Republican
Republican can refer to:
Political ideology
* An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law.
** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
.
DeFranco has used cannabis
''Cannabis'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae. The number of species within the genus is disputed. Three species may be recognized: '' Cannabis sativa'', '' C. indica'', and '' C. ruderalis''. Alternative ...
in the past, stating, "I have a prescription and I take it to sleep. Also if it makes the movie I'm falling asleep to 10x funnier, that is a side effect I am okay with."
Media, news, and reporting
DeFranco has noted he likes to verify the news he covers and comments on, stating "I have to see several news sources that I trust."[ On this, ''Polygon'' has stated that DeFranco expressed paranoia relating to the need to ensure that stories are completely correct.][ DeFranco also likes to incorporate a "human side to every story,"][ and has been known to specifically highlight optimistic or feel-good stories to counter the typical grittiness of a news cycle.][ When covering shootings, DeFranco only reports on known facts at the time and has a policy to not use the perpetrator's name or image.]
Following PewDiePie
Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg ( , ; born 24 October 1989), better known as PewDiePie ( ), is a Swedish YouTuber known for his Let's Play videos and comedic formatted videos and shows. Kjellberg's popularity on YouTube and extensive media coverage ...
's December 2019 announcement that he would be taking a break from posting on YouTube, CNN
CNN (Cable News Network) is a multinational cable news channel headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. Founded in 1980 by American media proprietor Ted Turner and Reese Schonfeld as a 24-hour cable news channel, and presently owned by ...
published an article about PewDiePie
Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg ( , ; born 24 October 1989), better known as PewDiePie ( ), is a Swedish YouTuber known for his Let's Play videos and comedic formatted videos and shows. Kjellberg's popularity on YouTube and extensive media coverage ...
, focusing on his past controversies; DeFranco cited this CNN article when he addressed what he referred to as a "crisis of credibility problem" for mainstream media outlets.
YouTube
Beginning in 2016, DeFranco became notably critical of YouTube's advertising policies, as they would begin to result in widespread demonetization–a term describing an incident in which something triggered YouTube's system to remove advertisements from a video–for creators across the platform. DeFranco's criticism of YouTube regarding this topic would continue in the following years.
Dating as far back as 2008, DeFranco has been frequently cited as pondering a potential end to his eponymous news series or an exit from the platform altogether. DeFranco's reasons for this have varied from a personal want to "not overrun istime" to being frustrated with platform's unstable revenue source.[ In April 2018, DeFranco again expressed frustrations with the YouTube platform and detailed his progress on developing a network; he hired a six-person research and investigative team, curated hosts for short- and long-form content, and tested a morning podcast, among other things in preparation for the network's launch.] Months later while at VidCon
VidCon is an annual convention for fans, creators, executives, and online brands. The event primarily features prominent video stars from across the internet. In October 2020, VidCon Now relaunched as an ongoing, free digital offering. Vetera ...
, he stated that he saw himself walking from hosting the ''PDS'' within three years, saying "I don't know how to do the show I'm doing now in three years without phoning it in." He also added that he would remain online in some capacity, expressing, "in some way, I will always want to make a show and have that interaction, and I think that will evolve."
Personal life
DeFranco has polycystic kidney disease
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD or PCKD, also known as polycystic kidney syndrome) is a genetic disorder in which the renal tubules become structurally abnormal, resulting in the development and growth of multiple cysts within the kidney. These c ...
which he inherited from his father and grandfather.[ He has a younger sister named Sabrina.]
As of 2020, DeFranco lives in Encino, Los Angeles
Encino ( Spanish for "oak") is a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California.
History
In 1769, the Spanish Portolá expedition, first Europeans to see inland areas of California, traveled north through Sepulveda ...
, with his wife, media literacy and mental health advocate Lindsay Jordan DeFranco (née Doty), and their two sons. DeFranco proposed to Doty, then his longtime girlfriend, on August 16, 2013, at his "DeFranco Loves Dat AZ" show in Tempe, Arizona
, settlement_type = City
, named_for = Vale of Tempe
, image_skyline = Tempeskyline3.jpg
, imagesize = 260px
, image_caption = Tempe skyline as se ...
. Their first son, named Philip James "Trey" DeFranco III, was born in 2014. The couple married on March 7, 2015, and it was captured on social media. Their second son, Carter William DeFranco, was born in 2017. In 2019, Lindsay launched Not So Fast, a media literacy
Media literacy is an expanded conceptualization of literacy that includes the ability to access and analyze media messages as well as create, reflect and take action, using the power of information and communication to make a difference in the w ...
campaign.[ The couple moved into their Encino home in late 2019 after previously living in ]San Fernando
San Fernando may refer to:
People
*Ferdinand III of Castile (c. 1200–1252), called ''San Fernando'' (Spanish) or ''Saint Ferdinand'', King of Castile, León, and Galicia
Places Argentina
*San Fernando de la Buena Vista, city of Greater Buenos ...
and Sherman Oaks
Sherman Oaks is a neighborhood in the city of Los Angeles, California located in the San Fernando Valley, founded in 1927. The neighborhood includes a portion of the Santa Monica Mountains, which gives Sherman Oaks a lower population density than ...
.
Filmography
Awards and nominations
See also
* Viral marketing
Viral marketing is a business strategy that uses existing social networks to promote a product mainly on various social media platforms. Its name refers to how consumers spread information about a product with other people, much in the same way tha ...
* ''BlackBoxTV Presents
''BlackBoxTV Presents'' is an American horror anthology web series created by Tony E. Valenzuela and Philip DeFranco. The first season, which featured a cast of YouTube creators including DeFranco, iJustine, and Shane Dawson, was self-funded by ...
''
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Defranco, Philip
1985 births
21st-century American businesspeople
American businesspeople in the online media industry
American Internet company founders
American libertarians
American mass media company founders
American people of Italian descent
American podcasters
American YouTubers
Businesspeople from Los Angeles
Businesspeople from New York City
East Carolina University alumni
Living people
Maker Studios people
Male bloggers
American male YouTubers
News YouTubers
People from the Bronx
SourceFed people
Streamy Award winners
University of South Florida alumni
Video game commentators
YouTube channels launched in 2006
YouTube podcasters
YouTube vloggers
American video bloggers