Crypt-Oh No! Three Las Vegas YouTube Stars Named In FTX Lawsuit
It was one of the largest cryptocurrency websites going, with huge celebrities in ads, MLB umpires wearing their logo and more. But when things went belly up with FTX, the…
It was one of the largest cryptocurrency websites going, with huge celebrities in ads, MLB umpires wearing their logo and more. But when things went belly up with FTX, the lawsuits came calling. Rumor is Shaquille O'Neal, one of the company's celebrity endorsers, is hiding so he doesn't get served legal documents. Well, two Las Vegas YouTubers have been named in a lawsuit that has financial internet influencers in the crosshairs.
A man named Edwin Garrison filed a lawsuit in United States District Court Southern District of Florida Miami Division against several YouTubers including three who reside here in Las Vegas: Graham Stephan, Andrei Jikh and Jeremy Lefebvre. The three operate their own, independent YouTube channels that talk about trends in the financial world, encourage smart ways to save your money, and also sell ads against their content. All three, the suit alleges, accepted and promoted FTX as a product to use if you are in the market to get cryptocurrency.
Who are the Las Vegas residents named in the FTX Lawsuit?
Andrei Jikh is a financial influencer and magician (no, seriously, he does magic tricks while he talks about finances) who has promoted frugal living and smart saving to his 2.21 million subscribers. He posted a video last year about his new Las Vegas home that he purchased for over $1.3 million.
Graham Stephan has 4.25 millon subscribers on the platform and moved here in late 2020 from California. While typically a home investor, Graham started talking more and more about crypto, especially when the pandemic hit. He's been featured on CNBC for his frugality as well. He bought his home in Summerlin for a cool $1.4 million dollars before adding a custom fish tank, new pool construction and more in the backyard.
Jeremy Lefebvre is a financial YouTuber with a more modest reach. His Financial Education YouTube Channel boasts 720,000 subscribers, with several other alternate channels as well. He recently bought his "dream home", after all improvements, for over $1.4 million.
The one trend you see in many of these videos is that they have used their YouTube virality, and financial prowess, to reach the "American Dream". Get a sweet pad, have no debt, and live the life. So it goes without question that the viewers of the videos would tend to trust their advice. While it is worth noting every creator does state in one form or another it is "not official advice, seek a financial advisor"... the popularity of their channels is based upon their "opinions" of how to save.
What does the FTX lawsuit allege?
According to The Block, the class action lawsuit alleges these influencers, among others, "of promoting FTX and then scrubbing their channels of clips endorsing the collapsed exchange". It also claims that the influencers did not disclose their sponsorships adequately to show their promotion of FTX was more than a personal suggestion but a purchased advertisement.
The one common thread behind many of the influencers is Creators Agency LLC, also named in the lawsuit. The firm helps connect internet creators with advertisers and is likely where the financial connection between FTX and these YouTubers began.
The lawsuit is seeking damages of $1 billion dollars.
Listen to Aimee+Shawn weekday mornings from 6-10 on 102.7 VGS
Here’s What You Missed On Aimee+Shawn This Week
Sickness RAVAGED Aimee's family through the week, but she made it (mostly) unscathed! Here's the best of Aimee+Shawn for the week!
Both Aimee and Shawn both have kids and have put them in certain sports and activities. But when is it time to "call it" if they don't like it? Where's the line between encouraging them to try something new, and pressuring them to do something they hate? While they had that conversation both came to the conclusion that every karate teacher says the same crap.
We met a woman named Ashley Cream who strutted into the planning and zoning board meeting in Boca Raton, Florida with the most interesting of requests. Her elder sugar daddy wasn't far behind. We watched in both curiosity and horror.
Aimee's new obsession is the drama on Vanderpump Rules. Long story short, Tom cheated on Ariana with Raquel, who were all on the show together. Poor Ariana... until you realize Tom cheated on someone else with Ariana. It's all very confusing, but Aimee's all for it.
Meanwhile, someone called Shawn's kid (who attends kindergarten) a name during lunch. Now Shawn ponders exactly how he can get away with tripping a 1st grader into a wall, repeatedly.
Shawn's dad is in town and he entertained a little girl so much at a local Walmart, she told her mom she wishes he was her Papa. Which got us to thinking... there are things old people can do and we don't bat a lash. For instance, approaching a little girl he doesn't know. But a 30 something? NO WAY ARREST THEM! Why is that?!
What's coming up next week on Aimee+Shawn?
Starting Monday, March 13th and all week long, the winning is ON with tickets to Ed Sheeran and Big Time Rush. When you win, you win tickets to both!
Getting Your Kids Into Sports (And Karate Teachers Will Say Anything To Sell Stuff)
As a parent you want to encourage your kid to try new things... while also not pressuring them to do things they hate. We try to find the balance...
"I'll Turn This Car Around" (And ACTUALLY DOING IT!)
Empty threats of taking things away or not going for that awesome day at the park are one thing, but how often as a parent do you actually DO what you threaten?
The Feed: Florida Woman Asks For "Sugar Daddy Appreciation Day"
It was an incredible day in Boca Raton when the woman walked into the Boca Raton planning board meeting.
Aimee's Hubby Can Only Make Her Laugh When She's In The Mood For It
Patrick's schtick doesn't change but how Aimee takes that schtick varies wildly.
Procrastinating So Long, Someone Else Does It For You
Taking that thing to get returned, folding your clothes and more... There are a lot of things we don't get around to that, magically, get done!
We Didn't Do A Proper Spring Break... THANK GOD Or We'd Be Dead
You didn't catch Aimee or Shawn partying parentless with our high school or college buddies at Daytona Beach or Cancun... and if you did, chances are neither would be alive or out of prison yet.
Aimee's Update: Vanderpump Drama As Tom Cheats On Ariana With Raquel
Aimee lives for the dram, and while she didn't watch Vanderpump Rules before, she is fully invested now.
Childhood Injuries And The Stupid Ways We Got Hurt
Kids are dumb and clumsy... we share our dumbest and clumsiest junior moments.
Doubting Yourself As A Parent
Being a parent isn't easy. Ask...any parent.
Shawn's Kindergarten Kid Got Called A Name At School
When Shawn learned his son was called a name at school, he talked his kid through it and plotted how to stuff a 1st grader in a locker legally.
When Your Kids Try To Parent Their Siblings
Sometimes when you're admonishing one kid, the other kid pig-piles on.
Aimee Is NOT A GOOD FRIEND To Call When You're Moving
Oh, you're gonna move to a new house? Great. Aimee... should stay home.
Conquering Your FEAR Of Flying
Some people have no issues hopping on a flight. Others are absolutely terrified...
FIGHTING Over The Thermostat
Aimee runs hot, her husband runs cold. Shawn runs hot, his wife runs cold. Not agreeing on the temperature inside the house is grounds for potential divorce.
Older People GET AWAY With Stuff That Younger People CAN'T
Subtle sexism, "unwokeness" and approaching little kids they don't know. Gray hair, don't care, but anything younger and it's a trip to the slammer.
Aimee Likes MUSTARD On Her CARROTS?
We don't know what to put here other than...gross.
Here’s What You Missed On Aimee+Shawn This Week
That's the end of another week on Aimee+Shawn and man are our... legs... tired.
On Monday, Shawn, 102.7 VGS afternoon host Sammi and several other members of the Beasley Media Group family laced up their shoes and headed to The STRAT. The group went up 1,455 steps to go from the bottom to the top of the famed Las Vegas landmark for Scale The STRAT benefitting the American Lung Association. Shawn did finish but it turns out he was one of the slowest times of the day. 602nd out of 622 competitors. Yikes.
The showing for Shawn was so bad, he finally broke. With Aimee on her keto kick, and Sammi planning to get fit and try out to be a Raiderette, Shawn (who was the one person on the staff that really needs to get healthier) decided to get on board.
Aimee couldn't make the event (but she climbed every step last week). Instead she went out to Mesquite for her son's football tournament. That tournament turned out to be a big, dramatic disaster that had fists flying, parking lots inescapable, and more insanity.
Meanwhile, Aimee's friend is going to inherit some property... but that friend's wife is already calling dibs, and that friend's parents aren't quite dead yet. Awkward.
The show also took on the biggest issue going on behind the scenes at 102.7 VGS... reply all emailers. The ones that find it necessary to send "Thanks!" to 112 fellow employees.
Finally, in a heartwarming moment, Aimee+Shawn read a book to all the schools at once for Nevada Reading Week.
What's coming up this week on Aimee+Shawn?
The show returns Monday with a concert ticket double down all week! Two times during each show, listen and win tickets to not only Gorillaz at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood... but also Red Hot Chili Peppers at Allegiant Stadium! See you Monday!
Listen to Aimee+Shawn weekday mornings from 6-10 on 102.7 VGS
Shawn Nearly Finished Last In 'Scale The STRAT'
He came, he saw, he barely finished. Shawn tackled Scale The STRAT benefitting the American Lung Association and while he did make 1,455 steps... his finishing time didn't set any records. Even close.
Movies That Haven't Been Made Yet
Shawn got a chance to see Cocaine Bear and he absolutely loved it. The movie was "based on a true story" but it turns out... it was barely based on a true story. Is there another barely based on a true story story that has yet to be told?
Drama On And Off The Field For Aimee's Son's Football Tournament
Fighting over parking spots. Fighting on the field. It was a mess over the weekend in Mesquite, and it led to Aimee and her fam going home early.
The Ol' Gold Ring For Gas Money Trick
Shawn was pulling out of the station and a guy pulled next to him in a panic... needing gas money... motioning towards his gold ring... and he knew it was a scam.
The Lengths Aimee+Shawn Went To Not Pay For Entertainment
AT&T Sportsnet is shutting down soon, but Shawn hasn't been able to legally watch the network in a while. The two talk about the things we've done to watch what we want to watch...without paying.
Who Cleans Up The 'Sick' In Your House?
It was a sweet moment with Shawn's son sitting on his lap... then... in an instant... he exploded. Vomited everywhere. Aimee asked who cleaned because whenever someone ralphs in her house, she's on cleaning duty.
Shawn's No Good Very Bad Overnight Camp Story
It was a dark and frightful night the one day that Shawn was in overnight camp. He recounts the horrifying twilight he spent at a summer camp that led to counselors getting fired and his back itching a lot.
Selling Things On Facebook Marketplace Is Painful
Four months. That's how long Shawn had items up on Facebook Marketplace without a taker. He finally snapped over the weekend and sold his stuff at 10 cents on the dollar.
It's Not Yours Until They Die
Aimee's friend is getting an inheritance. Aimee's friend's wife is already calling that inheritance "theirs". Only one problem... Aimee's friends parents are still alive.
Shawn Is Tired Of Being Out Of Shape
Shawn's embarrassing showing at Scale The STRAT finally made him snap. He's on a mission to get healthier...
Making Your Kids Walk To School In The Snow
It's been snowing in the area... like, a lot! Aimee's hubby has no problem making their son walk to school in it...
Reply All Emails Should Be Thrown Into The Pits Of Hell
There is a scourge that has taken over the 102.7 VGS inboxes... unnecessary reply all emails.
Kids Say The Darnedest Things...
After reading to some classes for Nevada Reading Week, Aimee realized quickly that kids today are way sharper and funnier than we were.
Aimee+Shawn Read 'Giraffes Can't Dance' To The Kids...
Speaking of Nevada Reading Week, while both Aimee and Shawn are speaking to kids this week, they decided to read a book to the entire city at once... and it's a classic.
Parts Of The House You Just Don't Use
Think about it... there are parts of the house you just never get to. The cabinets over the fridge? WHO USES THOSE?!
Teachers That Had It Out For Us
Shawn recounts the one teacher in high school that never seemed to give him a fair shake. Aimee had a teacher like that too. Turns out... we all have.
