Welcome to Created, the newsletter that loves creators…unlike a certain slushie brand. Here’s what we got today:
- 7-Eleven fired a popular YouTuber
- MoistCr1TiKaL's "Goodbye" prank
- Roundup of YouTube thumbnails
7-Eleven Fired a YouTuber…Then He Blew Up
A 7-Eleven employee got millions of views for vlogging his job. Then they fired him.
It’s not just a bad look for the convenience store…it highlights a key lesson when hiring Gen Z.
Wait, What Happened?
IanOnYouTube, an up-and-coming creator, was vlogging his job at 7-Eleven.
Then, 7-Eleven fired him. Their reason? He posted himself drinking a non-alcoholic beer on the job. Ouch.
Goodbye Job, Hello Views
- "All of his videos were about how good 7/11 been to him, how good a place it is to work...and they fire him."
Did 7-Eleven Regret It?
The Corporate Playbook
- Dumb: Sherwin-Williams fired an employee for making viral paint-mixing videos. He then got hired by a competitor who embraced his content.
- Smart: Dunkin’ did the opposite. They built a program paying employees to post behind-the-scenes TikToks.
- Very Smart: Papa Johns leaned into Dough Joe, a Papa Johns cook who went viral and made him the brand's official ambassador.
Our Take
Dinosaur alert. C’mon, 7-Eleven. You’re better than this.
This is a warning to any company with employees who want to be influencers…which will be many companies as Gen Z joins the workforce. Ian wasn’t just an employee. He was a brand advocate. A face to the faceless brand.
Brands like Dunkin’, who embrace the Ians of the world, get free marketing. Brands like 7-Eleven, who fire them, end up losing the marketing…or worse, see their competitors benefiting.
MoistCr1TiKaL Trolls YouTube with Fake Retirement
And the award for YouTube’s best prank of 2025 so far goes to… MoistCr1TiKaL, aka Charlie White Jr.
He recently staged his own retirement only to return with a few surprises.
The Setup
A few days ago, Charlie dropped a dramatic video titled Saying Goodbye.
The video had an emotional sendoff, a small orchestra, YouTube legend Ray William Johnson, and, most importantly, T-Pain stepping in as his replacement.
“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because Season 2 is going to be even better,” Charlie said before handing the channel over to T-Pain.
The internet exploded with questions: was Charlie actually quitting? Was this just an elaborate promo? Did T-Pain buy him too many drinks?
The Reveal
The next day, a new video had T-Pain fully in character as MoistCr1TiKaL.
Just as theories swirled, Charlie came back with another upload to explain everything.
Or rather, explain nothing.
“What does it all mean? Just like getting an ‘I love you’ from a stripper, it was meaningless,” Charlie said.
Turns out, the entire thing was just a pointless, expensive troll. No vacation, no break, no grand scheme. Just MoistCr1TiKaL spending a fortune to fully commit to the bit.
Our Take
MoistCr1TiKaL’s joke reminds us that sometimes the best way to keep an audience engaged is to mess with expectations.
Creators often stage big stunts for brand deals, algorithm hacks, or hype-building. Charlie did it just because.
And honestly? It worked. The three videos on his ‘retirement’ racked up over 15M views, proving that even after 18 years, Charlie still knows how to keep fans guessing.
🎯 Weekly Roundup: Thumbnails
Here’s why we love these YT thumbnails. Hopefully, they inspire your next one.
- Cozy, well-designed small space makes you curious how she lives there (NEVER TOO SMALL)
- Playful text + dramatic pose stops your scroll (tatsuki)
- Electrified Final Cut icon catches your attention (Dylan John)
- Engaging way to make digital items look more physical (finzar)
How To Double Your Views…No Espresso Needed
As creators, we’ve all been there. You find the perfect song for your video, but then…the dreaded copyright claim.
Your ad revenue? Gone. But not if you use Lickd.
Lickd has already licensed the music, so you can use tracks from Sabrina Carpenter, Bruno Mars, Dua Lipa, and more — without worrying about demonetization.
Plus, using mainstream music has been proven to 2X views and increase watch time by 35%.
Because you’re subscribed to Created, Lickd is giving you an exclusive 7-day free trial:
- 1 Premium Track credit for top artists
- Unlimited access to Stock Music
- Curated playlists sorted by mood
💰 Job Board
- Kwebbelkop is looking for a YouTube production optimization manager
- Mr.ChimeTime is looking for a video editor
- Andrew Keyman is looking for a thumbnail designer
🏆 The Created Referral Program
Know someone who’d also love this newsletter? Refer them and get gifts.
Refer 1 friend: you’ll get my Infinite Ideas book. It’s my 8 best tips to find viral ideas for your next upload.
Refer 5 friends: you’ll get my Top 50 Thumbnails book. It includes a detailed breakdown of why they work so you improve your packaging.
Trust me, these books are packed with more tips than most paid courses.
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– Jon
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