Welcome to Created, the newsletter that’s more reliable than US election polls. Here’s what we got for you:
- Did YouTube save the NYC Marathon...or ruin it?
- Johnny and Iz Harris launch a new YouTube network
- Roundup of thumbnails
Instagram Squirrel Sparks Outrage for "Pet-fluencers"
The U.S. election put a spotlight on the economy, immigration, and…an Instagram-famous squirrel?
Actually. Peanut the Squirrel (836K followers) became a political talking point…and cautionary tale for pet influencers.
Backstory:
On October 30, NY authorities raided the home of Mark Longo, who owns Peanut.
Longo didn’t have a wildlife permit, and neighbors complained about “unsafe housing.”
After seizing Peanut the squirrel and Fred the raccoon (another of Longo’s pets), both animals were euthanized to test for rabies.
Longo alleges since no one was bitten, this was not necessary — calling the raid a tragedy and a disgrace.”
Peanut vs Other Pet Influencers:
Thumbelina, another squirrel influencer, also lives with her owners in NY.
The difference? Thumbelina’s owners are Certified Wildlife Rehabbers.
In NY, keeping wildlife as pets is illegal without permits — even if they’re Instagram-famous.
An OnlyFans Twist
Mark and his wife are also OnlyFans creators (in top 0.06% of the platform).
“I think there’s an ulterior motive here,” Mark said. “It seems it has to do with my spicy social media presence.”
Since launching last week, Mark’s GoFundMe to honor Peanut’s memory raised over $210,000.
Then It Got Really Bizarre…
Peanut quickly caught the attention of Republicans.
Vice President-elect JD Vance said, “Is it really the case that the Democrats murdered the Elon Musk of squirrels? The same government that doesn’t care about illegal immigrant criminals doesn’t want us to have pets.”
Our Take:
With the election behind us, political commentary about Peanut will settle down.
But expect it to raise questions about the ethics of pet influencers now that it’s in the national spotlight.
Especially given the long history of owners “replacing” their pet influencers after they passed (RIP Keyboard Cat and Harlow and Sage).
Casey Neistat Opens Up About David Dobrik Documentary
I interviewed Casey Neistat who shared details on his long-awaited documentary on David Dobrik.
After years of filming, he revealed that he doesn’t think his documentary will ever see the light of day.
Backstory:
- Neistat began documenting Dobrik’s rise to fame, even traveling to Slovakia to interview Dobrik’s family.
- Mid-production, controversies emerged, including assault allegations involving one of Dobrik's crew members and a life-threatening accident.
- The doc premiered at SXSW in 2022, catching distributors' interest, but Neistat’s close ties with Dobrik have complicated its potential release.
“I’m extremely conflicted.”
That’s how Neistat described the movie.
What started as a celebration of Dobrik turned into an exploration of fame’s darker side.
Neistat has said the documentary lets Dobrik tell his own side, though Dobrik ultimately struggled to take responsibility for his actions.
It’s left Neistat in a tough spot: he feels torn between protecting Dobrik and honoring the stories of those impacted.
Quote: “I still don’t know why I haven’t put it out there. As much as I’m ashamed to admit it, a part of me still deeply cares for David. It might be about protecting him from himself. But I also feel a responsibility to the victim.”
Where They Stand Now
Today, Neistat said his relationship with Dobrik is nonexistent.
But he’s left the door open for Dobrik, saying he’d be there if Dobrik ever wanted to reach out.
Ultimately, Neistat’s documentary represents a harsh truth about the pressures and pitfalls of digital fame — one that’s still waiting for its final audience.
🎯 Weekly Roundup: Thumbnails
Here’s why we love these YT thumbnails. Hopefully, they inspire your next one.
- Split colors and contrasting text create a clear comparison (Cleo Abram)
- 3 simple elements executed perfectly (Digital Spaghetti)
- Red price tags pop and stops your scroll (Linus Tech Tips)
- Ridiculous concept conveyed masterfully with photo + text (I did a thing)
🚀 Weekly Outlier
This video by Bricks And Disorder got 5X more views than the channel’s average. Here’s why it took off:
- Ambitious Hook: Recreating a 15k sofa on a budget and from scratch grabs attention right away.
- Unique Storytelling Style: The unhinged edits, raw humor, and scrappy approach make it feel like a rare DIY adventure.
- Rewarding Payoff: The final reveal feels satisfying after all their effort.
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💰 Job Board
This week, we’re kicking off a new section to share job opportunities from top creators:
- Alan Chikin Chow is hiring a head of brand visual content
- MegaBuilds is hiring a scriptwriter, video editor, and thumbnail designer
- Brent Rivera is hiring a producer
🏆 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.
Copy this unique link and email, text, or post it: [RH_REFLINK GOES HERE]
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– Jon
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