He claimed that Dobrik had the idea that he and the Vlog Squad swing from a rope attached to an excavator in the middle of a lake. The internet personality did not elaborate further on what caused the injury, but it is understood it stemmed from an accident in the summer of 2020. I cant believe how irresponsible you can be, when youre willing to risk your friends life for content. I look at his Instagram because it's the first one that always fing pops up because the algorithm or whatever. Honestly I have a lot more respect for Jeff now than I did before hand. The group of YouTubers came under fire this year due to sexual assault allegations. He injures his face in this full clip on Don't. "The Jeff thing is the f**king worst," Dobrik said during the episode. The next posts showed the extent of the injuries, with multiple stitches on Wittek's face, and photos of him from a hospital bed wearing a neck brace. Another day of being accused of child abuse because I dont want my almost-5-year-old to get hungry while shes at school for six hours. YouTuber Corinna Kopf stepped onto the rope, and Dobrik began swinging the excavator's arm so it looked like she was flying through the air. A day goes by, no text for him. "I woke up from surgery. The next posts showed the extent of the injuries, with multiple stitches on Wittek's face, and photos of him from a hospital bed wearing a neck brace. I got in an accident and broke my face and skull in a few places. I just want to fing tell the truth, finally. Dobrik has also been accused of sexual misconduct by Seth Francois and has released two apology videos in recent weeks. I'll never forget these moments.". I really hope there's not a moment that I regret as much as that one.". "I'll never forget who my real friends are," Wittek told Insider in a phone interview on Thursday. "Time literally slows down," Dobrik says, presumably of the accident. Dobrik's team did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. Hes been taking a so-called social media break since March 22, when he issued a second apology for his past actions involving allegations made about other Vlog Squad videos. NOW WATCH: VIDEO: Controversial influencer Lovely Peaches tells police she threatened to kill her dog for followers. Jeff said his eye had looked "pretty gnarly" so he didn't want to appear publicly. Jeff says "But this is where I made a mistake, I forgot the biggest f*cking idiot I know was driving it." Absolutely mind blown that full grown adults stood around and/or participated in this Jeff is lucky to be alive and David is lucky he didnt face criminal charges for this. "Finally got one of these damn plates out of my eye!" If you have seen Davids video, you would have noticed Jeff in some of them. The YouTuber Had a Run-In With the Law Eight Years Ago, David Dobrik (Finally) Addresses the Allegations Against the Vlog Squad, Former Vlog Squad Member Seth Francois Alleges He Was Sexually Assaulted in David Dobrik's Videos. Dobrik was the one controlling the excavator, Wittek alleged. i'm appalled that he just kept all that in the hiding this whole time. It was my video. You are a POS. In the My Truth video, Jeff claims the only person who accused him of buying alcohol for minors was Trisha Paytas - whom he has a ongoing feud with following her messy breakup with his friend Jason Nash. "That day is, like, the worst, the worst thing that's ever happened to me and I wish I would f**king do anything to take that day back and be like, I wish it was me up there. A former member of the group, Dominykas Zeglaitis, has been accused of sexual assault, which he denies. Another adds: "And nobody could do anything to stop it. {{#media.media_details}} {{#media.focal_point}}. This case was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Courts, Spring Street Courthouse located in Los Angeles, California. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The new video shows the accident occurred while David Dobrik was driving an excavator. He COULD have been charged with manslaughter had Jeff been inches closer to the excavator. Jeffrey R. Wittek (born December 15, 1989) is an American YouTuber, comedian, and podcaster. The video wasn't . Jeff Wittek said in a new video that Toddy Smith and Zane Hijazi "saved" his life. Wittek, 32, previously said he suffered a broken skull, facial fractures and eye damage after being swung on a rope tied to an excavator while filming a video with Dobrik in Provo, Utah in June 2020. YouTuber David Dobrik has come under scrutiny again after fellow Vlog Squad member Jeff Wittek accused him of endangering his life during a prank. Jeff tweeted this week: "My heart goes out entirely to the victim. "I've been protecting this guy for so long and there's so much more to the story than just him not texting me for a week after I had such a drastic surgery where I could've been blind," Wittek said of Dobrik. On June 30, 2020, Jeff returned on Instagram and told his fans that he had an accident. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters, David Dobrik's YouTube Subscribers Drop by 100,000 Amid Vlog Squad Scandals. Wittek claims hesuffered"a myriad of injuries" includinga broken skull, facial fractures and eye damage -- somethingWittek discussed in his2021 YouTube docuseries,Don't Try This at Home, where heshared more details about the incident. Even more concerning was the fact that right after Corinna Kopf complained about David Dobrik taking it too far, the latter proceeded to abruptly stop the excavator. "That's it, and I f---ing know that, and like I said, any chance I would get, I would take that back That'll be the biggest regret of my life. On April 15, 2021, nearly 10 months after the accident, he published a trailer on YouTube for a docu-series called "Don't Try This At Home" and announced he would be explaining everything. It showed more about the lead-up to the accident, including clips of Wittek and two friends and fellow Vlog Squad members, Natalie Noel and Todd Smith, learning to skydive. "I just jumped out of a plane 20 times," Jeff says in a voice-over. The accident caused severe facial injurie. A few clips showed Wittek face down in the water, and Vlog Squad members screaming and rushing to his aid. How to Watch 'Daisy Jones & the Six' Online Now Streaming, John Legend Launches Affordable Skincare Line Loved01 at Walmart, How to Watch Farmer Wants a Wife Premiering March 8, 15 Spring Wedding Guest Dresses for Every Budget, How and Where to Watch All The Oscar-Nominated Films Online, David Dobrik Dropped by Sponsors Following Vlog Squad Misconduct Accusations, Celebrities Share Pics From Hospitals and Doctors' Offices. His eye injury came from a separate incident while skydiving, but he explained that he "broke my face and skull in a few places" during another unspecified accident. Also, why the fuck are they making content like this for kids! He shared footage of a prank showing the group of vloggers placing an excavator vehicle in a lake and swinging people around from a rope. pic.twitter.com/xdT63Qq1Sb. I got in an accident and broke my face" ), Wittek's filing claimed Dobrik was spinning the construction equipment at "unsafe speeds" before slowing the machine suddenly, causing Wittek to collide with the side of the excavator and suffer "a myriad of injuries.". The clip cuts to dozens of people who were watching from the shore as they rush to help Wittek. Dobrik and his content group have recently come under fire. On June 25, 2020, Jeff had shared with his fans on Instagram that he was working on new content. Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for dick clark productions You would have got deported, you would have got put in jail for manslaughter, you could have got sued for everything, I took it on the chin," he said. Please logout and login again. Jeff gets flung around on rope by excavator operated by David Dobrik. But this is where I made a mistake. "So I grabbed the rope, and I tried to make a goddamn funny video for people. I was expecting too see the footage of his face getting bashed in because people were saying it was "gorey," and "bloody," and his eye had apparently popped out. "I have tremendous respect for all women, and would not let any actions like this happen to anyone. "And yeah, I didn't know I was going to go that fast. 1 In an Instagram post in July, the YouTuber explained that he "got in an accident," sharing. Wittek said in the video that he didn't understand why they were swinging on the excavatorfor Dobrik's vlogin the first place. From the scars on his face, his millions of followers could tell hed suffered from something terrible, but what people couldnt see was that he was also suffering on the inside. And her friend told Insider she recalls Jeff going out to buy drinks that same night. In the aforementioned clip, David Dobrik can be seen recklessly operating an excavator crane, where he dangerously flings several of his Vlog Squad members around. He has his camera in the other hand filming him. I got in an accident and broke my face and skull in a few places. ", In the first episode, posted on April 18, Wittek said he had been keeping the truth of the accident a secret, and making up stories because, "I was in a lot of pain, and that's how I choose to cope with my pain.". Jeff Witteck almost died filming one of David Dobrik's vlog, he has life long injuries, physically and mentally. The allegations have raised questions about the environment created by Dobrik and the Vlog Squad. The news comes after months of speculation, rumors, and hearsay about what actually happened. Your login session has expired. An explosive article published by Business Insider in March 2020 reported that a woman featured on the channel was raped by member Durte Dom in 2018. Early life [ edit] Wittek was born in Staten Island, New York, where he attended Susan E. Wagner High School. Jeff said his eye had looked "pretty gnarly" so he didn't want to appear publicly. (PEOPLE reached out to Dobrik's team for comment at the time, but never received a response.). Having ppl do your dirty work is terrible. You cant tell me he didnt do this on purpose for views.. The Vlog Squad is facing serious allegations of sexual assault. According to court docs obtained by ET, Wittek is seeking $10 million . Even now, a week later, I still haven't heard a peep. He and other members of the Vlog Squad, including David, say that after the pandemic forced everyone into quarantine, the group tried to get back into filming by doing stunts. Wittek himself came under fire recently when Paytas told Business Insider that Wittek supplied alcohol to underage teensa claim he denies. "I wish it was me up there. (The clip has since been deleted. Wittek was injured last summer, but has been secretive about the details since. David Dobrik was swinging Jeff Wittek around while driving the excavator with ONE hand. In the clip, a doctor tells the YouTuber: "If that would have entered 3 millimeters higher, and been on the same angle, it would have cut your eye right in half.". David Dobrik needs to be stopped. He is responsible for this. He shared no further details of the incident, aside from that it was caused while shooting a vlog. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. as well as other partner offers and accept our. In the latest YouTube video, Jeff showed a picture of him after undergoing multiple eye surgeries. He usually uses his Instagram to keep his fans updated about what he has been working on. "I'll never forget who my real friends are," Wittek told Insider in a phone interview on Thursday. In a YouTube video titled My Truth, Jeff talks about an Insider article written about him. "I'll never forget who my real friends are," he told Insider in an interview. Meg perfectly channelled the whole Bluey gang and looked super cute while doing it. While the other members went safely, when it was Witteks turn, he said the excavator wenttoo fast. However, Dobrik was operating the vehicle. Sorry I havent posted any new pics of the mullet this week. Her admonishment foreshadowed what was to come. Ill heal up good as new, and Ill get some new pics of that mullet up as soon as they can get me a blow dryer up to my hospital room, he said in the post. watching that video made me nauseous if jeff was even a little bit closer to that machine he would be dead and the fact that he doesn't blame him just dont sit right with me, Jeff Witteck almost died filming one of David Dobriks vlog, he has life long injuries, physically and mentally. But Im OK. Im more alive than ever. About a month later, a woman who appeared in a 2018 video for Dobrik's channel said she was raped by former member Dominykas Zeglaitis, better known as Durte Dom. I can't believe how irresponsible you can be, when you're willing to risk your. Jeff Wittek | Creating Podcasts, Comedy Videos, Bonus Content. According to court docs obtained by ET, Wittek is seeking $10 million in damages for"general negligence and intentional tort," alleging that he missedout on work and sustained hospital bills due to the intense injuries he suffered as a result of the incident. All Rights Reserved. "Sorry I haven't posted any new pics of the mullet this week. They put him on a raft to get him to shore as he was bleeding profusely. Volg Business Insider Nederland op Facebook, Volg Business Insider Nederland op Twitter, Volg Business Insider Nederland op LinkedIn, Volg Business Insider Nederland op Instagram, Sla het menu over en ga direct naar de content van deze pagina, Sla het menu over en ga direct naar zoeken op Business Insider, Visit Insider's homepage for more stories, on hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, by former Vlog Squad member Seth Francois in February, Hoe drugslabs werken, volgens een voormalige drugsdealer, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), Adviseur Werk & Inkomen, Schulden en Inburgering (met specialisatie Inburgering). In Wittek's filing, he claims that while being swung on a rope tied to an excavator while filming a video with Dobrik in Provo, Utah, in June 2020, Dobrik spun theconstruction equipment at "unsafe speeds" before slowing the machine suddenly, causing Wittek to collide with the side of the excavator. YouTuber Jeff Wittek revealed that Vlog Squad members Toddy Smith and Zane Hijazi "saved his life" after he was injured swinging from an excavator controlled by David Dobrik, the leader of the Vlog Squad YouTube collective. Alle rechten voorbehouden. If you found this story interesting, read more about whats going on with the Vlog Squad. "He got hurt because I was driving," Dobrik added. However, he decided to keep the details a secret. Another day goes by, no text. In the middle of a lake, Jeff was going to be dangling on a wakeboard attached to the end of a rope on the excavators arm as it spun as fast as possible.It sounded like a lot of funat least for a YouTuber like Jeff who is used to doing crazy stuff most people would never dountil he spun wildly out of control and went flying face-first into the excavator itself.Jeff broke his hip, had 9 fractures in his skull and face, and had a full orbital blowout fracture. "The disgusting actions Dom had committed to you, I absolutely do not condone. All Rights Reserved. He was hospitalized after his accident. So I grabbed the f---ing rope and I tried to make a goddamn funny video for people. YouTube star David Dobrik is facing a major lawsuit from former Vlog Squad member Jeff Wittek after a 2020 stunt gone wrong. UPDATE March 26, 2021. ", Tom Sizemores ex reveals harrowing final text actor sent before tragic death, Teen Mom fans are convinced Kail's son leaked news of star's 'secret 5th baby', Kim Kardashian shows off her real hips and butt in unedited new pics, Inside Josh Duggar's lonely 35th birthday in prison solitary confinement, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Fans have been left wondering what happened to Jeff Wittek's eye, The YouTuber shared several images of him with a bruised and swollen eye, Jeff said in 2020 he had an 'accident' which 'broke my face and skull in a few places', Jeff has now revealed some details of his 'accident', Jeff has said he had 'absolutely nothing to do with' the events on the night of the alleged rape, Jeff Wittek is part of the YouTube Vlog Squad.