Ahead of my 2025 return to content for the JAS Channel, it’s time I take accountability for the copyright strike I placed on Drake Dragsaw’s YouTube videos.

The first set of claims was on the episodes of Depravity, and the second on Degeneracy Live. Drake shared his perspective on his YouTube channel in a video that I initially avoided acknowledging because it highlighted my own poor choices.

This situation stems from a decision heavily tied to money. For context, in August 2020, I believed I was done with creating content. I had started making videos as a kid throughout my school years, but over time, those efforts were ridiculed, and I decided to leave my channel up as an archive, rebranding it as "The Xander Brand." I planned to retire it and began using my real name on social media and in daily life.

Two friends later approached me with the idea of turning the channel into a company. Creating a media company had always been my dream, so I made it official. I envisioned the Xander Brand as a platform where multiple creators could contribute, and to emphasize its professionalism, I adopted the title of "President & CEO." Unfortunately, I took this role too seriously at times.

The channel initially focused on Zoom recordings, a popular format during the pandemic, with the goal of expanding to include sketches, studio shows (inspired by Dropout and Smosh), podcasts, and other content. However, the two friends who helped start the venture had to leave due to personal life changes. During this time, Pauly (better known as Drake Dragsaw) joined as an editor and became the first new member of the team. During his initial time with the company, I believe I, along with others, treated him with respect.

However, due to allegations made by Twitter user @ArsonGremlin, I conducted an investigation with another founding member. Based on the findings, we decided to sever Drake’s association with the company, including removing his name from credits and descriptions. In hindsight, this was a mistake; credits are important, regardless of personal disputes. We offered Drake the opportunity to stay behind the scenes to allow room for growth and redemption, but he declined these terms.

Drake and I had known each other since high school. In 2018, we shared a chemistry class, and while I had heard stories about him—including some from a mutual ex—I chose to interact with him despite his reputation. Drake even pitched ideas for my early content, helping me create a parody poster for a Wired Autocomplete video.

In September 2020, Drake approached me with a series idea, originally planned as a scripted program with monthly releases. By September 21, we had jointly decided on the name Depravity and shifted the concept to an unscripted game show. We also agreed he could mirror the episodes on his channel, provided they were censored and monetized.

By December 2020, Drake suggested hosting Depravity on the Xander Brand channel in exchange for me acting as Executive Producer and contributing funds. We didn’t establish clear ownership of the intellectual property or sign a formal contract, which later caused significant issues. The verbal agreement was that he’d remove the episodes from his channel after paying us back through ad revenue if the partnership ended.

In February 2021, we agreed on a yearly budget for a 12-episode run. However, after my transition to running Xander Brand Digital solo, I consulted a financial advisor to transform the channel into a studio-based platform. This advisor claimed to represent a venture capital firm, which led to increased pressure for more episodes to attract investors. Despite personally funding the project, I felt obligated to push for additional episodes, leading to friction with Drake.

When Drake couldn’t commit to paying back funds under the advisor’s terms, I was wrongly advised to request the removal of episodes. Instead of addressing the issue directly with Drake, I prioritized the promise of financial backing and made several poor decisions. I also misrepresented the situation by blaming the removal request on the advisor’s “legal team,” which likely didn’t exist.

Later, when Drake responded to these events on Degeneracy Live, I compounded my mistakes by submitting a copyright takedown request instead of a privacy violation request. This misunderstanding of policy further damaged our relationship and his content.

Looking back, I see how my decisions—rooted in greed, poor judgment, and a lack of communication—led to this situation. I’m committed to making amends and ensuring I’ve learned from these experiences as I move forward with the JAS Channel in 2025.

Despite numerous private apologies, I personally believe that the apology should be just as loud as the disrespect. I am sincerely very sorry for my actions and inactions in this situation.