Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Jake Paul

Controversies are a part of history. Explore the biggest scandals linked to Jake Paul.

Jake Paul is an American personality known for his presence across various digital platforms and as a professional boxer. Initially gaining fame on Vine, he transitioned to YouTube, building a substantial following and earning recognition as one of the platform's highest-paid creators. Paul subsequently ventured into professional boxing, further amplifying his celebrity status and presence in the entertainment and sports industry.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Controversies & Scandals

August 1, 2017: Paul's Controversial "Nuke" Retort

On August 1, 2017, Jake Paul's video featured a controversial retort where he responded to a Kazakhstani fan with "It sounds like you're just going to blow someone up. Send the nuke!", leading to accusations of perpetuating stereotypes.

November 2017: Martínez Twins Leave Team 10

In November 2017, the Martínez twins left Team 10, citing anti-Mexican sentiment and mistreatment by Jake Paul and other members, who allegedly used stereotypes and slurs.

January 3, 2018: Paul Uploads "I lost my virginity" Video

On January 3, 2018, Jake Paul uploaded a video to his YouTube channel entitled "I lost my virginity" that used a thumbnail of himself and his then-girlfriend Erika Costell posing semi-nude on top of each other.

January 5, 2018: Paul Uses Racial Slur in Freestyle Rap

On January 5, 2018, a video surfaced showing Jake Paul using the racial slur nigger multiple times while freestyle rapping to "Throw Sum Mo", causing significant controversy.

January 2018: Paul Starts Edfluence

In January 2018, Jake Paul started Edfluence, an online program promising to teach younger people how to be successful and earn money online, but was later accused of being a scam.

April 24, 2018: Cobra Acquisitions Sues Paul for $2.5 Million

On April 24, 2018, Cobra Acquisitions, the company that owns Jake Paul's house, sued him for $2.5 million due to public nuisance caused by Paul making his home address public, leading to gatherings of fans and noise complaints.

January 3, 2019: Paul Promotes MysteryBrand

On January 3, 2019, Jake Paul, along with RiceGum, faced criticism for promoting MysteryBrand, a website accused of not delivering prizes to users, leading to allegations of deceptive practices.

January 31, 2020: Edfluence Shut Down

On January 31, 2020, Edfluence, Jake Paul's online course program, was shut down, permanently ending the course after accusations of scamming young followers.

February 23, 2020: Altercation with Zayn Malik at Las Vegas Hotel

On February 23, 2020, Jake Paul was involved in an altercation with British singer Zayn Malik at the Westgate hotel in Las Vegas. The argument started when Paul believed Malik was using a rude tone. Paul then tweeted about the incident, which drew attention from Malik's girlfriend, Gigi Hadid. Paul later deleted the tweets.

May 30, 2020: Presence at George Floyd Protests and Looting in Scottsdale

On May 30, 2020, Jake Paul and his friends were present at P. F. Chang's outside of Scottsdale Fashion Square in Scottsdale, Arizona, during the George Floyd protests where looting began. Paul documented the incident, leading to criticism on social media, with accusations of looting which he denied.

June 4, 2020: Charged with Criminal Trespass and Unlawful Assembly

On June 4, 2020, Jake Paul was charged with criminal trespass and unlawful assembly for being in the mall during the riot in Scottsdale, Arizona. These charges were later dismissed.

July 11, 2020: Jake Paul Throws Large Party During COVID-19 Pandemic

On July 11, 2020, Jake Paul threw a large party at his home in Calabasas, California, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dozens of people attended without masks or social distancing, leading to complaints and outrage from the mayor, Alicia Weintraub, who cited disregard for public health measures.

August 5, 2020: FBI Raids Calabasas Mansion

On August 5, 2020, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) raided Jake Paul's Calabasas mansion in connection with an ongoing investigation related to the looting controversy.

November 25, 2020: COVID-19 "Hoax" Statements in Daily Beast Interview

On November 25, 2020, in an interview with The Daily Beast, Jake Paul stated that COVID-19 was a "hoax" and that 98% of news about COVID-19 was fake. He also incorrectly stated that the flu had killed as many people in the United States as COVID-19 did in 2020, sparking condemnation from various individuals and media outlets.

November 29, 2020: Paul Claims Paved Way for Content Houses and Boxing

On November 29, 2020, Jake Paul sparked frustration by claiming he paved the way for content houses and boxing matches between social media stars, a claim that was widely contested.

April 9, 2021: Sexual Assault Allegation by Justine Paradise

On April 9, 2021, TikTok personality Justine Paradise released a video alleging that Jake Paul forced her into oral sex and touched her without consent during an incident in 2019. Paul denied the accusations.

April 22, 2021: Second Accusation of Groping from Railey Lollie

On April 22, 2021, The New York Times featured a second accusation against Jake Paul from model and actress Railey Lollie, who alleged that Paul had groped her when she worked for him.

August 2021: Paul Will Not Face Federal Charges Over Looting Incident

In August 2021, it was reported that Jake Paul would not face federal charges over the looting incident in Scottsdale, Arizona.

February 18, 2022: Paul Named in SafeMoon Lawsuit

On February 18, 2022, Jake Paul was named as a defendant in a class-action lawsuit against the cryptocurrency company SafeMoon, accused of promoting a pump and dump scheme.

March 2022: Paul Accused of Crypto Scam

In March 2022, YouTuber Coffeezilla accused Jake Paul of using cryptocurrency and non-fungible tokens to scam his fans out of $2.2 million, adding to the controversies surrounding Paul.

March 2023: Charged by SEC for Cryptocurrency Promotion

In March 2023, Jake Paul was among eight celebrities charged by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for violating investor protection laws by promoting cryptocurrencies without disclosing sponsorship. He settled the charges for over $400,000.

August 20, 2025: Paul to Fight Gervonta Davis

On August 20, 2025, it was announced that Jake Paul would take on Gervonta Davis in a non-title bout on November 14 at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, generating considerable attention due to the size difference.

2025: Davis Fight Canceled

In 2025, the fight between Jake Paul and Gervonta Davis was canceled due to legal issues surrounding Davis and concerns from promoters and Netflix, impacting Paul's boxing plans.