- David Dobrik apologized for not taking Vlog Squad sexual assault allegations seriously.
- The video follows a previous apology video that had the comments turned off.
- "I want to use this opportunity to step up and own my mistakes," Dobrik said.
- Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.
David Dobrik apologized for not listening and taking Vlog Squad sexual assault allegations more seriously in a seven-minute video uploaded early on Tuesday.
"I've put myself in a lot of situations where I need to apologize for my past actions and I've never done this correctly. I've never done this respectfully, and my last video is a testament to that," Dobrik said. "I don't want to defend that video. I don't want to delete that video. I just want to be clear."
Dobrik was referencing a video uploaded last week called "Let's talk," which had the comments turned off.
The apologies come after Insider's Kat Tenbarge reported that a woman featured on Dobrik's YouTube channel said she was raped by Vlog Squad member, Dominykas Zeglaitis, aka Durte Dom, in 2018 the night they filmed a video about group sex.
The woman said she was given alcohol by Vlog Squad members and blacked out from intoxication and was unable to give consent.
In his most recent apology video, Dobrik said he should have listened to women who alleged sexual harassment and he should have created a more comfortable environment, especially for people to voice discomfort.
"I want to start this video by saying I fully believe the woman who came out against Dom and said she was sexually assaulted and raped by him," Dobrik said.
Dobrik said although he got consent to post the video the next day, he "should have never posted it."
"What I understand now and I didn't understand before is that she sent that text because she felt she had to, not that she wanted to and that's f--ked up and I'm sorry," he said.
He apologized to the woman for putting her and her friends in an environment that "I enabled and made them feel like their safety and values were compromised."
Dobrik said he now understands that he was creating an unfair power dynamic when people were invited to shoot videos with the Vlog Squad, especially those that relied on "shock" for views. He said he acknowledges that he had a responsibility to ensure everyone felt safe during the making of that video.
While Dobrik said he stopped filming with Dom in 2019, he said it "broke his heart" that he never reached out to any women who came out and said they were uncomfortable during filming.
Dobrik said he's taking a serious break from social media but not completely going dark so he's able to establish an infrastructure that enables checks and balances and can help people be comfortable and express discomfort.
"It doesn't feel right to go back to posting like I have been and it also doesn't feel right to go dark because I love what I do but I think it is important to show that change is possible and that I'm learning maybe even forgiveness is possible," Dobrik said. "I want to use this opportunity to step up and own my mistakes."
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