{{pp|small=yes}} {{short description|American YouTuber (born 1985)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2016}} {{Infobox social media personality | name = Onision | image = | image_size = | caption = | birth_name = Gregory James Daniel | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1985|11|11}} | birth_place = Auburn, Washington, U.S. | website = | spouse = {{Ubl | {{marriage|Skye Tantaga|2005|2010|end=divorce}}<ref name=Manarino2013/> | {{marriage|Kai Avaroe|2012}}<ref name=Graves2019>{{cite web|last=Graves|first=S.|url=https://www.insider.com/onision-grooming-accusations-explained-controversial-youtuber-exposed-2019-12|title=One of YouTube's most reviled personalities is crumbling under scandal and asked us to pay $10,000 for an interview|work=Insider|date=December 10, 2019|access-date=December 16, 2019|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20191212173147/https://www.insider.com/onision-grooming-accusations-explained-controversial-youtuber-exposed-2019-12|archive-date=December 12, 2019}}</ref> }} | partners = | other_names = {{Hlist|Gregory James Jackson|Gregory James Avaroe|Gregory James Daniel|James Jackson}} | occupation = {{hlist|YouTuber|musician|author}} | youtube_handle = Onision | youtube_display_name =
| youtube_years_active = 2006–present | youtube_genre = {{hlist|Comedy|commentary}} | youtube_subscribers = 1.98 million<!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE WITHOUT UPDATING stats_update BELOW --> | youtube_views = 290.7 million<!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE WITHOUT UPDATING stats_update BELOW --> | stats_update = July 3, 2025 }} '''James Jackson''' (born '''Gregory James Daniel'''; November 11, 1985),<ref group="‡" name="name">{{cite AV media |last1=Jackson |first1=James |title=I Legally Changed My Name... |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAmexsUqoQo |publisher=Onision |access-date=27 January 2020 |url-status=dead |quote=My mom named me, as a child, Gregory James Daniel. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212021129/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAmexsUqoQo |archive-date=December 12, 2019 |via=YouTube }}</ref><ref group="‡" name=JacksonFAQ>{{cite web|last=Jackson|first=James|url=http://onision.net/faq|title=Onision FAQ|website=onision.net|access-date=May 15, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017125008/http://onision.net/faq|archive-date=October 17, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref group="‡" name=Jackson2014>{{Cite AV media|last=Jackson|first=James|url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=z30qHFgxnUU|title=Facts About Onision (Story Time)|date=January 13, 2014|publisher=Onision|access-date=May 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211112321/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z30qHFgxnUU|archive-date=December 11, 2019|url-status=live|via=YouTube}}</ref> known professionally by his online alias '''Onision''' ({{IPAc-en|oʊ|ˈ|n|i|s|i|ɒ|n}} {{respell|oh|NEE|see|on}}), is an American YouTuber. His primary YouTube channel, "Onision", featured sketches and satirical clips; videos posted to his other channels focus on personal stories covering controversial topics as well as discussion with his viewers. As of July 2025, Jackson's main channel has received just under 2 million subscribers and over 290 million video views.<ref group="‡" name="Onision-about">{{cite web |last=Jackson |first=James |title=Onision – YouTube about page |url=https://www.youtube.com/user/Onision/about |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070619153929/https://www.youtube.com/user/Onision/ |archive-date=June 19, 2007 |access-date=May 15, 2019 |via=YouTube}}</ref> A music video titled "Banana Song (I'm a Banana)", written and performed by Jackson, is his most-viewed video; as of November 2025, it had garnered over 96 million views.
His activity both online and offline has attracted controversy and criticism from online media outlets and viewers alike, leading to event and platform bans, as well as the demonetization of his content on YouTube. Jackson has also been the subject of various allegations of abuse, sexual grooming of minors, and rape.
==Early life== Jackson was born Gregory James Daniel on November 11, 1985, in Auburn, Washington.<ref group="‡" name="name"/><ref group="‡" name=JacksonFAQ/><ref group="‡" name=Jackson2014/> Jackson has stated in videos that his mother raised him and his older sisters in a rural environment and that they were Seventh-day Adventists.<ref group="‡" name=JacksonFAQ/><ref group="‡" name=Jackson2014/> In a 2014 self-published video titled "Facts About Onision (Story Time)", Jackson stated that his mother "filed for divorce once it was made clear that his father was a child predator".<ref group="‡" name=Jackson2014/> During his teenage years, Jackson composed music and worked on web and graphic design.<ref group="‡" name=Jackson2014/> Jackson served in the United States Air Force in 2005,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Asarch|first=Steven|url=https://www.newsweek.com/youtuber-onisions-dad-wants-set-record-straight-1495105|title=YouTuber Onision's Dad Wants to 'Set the Record Straight' About Their Relationship|work=Newsweek|date=March 30, 2020|accessdate=July 3, 2025}}</ref> and received a general discharge under honorable conditions in 2008.<ref group="‡" name=Jackson2014/>
==Online career==
===YouTube content=== Jackson created his first YouTube channel on January 29, 2006 and started uploading content that same year.<ref name=Manarino2013>{{Cite web|last=Manarino|first=Matthew|url=https://newmediarockstars.com/2013/06/onision-the-definitive-timeline-of-youtubes-ultimate-villain/|title=Onision: The Definitive Timeline Of YouTube's Perfect Villain|date=June 27, 2013|work=NewMediaRockstars|access-date=May 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703132258/https://newmediarockstars.com/2013/06/onision-the-definitive-timeline-of-youtubes-ultimate-villain/|archive-date=July 3, 2013}}</ref> His earliest clips featured a character named Chibi, whom fans interpreted as a parody of Fred Figglehorn.<ref name=Manarino2013/> In 2009, Jackson uploaded "Banana Song (I'm a Banana)", which went viral. The video featured Jackson "jumping around screaming in a banana suit",<ref name=Graves2019/> as well as his first wife, Skye Tantaga.<ref name=Manarino2013/> "Banana Song" was featured on the Comedy Central series ''Tosh.0'' as the "Viewer Video of the Week" in 2010.<ref name=ComedyCentral2010>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cc.com/episodes/huyilx/tosh-0-february-3--2010---friendly-tackle-season-2-ep-204|title=Friendly Tackle|date=February 3, 2010|work=Tosh.0|publisher=Comedy Central|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207215735/http://www.cc.com/episodes/huyilx/tosh-0-february-3--2010---friendly-tackle-season-2-ep-204|archive-date=December 7, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> Jackson also maintained a secondary channel named "OnisionSpeaks".<ref name=Sung>{{cite web|last=Sung|first=Morgan|url=https://mashable.com/article/onision-only-fans|title=Onision finds a home on OnlyFans after getting banned from Patreon|work=Mashable|date=May 29, 2020|accessdate=July 3, 2025}}</ref>
In 2011, Jackson posted a number of clips with his then-girlfriend, Canadian singer Shiloh Hoganson.<ref name=Manarino2013/> In some of them, however, Hoganson is seen apparently experiencing transient amnesia; Adrienne Jourgensen, an ex-girlfriend of Jackson's, published a letter stating that Jackson believed Hoganson was lying about her memory loss.<ref name=Manarino2013/> Jackson and Hoganson later stated that she was pregnant with Jackson's child but suffered a miscarriage.<ref name=Manarino2013/><ref name=Cook2013>{{cite web|last=Cook|first=James|title=YouTube's most troubled star|date=December 10, 2013|access-date=January 1, 2017|work=The Daily Dot|url=http://kernelmag.dailydot.com/features/report/7407/youtubes-most-troubled-star/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103002341/http://kernelmag.dailydot.com/features/report/7407/youtubes-most-troubled-star/|archive-date=January 3, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> On August 11, 2019, a 2011 video featuring Hoganson resurfaced online. In it, Jackson is heard telling her, "You know this video is never going to be online, right? No one will ever know how much I abuse you", before throwing candy corn at her and laughing as she cried. Hoganson also states in the video that Jackson lacerated her ear with scissors while she was sleeping.<ref name=Schroeder2019>{{cite web|last=Schroeder|first=Audra|url=https://www.dailydot.com/upstream/onision-shiloh-hoganson-abuse/|title=Video of YouTuber Onision threatening ex-girlfriend resurfaces|work=The Daily Dot|date=December 6, 2019|access-date=December 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207200000/https://www.dailydot.com/upstream/onision-shiloh-hoganson-abuse/|archive-date=December 7, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2019, ''Insider'' wrote that Jackson was "best known for his objectifying content and controversial reputation", and detailed that "he rates pictures that women submit to him, gives his opinions on their bodies, and comments on other YouTubers".<ref name=Graves2019/> Many of the submissions that Jackson accepted and featured in his videos were of girls under the age of eighteen.<ref name=Graves2019/> Jackson was also noted by ''Business Insider'' to make jokes about eating disorders in his videos.<ref name=Dodgson/>
===Reception and criticism=== Jackson's on-camera and off-camera activity has received criticism from online media outlets as well as from fellow online content creators. In 2010, ''Tubefilter'' listed Jackson as one of "5 YouTubers On Their Way Up", alongside Shane Dawson and the Fine Brothers. The outlet described Jackson's channel as frequently updated with a "very rough, in-your-face R-rated style" and called Jackson "the most controversial YouTuber".<ref name="Hyde2010">{{cite web|last=Hyde|first=William|date=April 12, 2010|title=5 YouTubers on Their Way Up|url=http://www.tubefilter.com/2010/04/12/5-youtubers-on-their-way-up/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170102171812/http://www.tubefilter.com/2010/04/12/5-youtubers-on-their-way-up/|archive-date=January 2, 2017|access-date=January 1, 2017|work=Tubefilter}}</ref> In 2012, ''The Daily Dot'' described Jackson as "known for his militant vegetarianism, sex appeal, comedic skits, and controversial views on topics like circumcision."<ref name=Eordogh2012/> The publication has also criticized his content on multiple occasions; in 2013, James Cook wrote for the outlet, calling Jackson "YouTube's most troubled star".<ref name=Cook2013/>
In 2018, Jackson was included on a ''Daily Dot''-published list of six YouTubers "worse" than Logan Paul.<ref name="Katzowitz2018">{{cite web|last=Katzowitz|first=Josh|url=https://www.dailydot.com/upstream/worst-youtube-channels/|title=Forget Logan Paul—these 6 wildly popular YouTube pranksters are worse|work=The Daily Dot|date=January 23, 2018|access-date=November 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191127185557/https://www.dailydot.com/upstream/worst-youtube-channels/|archive-date=November 27, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The outlet opined that "[Jackson's] videos these days [2018] are just as obnoxious and irritating as they were nine years ago when he first struck YouTube gold with a truly terrible song about being a banana."<ref name="Katzowitz2018" /> Jackson has also received criticism from fellow YouTubers, notably Daniel Sulzbach (known online as "MrRepzion" or "Repzion"), Strange Æons, and Blaire White.<ref name="Manarino2013" /><ref name="Asarch2019">{{cite web|last=Asarch|first=Steven|title=Who is Onision? YouTuber banned from Patreon after doxxing|url=https://www.newsweek.com/who-onision-youtube-banned-patreon-doxxing-predator-1474416|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191127172059/https://www.newsweek.com/who-onision-youtube-banned-patreon-doxxing-predator-1474416|archive-date=November 27, 2019|access-date=November 27, 2019|work=Newsweek|date=December 5, 2019|orig-date=November 27, 2019}}</ref> In a 2019 email to ''Insider'', Jackson shared that "People hated me, with a passion, for my opinions I openly held."<ref name="Graves2019" /> In late 2019, ''Insider'' called Jackson "one of YouTube's most reviled personalities".<ref name=Graves2019/>
==Controversies and legal issues== ===Event and platform bans=== Jackson was banned from VidCon 2012 due to a video in which he stated that since his then girlfriend Adrienne Jourgensen slept with more than 20 people before she was with him, she is a "slut" and therefore "cannot be raped".<ref name=Manarino2013/><ref name=Eordogh2012>{{cite web|last=Eördögh|first=Fruzsina|url=https://www.dailydot.com/society/onision-rape-vidcon-haters-youtube-banned/|title=YouTuber inflames viewers with rape comments|work=The Daily Dot|date=January 25, 2012|access-date=November 29, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310231228/http://www.dailydot.com/society/onision-rape-vidcon-haters-youtube-banned/|archive-date=March 10, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> The video then received backlash from viewers outside of Jackson's core audience, as noted by ''NewMediaRockstars'' and ''The Daily Dot''.<ref name=Manarino2013/><ref name=Eordogh2012/> VidCon co-founder Hank Green sent an email to Jackson stating "if it is possible that you will not be safe, we will not let you come [to VidCon]."<ref name=Manarino2013/>
In November 2019, Jackson was banned from Patreon after posting the phone number of Billie Dawn Webb, a fellow YouTuber. Webb was one of several women who claimed Jackson and his spouse had groomed and manipulated them into a sexual relationship or otherwise engaged in harassment and abuse.<ref name=Kelly2019>{{cite web|last=Kelly|first=Makena|title=Controversial YouTuber banned from Patreon after alleged doxxing|url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/11/26/20984785/onision-doxxing-patreon-deplatformed-twitter-youtube|work=The Verge|date=November 27, 2019 |access-date=November 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191127020325/https://www.theverge.com/2019/11/26/20984785/onision-doxxing-patreon-deplatformed-twitter-youtube|archive-date=November 27, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Patreon confirmed in a statement to ''The Verge'' that they had banned Jackson "as he violated our Bullying and Harassment [policy] as it relates to doxing."<ref name=Kelly2019/> In response to the ban, Jackson uploaded a video where he seemingly contorted himself, stripped down to his underwear, and poured a bottle of kombucha over his head.<ref name="Asarch2019"/> Jackson later said that this video, alongside a series of follow-up videos, were staged. Jackson subsequently opened a new website where his supporters could re-donate, but shut it down shortly after its launch.<ref group="‡" name=Jackson2019>{{cite AV media|last=Jackson|first=Gregory|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53U7egj54cE|title=hiatus|work=UhOhBro|via=YouTube|date=November 27, 2019|access-date=December 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212094201/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53U7egj54cE|archive-date=December 12, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> After being de-platformed by Patreon, Jackson launched an OnlyFans account.<ref name=Sung/>
In January 2021, following the release of ''Onision: In Real Life'', Jackson's channels were suspended from the YouTube Partner Program.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sung|first=Morgan|title=YouTube demonetized Onision|url=https://mashable.com/article/youtube-onision-demonetized/|access-date=2021-02-03|website=Mashable|date=January 21, 2021 |language=en|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601164845/https://mashable.com/article/youtube-onision-demonetized/|archive-date=June 1, 2023}}</ref>
===Allegations of abuse, child grooming, and rape=== In 2019, allegations of child grooming and abuse were leveled at Jackson and his spouse, Kai Avaroe, formerly known as Lainey.<ref name=Graves2019/> Jackson responded by stating that "the grooming stuff is absolute nonsense".<ref name=Graves2019/> As aforementioned, Webb was one of several women who alleged Jackson and Avaroe abused her; Webb stated that she and other women were sent texts asking them to "be chained to [the] basement wall for a week with a sign around [their] neck that says 'I'm sorry for lying.'"<ref name=Graves2019/> When reached by ''Insider'' for a comment in response to these allegations, Jackson requested $10,000 for an interview and stated: "I do not want to participate in this circus without compensation, I should be paid to endure to {{sic}} stupidity of the current state of outrage/online culture."<ref name=Graves2019/>
In January 2020, Jackson called 9-1-1 on American television journalist Chris Hansen and lawyer Mike Morse in response to them knocking on his door. Jackson described Hansen and his crew as "YouTube stalkers".<ref name=Harris>{{cite web|last=Harris|first=Margot|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/onision-drops-chris-hansen-lawsuit-after-wrong-person-served-papers-2020-1|title= One of YouTube's most controversial personalities dropped his lawsuit against 'To Catch a Predator' host after the wrong person was served papers|work=Business Insider|date=January 27, 2020|accessdate=July 3, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Losciale|first=Marisa|url=https://parade.com/news/chris-hansen-onision-911-call-reporting-stalker-real-story-dec-2024-viral-video|title=Chris Hansen Unveils the 'Real Story' About 'Infamous' 911 Call Going Viral|work=Parade|date=January 2, 2025|accessdate=July 3, 2025}}</ref> At the time, Hansen was collecting stories from Jackson's alleged victims and uploading interviews with them to YouTube; Hansen stated that when knocking on Jackson's door, he was aiming to get Jackson's "side of the story" about the allegations of predatory grooming against him.<ref name=Dodgson>{{cite web |last=Dodgson|first=Lindsay|url=https://www.insider.com/onision-called-911-when-chris-hansen-knocked-on-his-door-2020-1 | title=A creator who has become YouTube's supervillain called 911 when reporter Chris Hansen knocked on his door to ask him about accusations of grooming underage fans | website=Insider.com|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20200301042514/https://www.insider.com/onision-called-911-when-chris-hansen-knocked-on-his-door-2020-1|date=January 14, 2020|archive-date=March 1, 2020 }}</ref> Hansen later served as a producer and consultant on a documentary about Jackson titled ''Onision: In Real Life''. It was broadcast on January 4, 2021, during the launch of Discovery+.<ref>{{Cite web|last=O'Connell|first=Mikey|title=Discovery+ Sets More Than 50 Original Titles for Launch Month|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/discovery-sets-more-than-50-original-titles-for-launch-month|access-date=January 3, 2021|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=December 3, 2020|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007114638/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/discovery-sets-more-than-50-original-titles-for-launch-month-4099770/|archive-date=October 7, 2021}}</ref>
In February 2023, a lawsuit was filed by a woman against Jackson and Avaroe, alleging that "minor females" were "invited to the couple's home with the intent to engage in sexual acts and three-way sexual encounters with the couple, or for additional grooming."<ref>{{cite web|last=Ray|first=Karla|url=https://www.wftv.com/news/local/nothing-was-done-youtuber-star-center-first-of-its-kind-lawsuit-speaks-out/RGUGWTLQLZBHRL7HKUVQI7LOQU/|title='Nothing was done': YouTube star at center of first-of-its-kind lawsuit speaks out|publisher=WFTV Channel 9|date=February 22, 2023|accessdate=July 3, 2025}}</ref> On March 3, a second suit was levied against Jackson and Avaroe by an ex-partner named Sarah, who alleges they groomed her when she was 14 and that Jackson raped her when she was 18.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Miller|first=Matthew|url=https://www.mlive.com/news/2023/03/michigan-woman-alleges-ex-youtube-star-onision-groomed-and-raped-her.html|title=Michigan woman alleges ex-YouTube star Onision groomed and raped her|website=MLive.com|publisher=MLive Media Group|date=March 4, 2023|orig-date=March 3, 2023|access-date=October 3, 2023}}</ref>
==Discography== *''Onision'' (2012) *''Explicit'' (2012) *''Bipolar'' (2012) *''Flucking Blitch'' (2013) *''The Puppet'' (2018) *''Shut Up'' (2018) *''With Character'' (2018) *''The Banana Man'' (2019) *''I'm a Meme'' (2019) *''I Am Trash'' (2020)
==Bibliography== ===Novels=== *''Stones to Abbigale'' (2015)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Onision |title=Stones to Abbigale |date=March 29, 2015 |isbn=978-0692418635 |language=English}}</ref> *''This Is Why I Hate You'' (2015)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Onision |title=This is Why I Hate You |date=September 11, 2015 |isbn=978- 0692507599 |language=English}}</ref> *''Reaper's Creek'' (2018)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Onision |title=Reaper's Creek |date=December 14, 2018 |isbn=9781790951338 |language=English}}</ref>
===Biography=== *''In Real Life'' (2023)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Onision |title=In Real Life |date=November 11, 2023 |isbn=979- 8312068979 |language=English}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
=== Primary video and post sources === In the text, these references are preceded by a double dagger (‡): {{Reflist|group="‡"}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|4728594|name=Gregory Jackson}} *YouTube channels: **[https://www.youtube.com/user/Onision Onision] **[https://www.youtube.com/user/OnisionSpeaks OnisionSpeaks] *{{Twitter}} {{Authority control}} Category:1985 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century American male musicians Category:21st-century American male writers Category:American atheists Category:American comedy YouTubers Category:American critics of religions Category:American former Christians Category:American YouTube vloggers Category:Former Seventh-day Adventists Category:Internet-related controversies Category:OnlyFans creators Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:United States Air Force airmen Category:Vegetarian-related mass media Category:Writers from Washington (state) Category:YouTube channels launched in 2006 Category:YouTubers from Washington (state)