Creator of Top Tween YouTube Channel Arrested for Allegedly Molesting a Minor

Ian Rylett is the 55-year-old owner of one of YouTube’s most popular tween channels, SevenAwesomeKids. BuzzFeed reports that last month, Rylett was arrested in Florida for lewd and lascivious molestation of one of the young girls who made videos for him, and who is under the age of 16.

According to the arrest warrant, detectives in central Florida were called to Rylett’s Orange County hotel room on the morning of August 16, five days after the girl signed a contract with SevenSuperGirls productions (the most popular of the seven SevenAwesomeKids channels). She told police that Rylett “directed her to take her shirt off to practice wrapping her breasts down, to make them appear smaller for the photo shoot.” She says she refused but Rylett stated she “needed to get used to taking her clothes off in front of him and he would remove her shirt by force if she did not comply with his demands.” She claims to have removed her shirt, exposing her bra. After he allegedly demanded that she remove her bra or he would, he began bandaging and re-bandaging her down while “cupping and manipulating her breasts.”

She claims he instructed her to disrobe in front of him and try on three different bikinis as he watched. She also says Rylett “grabbed her panties and forcefully pulled them down and to the side,” despite her constant protest, threatening to “use the contract to fine her” if she did not do as he said.

On August 22, Rylett pleaded not guilty, and he will stand trial in December. As of publication time, all seven of Rylett’s YouTube channels are still active, but YouTube confirmed that his channels were demonetized shortly after his arrest. “We take safety on YouTube very seriously,” a YouTube spokesperson told Jezebel. “We work closely with leading child safety organizations and others in our industry to protect young people. When we’re made aware of serious allegations of this nature we take action, which may include suspending monetization, or, upon conclusion of an investigation, terminating channels.”

Jezebel has reached out to YouTube and Rylett’s attorney and will update this post if we hear back.