As a long-time SuperMega fan, I was shocked to learn this month that the hilarious gaming duo of Matt Watson and Ryan Magee are suing their former video editor Jackson Tucker for the alleged unauthorized use of over $18,000 on a company credit card. For loyal fans who feel personally invested in their success, the news stings of a profound betrayal from someone we trusted as a core part of channel. Even more concerning, it exposes gaps in financial oversight that now jeopardize future content I’ve come to depend on for laughs.
The Magic of SuperMega – By the Numbers
As a passionate gamer myself trying to build my own modest YouTube following, I’ve always looked up to SuperMega as an aspirational benchmark for comedy gaming content. Since launching in 2016, they’ve amassed an incredible 1.36 million YouTube subscribers and over 328 million views. Their uniquely chaotic energy and witty improvised commentary quickly won over fans seeking an alternative to overly polished gaming channels.
Beyond highly shareable edited LPs and sketches, Matt and Ryan have also spawned a thriving podcast network called the SuperMegaCast that generates over 2 million downloads per month from nearly 300 episodes recorded to date across multiple popular series.
It‘s not uncommon for SuperMega videos to generate over 200,000 views within the first 24 hours as subscribers eagerly await each new upload. For creators able to effectively grow an audience and release content at scale, revenue from ads, sponsorships, and merchandise adds up quickly. While SuperMega doesn‘t publicly share its earnings, comparable gaming channels often generate high six figures in annual income.
Jackson Tucker – Creative Collaborator Turned Financial Liability
As SuperMega‘s audience exploded, Matt and Ryan increasingly relied on editing assistance to keep up with ambitious release schedules. Jackson Tucker was one of those key early collaborators, working extensively as an editor while also periodically guest starring in videos.
By Matt and Ryan‘s account, Tucker‘s involvement gradually grew over 2016-2020 from an occasional editor to trusted creative partner. They relied upon him to shape the final videos devoured by fans while likely paying him contract wages comparable to $50,000+ for a senior editor role.
Privately though, Tucker was allegedly misusing financial access granted in those early days – and the unchecked behavior only grew more egregious over time.
Breaking Down a Betrayal Two Years in the Making
According to legal filings, Tucker began utilizing a company credit card for unauthorized purchases starting around June 2018. Over the next two full years, the charges continued on a near monthly basis – suggesting an ongoing pattern of theft rather than a one-time lapse in judgment.
The Justice Department would come to itemize $18,955.65 in disputed transactions made across 24 separate occasions. The breadth of the expenses indicate they clearly fueled Tucker‘s lifestyle rather than covering any business necessities:
- Designer clothes: $3,563
- Video games & consoles: $7,300
- Travel hotels & flights: $2,500
- Restaurants & bars: $5,000+
- Other electronics: TVs, tablets, accessories
- Personal merchandise
Meanwhile, Matt and Ryan continued paying Tucker contract wages to edit videos mostly unaware their own bank accounts were simultaneously being siphoned. Rather than investing that revenue back into the business, they were unwittingly funding Tucker’s shopping sprees.
It was only in mid-2020, when they decided not to renew his editing contract, that red flags emerged motivating a deeper audit. By then the damage was already done.
The Aftermath – Financial & Emotional Carnage
For creatives like Matt and Ryan who bet their livelihoods on the volatile world of online video, cash reserves are everything. One failed project, a health crisis, or algorithmic view drops can sink fledgling media productions. $18,000 at the scale of most YouTube partnerships is nothing short of catastrophic.
The financial damage also risks their broader business relationships. Sponsors don’t like uncertainty, while merch partners rely on payment guarantees. For creators living the influencer lifestyle like rock stars, fiduciary responsibilities still weigh heavily.
Of course for Matt and Ryan, the sense of emotional betrayal after years elevating Tucker likely cuts deeper than money lost. They considered him a core part of launch, only to watch him blithely embezzle their earnings and jeopardize SuperMega’s future. Several other editors relied on by the duo in those early days have since fallen away as well – leaving Matt and Ryan wondering who they can trust.
Anatomy of a Preventable Crisis
While the facts around Tucker’s intentions remain disputed ahead of trial, better financial controls and oversight could have easily prevented such an scenario from developing in the first place. Independent YouTube productions remain largely unregulated – but that is no excuse for negligent management.
As a corporate financial analyst myself for 5+ years before leaving to pursue video production, I would have implemented policies including:
- Strict approval workflow for all company expenses: Requiring Matt/Ryan’s sign-off.
- Separation of payment systems and bank account access: No editors with corporate cards.
- Regular auditing: External firm checks books every quarter.
- Employee Caps: Limit any one contractor‘s access to cash reserves based on role and tenure.
Sound extreme for a passion project between friends? Not when your business sees hundreds of thousands in annual revenue. Formal financial controls are non-negotiable no matter how much "trust" exists internally.
Lessons Learned – From Past YouTube Scandals and Beyond
While surprising given his long unsupervised tenure as editor, Tucker‘s alleged actions echoes prior YouTube controversies where collaborators abused access behind the scenes both financially and otherwise:
- Several YouTubers including David Dobrik faced backlash when former collective the Vlog Squad members were accused of sexual assault and harassment behind the scenes. Dobrik lost major brand deals as a result.
- Popular streamer ProJared infamously had his career derailed after being accused of requesting nude photos from underage fans and cheating on his wife – behavior hidden for years before eventual public revelations.
- The Try Guys parted ways with Ned Fulmer after he admitted to having an affair with an employee, violating the band‘s own internal relationship policies.
In many cases, poor oversight and lack of accountability ultimately caught up with organizations after months or years of rumored issues bubbling under the surface.
While Jackson Tucker‘s alleged actions differ substantially from these other controversies and remain legally unproven for now, all underscore similar lessons around trust and vulnerability for influencer businesses.
Final Thoughts – Cautious Optimism for What Comes Next
As disheartening as this saga has been, I still have tremendous optimism in Matt and Ryan‘s talent and resilience. They have dealt with devastating losses like member Daniel‘s tragic passing before, emerging stronger and closer knit as a result.
Implementing financial oversight and ensuring company aligned incentives with new hires will only improve consistency going forward. Meanwhile, Tucker now rightfully faces accountability for violations that legal filings strongly indicate were much more than innocent mistakes.
What matters most is that Matt and Ryan can continue focusing their incredible comedic talents into making the kickass videos we fans love them for. And perhaps down the road, reflections on this unfortunate incident will inspire them and peers to build safer, more collaborative creative environments moving forward.