#hbomberguy — Public Fediverse posts

James Somerton was accused of plagiarism in December 2023. He re-emerged as a wedding photographer, using stock images as his work.

https://www.plagiarismtoday.com/2025/04/07/james-somerton-re-emerges-plagiarizes-again-disappears/

#Photography #Plagiarism #JamesSomerton #YouTube #hbomberguy

While unconfirmed, #JamesSomerton has posted a suicide note on his locked Twitter account. There have been several attempts to reach out to him, seemingly none have succeeded. Lots of people are laying the blaming #HBomberGuy but I personally think this is unfair; Harry might have run the exposé, but the rest of the internet dogpiled without mercy. I sincerely hope we find James alive, but if not... We have to learn when to stop.

JFC. Someone from the #hbomberguy Reddit decided to make a subreddit to discuss #JamesSomerton, and as the hate built up, some absolute psycho decided that meant they should try to break into Somerton’s home.

What in the name of fuck is wrong with some people?!

https://www.reddit.com/r/hbomberguy/comments/1aj9j0k/rjamessomertondiscuss_is_no_more/

Gita Jackson on Aftermath: “The sad but unavoidable truth is that there is very little justice in cases like these. James Somerton has already stolen my work — the damage has already been done, and it cannot be undone. I have to move throughout the world knowing that an injustice has been done to me; that is just an unfortunate reality of being alive. Somerton makes himself an easy target for all the anger that people feel about similar injustices, like the way that queer history is disappeared or misrepresented or the way that women working in criticism are often ignored.”

https://aftermath.site/please-stop-asking-me-to-sue-james-somerton

#JamesSomerton #HBomberguy #YouTube #VideoEssays #ArtCriticism #QueerArt

If you're wondering what James Somerton did in response to HBomberGuy's video exposé: he deleted his videos on YouTube or set their visibility to private, put his Patreon on hold, then disappeared for a few days.

Then, a couple of days ago, James Somerton reappeared to make an apology video.
Sorta.
He said the word "sorry", and looked sad at losing his credibility and main source of income. I believe he was genuinely upset about that. This disaster has been bad for his personal and professional relationships, and is causing a financial problem. It's clear to see it's been extraordinarily bad for his mental health, and it's easy to feel sympathy for him on that count.

But, James Somerton failed to address the plagiarism. He hardly said the word at all. Instead, he attributed the public outcry to poor referencing/citation style. And, he said he's restarting his Patreon and will make more videos.

The public reaction to such an awful apology was about as negative as you'd expect. A few hours later, James Somerton deleted his apology video.

I think James Somerton isn't sorry for his plagiarism. I think he doesn't believe it's a problem. I think he doesn't truly understand what plagiarism is.

#HBomberGuy #iilluminaughtii #JamesSomerton #YouTube #Plagiarism #ContentMill #VideoEssay #LGBTQIA

Hbomberguy Didn’t Want to Make That 4-Hour Plagiarism Video
https://www.vulture.com/2023/12/hbomberguy-interview-james-somerton-plagiarism.html

This interview by Rebecca Alter with Hbomberguy covers a range of topics raised in his video, and draws-out some thought-provoking insights.

#HBomberGuy #iilluminaughtii #JamesSomerton #YouTube #Plagiarism #ContentMill #VideoEssay #LGBTQIA

#Hbomberguy on #JamesSomerton, plagiarism and queer erasure in THAT viral video essay

https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/12/14/hbomberguy-james-somerton-misinformation-queer-erasure/

Welp. Looks like #JamesSomerton nuked his site the same way #Hbomberguy and #ToddInTheShadows nuked his career.

HBomberGuy has released a video of additional material that didn't make it into the main video for time reasons because it was already running over four hours. It adds more info about plagiarism by illuminaughtii. This deserves some time in the spotlight because discussion of her plagiarism has been overshadowed by discussion of her also-awful emotional and financial abuse of ex-employees, ex-collaborators and ex-boyfriends.
https://youtu.be/403eGkWv4MA?si=qUdgOiFDDpByo5sg

#HBomberGuy #iilluminaughtii #JamesSomerton #YouTube #Plagiarism #ContentMill #VideoEssay

My audience is probably too old to be the main target demographic of #JamesSomerton's videos but it's still worth checking out #hbomberguy's video detailing his shameless plagiarism:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDp3cB5fHXQ&t=12399s

and also @ToddInTheShadows' video on made-up bullshit in his essays:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6_LW1PkmnY

My personal thoughts in the toot below.

@lgbtqia
#youtube #plagiarism #LGBTQ #LGBT #LGBTQIA

How I know #HBomberGuy's #JamesSomerton video really managed to drive the point home and be convincing (beyond people watching a 4 hour video about plagiarism): I haven't seen any mentions in the Fediverse about servers defederating due to hot takes on the topic.

Watching "Don't Be Like James Somerton: Advice on Citations and Plagiarism" by "Archaeology Tube" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtfvADB6xPE).

Didn't occur to me before that new videos going forward will use #JamesSomerton as shorthand for "rampant plagiarism", lol.

#HBomberGuy

Whew. Madness.

https://nebula.tv/videos/hbomberguy-plagiarism-and-youtube

#plagiarism #lgbtqia #lgbt #queer #youtube #JamesSomerton #hbomberguy

And now Dan Olson (FoldableHuman of "Line Goes Up" fame) has weighed-in on the James Somerton disaster, with a thread on the deadbird site:
https://twitter.com/FoldableHuman/status/1731781690769412145

#FoldableHuman #DanOlson #HBomberGuy #JamesSomerton #YouTube #Plagiarism

Last night, I watched the new HBomberGuy video; it's a brilliant extrusion!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDp3cB5fHXQ

If you've been getting déjà vu from some prolific YouTube creators, particularly big video-essay channels such as Iilluminaughtii and James Somerton, chances are their secret trick is plagiarism.
Often, I've wondered if they're on a personal mission to produce a weekly series of unauthorised audiobooks of Wikipedia articles. Or they're a content-mill powered by uncredited contributors, and ripping-off the research of journalists. Worse, they're getting paid a load of money by sidelining up-and-coming talent, or silencing the voices of people in a marginalised community or deceased activists and artists.

#HBomberGuy #iilluminaughtii #JamesSomerton #YouTube #Plagiarism #ContentMill #VideoEssay #LGBTQIA

It's really important that you know that you're not a bad person, and that it's not your fault, if you really liked a person that seemed to in good faith create great, interesting, non-hateful, actually smart stuff!

They grifted you. The victim is not to blame.

Now, if you keep defending them after you find out, that's another thing. Everyone can make mistakes, that's human, you don't need to try save face by not admitting the truth. Forgive yourself and move on.

#hbomberguy #milkshakeduck

#HBomberguy with another videoessay.

This time he speaks about #plagiarism in all it's colors. Also he (sadly) rips the most successfull #lgbt Channel on #youtube to shreds.

#JamesSomerton

For the better, since now others can take the place with their own content.

(Which he also names..) Bring some time .. it is nearly 4h long.
But worth your time..

#takealook #worthyourtime
https://youtu.be/yDp3cB5fHXQ?si=vcFI8ypFoDsTEbuo

HBomberGuy makes great videoessays. Mostly game related, but not always.

This time he explains where the soundfile "dow" comes from. He falls into a rabbithole and finds there one of the great liars of our time. Reminds my of musk and trump.

#egotism #whenitsgoodididit

https://youtu.be/0twDETh6QaI

#hbomberguy #dow #essay #lie #liar #roblox #musk #trump #guinessworldrecord

Aaaaaaah #AOC on #hbomberguy s #dk64 stream for #mermaids:
https://www.twitch.tv/videos/366901309?t=12h02m12s
Total raised: $333.000+

$200,000

#hbomberguy #mermaids #DK64