Summary
- Cody Ko has been under fire following dark allegations from Tana Mongeau.
- Cody transitioned from Vine to YouTube, where he made his mark with the show "That's Cringe."
- Cody married fellow internet personality Kelsey Kreppel in 2023 and recently welcomed their first child.
Cody Ko, the Canadian internet personality, podcaster and musician, has come under fire recently following allegations from popular podcast host Tana Mongeau that Ko, now 33, allegedly slept with her when she was underage and he was 25.
But if this is the first time you’ve ever heard of Cody, you’re not alone. Although he’s been making a name for himself online since 2013, it took these serious allegations to catapult him into the mainstream media spotlight.
Editor’s note: This article contains brief mentions of sexual assault, abuse, or other related topics that could be triggering to some readers and survivors. If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, please visit RAINN.org. The National Sexual Assault Hotline (1-800-656-4673) is available 24/7.
Cody Ko Created Popular App In College
Cody was born Cody Kolodziejzyk, but he shortened his Polish surname to Ko early in his career. After being raised in Canada, Ko attended Duke University in North Carolina, eventually graduating with a degree in computer science.
From a young age, Cody had a knack for computers and apps. Remember the popular meme-making photo app, I’d Cap That, back in the early 2010s? You have Cody to thank for that, as he created the app while still in college.
Cody went on to work at various start-ups, but his internet career skyrocketed when he began posting short videos to Vine, the precursor to apps like Snapchat and TikTok. His Vine videos often went viral, and soon, Cody had amassed hundreds of thousands of followers on the app.
Cody Ko Becomes YouTube Superstar
Cody, who also dabbles in music and comedy as part of the Tiny Meat Gang group, parlayed his Vine popularity into YouTube, starting an extremely popular show called “That’s Cringe” with fellow Vine star Noel Miller. While “That’s Cringe” amassed a very large following, it also faced its share of criticisms, since the basis of the show was Cody and Noel commenting on, or mocking, internet personalities and their videos. The show often criticized big YouTubers like the controversial Jake Paul, who, along with his brother, Logan, created an entire career out of being bombastic online.
In 2017, “That’s Cringe” took aim at Jake with a video eviscerating Jake’s YouTube persona. The video currently has an astonishing 20 million views. Jake fought back with his own video confronting Cody, whom he referred to as an “internet bully,” in 2019.
Cody Ko's Feud With Jake Paul Became Internet Sensation
The criticisms didn’t seem to hurt Cody’s internet career. In fact, being part of YouTube drama only strengthened Cody’s brand, as is often the case with internet fame. In a 2018 interview with Tubefilter, in response to the question, “Your channel has grown rather quickly. Why do you think that is?,” Ko's response was telling.
“Mainly from ripping on the Paul brothers.”
In 2021, Vulture published a story tracking YouTube’s biggest dramas, which included Jake and Cody’s confrontation. In 2022, the New York Times Magazine published a piece highlighting “media critics” on YouTube. This story also referenced Cody and Jake’s feud, cementing it as one of the internet’s biggest fights.
Interestingly enough, Tana Mongeau also has a connection to Jake Paul. The two were "married" in a stunt wedding in 2019. The wedding was not legally binding and their relationship ended in 2020.
Cody Ko And Kelsey Kreppel Married In 2023
In 2023, Cody’s marriage to fellow internet celebrity Kelsey Kreppel was covered by the New York Times. In the story, Cody details meeting and falling in love with Kelsey in 2017. Their wedding, in February of 2023, was, surprisingly, an offline event. For a couple known for putting everything online, they wanted to keep their vows private.
“The wedding was ‘not for money or for videos or for likes,’ Ms. Kreppel said. ‘It was for love. And it was just for us.’”
The couple welcomed their first child, son Otis, in January of this year, as reported by People magazine.
Cody Ko Has Not Responded To Tana Mongeau's Allegations
The Tana allegations have put Cody in a different type of spotlight, one that often results in large-scale cancelation. While he hasn’t officially responded to the story, it remains to be seen whether Cody’s career can survive.
