What Won’t the Nelk Boys Do?

Known for their pranks, parties and crude humor, the YouTubers are used to getting in trouble. But for them, the backlash is the brand.

SANTA ANA, Calif. — Many big YouTubers earn money by running advertisements on their videos. Not the Nelk Boys. The creators state often and with pride that they make no income from the platform, despite their regular video uploads, high view counts and millions of loyal subscribers. That their channel produces no revenue is neither a fluke nor an accident. Their videos revolve around frat-like parties and elaborate pranks that sometimes promote illegal activities. They drink and curse and make crude jokes on camera. The police show up a lot. YouTube doesn’t love that. Which is why last year, after a series of incidents in which the group encouraged fans to flout Covid-19 safety guidelines, Nelk’s channel was demonetized.