Prominent YouTuber Faces Kidnapping Charges

Summary

• Popular YouTuber Corey Pritchett is charged with aggravated kidnapping and has left the US.
• Pritchett posted a video from abroad, making light of the charges and his flight.
• His return to the US and the case's resolution are currently unknown.

US-based YouTube personality Corey Pritchett, known for his engaging online content, is facing serious accusations: two counts of aggravated kidnapping. The news shocked his fanbase when it emerged that he had reportedly fled the country shortly after the charges were filed.

Pritchett, whose YouTube career began in 2016, has cultivated a substantial following across two channels, "CoreySSG" (approximately 4 million subscribers) and "CoreySSG Live" (over 1 million subscribers). His videos, ranging from family vlogs to challenges and pranks, have generated millions of views, with one popular prank video exceeding 12 million views.

The alleged kidnapping incident occurred on November 24, 2024, in southwest Houston. According to ABC13, Pritchett allegedly met two women, aged 19 and 20, at a gym. After a day of activities including ATV riding and bowling, the situation escalated. Pritchett reportedly threatened the women at gunpoint, sped away on I-10, confiscated their phones, and threatened to kill them. The women later reported that Pritchett appeared anxious, believing someone was pursuing him, and that he had been accused of arson.

Pritchett's Flight and Mocking Video

After stopping his vehicle, Pritchett allegedly allowed the women to escape. They walked for over an hour before finding help and contacting authorities. While Pritchett was charged with two counts of aggravated kidnapping on December 26, 2024, he had already departed for Doha, Qatar, on December 9th on a one-way ticket, subsequently relocating to Dubai. From Dubai, he released a video seemingly mocking the warrants, portraying himself as a fugitive. This contrasts with the unrelated case of former YouTuber Johnny Somali, who also faces potential imprisonment in South Korea.

The future of this case remains uncertain. Whether Pritchett will return to the US to face the charges is unknown. The incident recalls the 2023 kidnapping of YouTuber YourFellowArab in Haiti, who was eventually released after a harrowing ordeal with a Haitian gang and subsequently shared his experience online.