YouTuber Jack Doherty, 22, was arrested in Broward County, Florida, on Friday on a charge of domestic violence battery, according to jail records. While details of the incident remain unclear, sources close to Doherty told TMZ that he acted in self-defense. This arrest marks the latest in a series of legal troubles for the influencer, who has amassed millions of followers through his online stunts.
In November, Doherty was arrested in Miami Beach on charges including possession of a controlled substance, marijuana possession, and resisting arrest. He was later given a discharge certificate in May 2026 after entering a deferred-prosecution program for a charge of allegedly blocking traffic while filming a stunt and repeatedly refusing orders to move.
Controversial Stunts and Allegations
Doherty, often described as an "annoying YouTuber," has built a career on pranks, provocations, and increasingly outrageous stunts, including crashing a $200,000 McLaren while livestreaming and paying a spectator to disrupt a PGA Tour event, which led to a ban from future events. His content frequently features scantily clad women, supercars, and private jets.
Beyond his on-camera antics, Doherty faces serious allegations of exploitation from former employees and associates. Matthew Gonzalez, a content creator who worked with Doherty for six months in 2023, claimed that Doherty targeted young and vulnerable women, pressuring them into creating sexualized content and signing contracts that took a significant portion of their earnings. Gonzalez alleged that Doherty promised them a path to riches but provided only a meager salary while demanding extensive work.
Former girlfriend McKinley Richardson, a fellow content creator, has also made similar claims. Richardson stated that Doherty pressured her into joining OnlyFans despite her Christian upbringing, with his team promising her wealth. She also alleged that her refusal to participate in Doherty's business ventures jeopardized their relationship.
Early Life and Escalating Behavior
Before his online fame, Doherty grew up in Sea Cliff, Long Island. He began creating content at age 13, initially focusing on physical stunts and prank calls. According to a former classmate and a parent of another student, Doherty developed a reputation as a "menace" in middle and high school. They alleged he filmed and mocked children with learning difficulties in the classroom and used his camera to provoke classmates.
A former classmate told the Daily Mail that Doherty's "massive ego" fueled his pursuit of internet fame, and that "kids were afraid of him because he could turn his camera on you at any time." A mother of a former classmate described him as "awful" and a "mean kid."
Legal and Civil Entanglements
Doherty's stunts have led to several brushes with the law. In October 2024, he livestreamed a crash while driving his McLaren in heavy rain, reportedly instructing his injured cameraman to continue filming. In February, he paid a golf spectator to heckle a PGA Tour player, resulting in his removal from the event and a ban from future PGA Tour tournaments.
Additionally, Doherty is facing a civil assault lawsuit. Chase Cameron Gardella alleges that Doherty's bodyguard assaulted him at a 2023 Halloween party. Gardella claims Doherty encouraged the confrontation and later used the footage for content. Doherty has denied responsibility, asserting his bodyguard acted independently. The lawsuit is reportedly headed toward trial later this year.