Top 10 Controversial Mukbang Creators on YouTube (And Why They’re So Addictive)

[WARNING: This content includes visuals that some may find unsettling, and others might find outright repulsive.] If you haven’t dipped into the world of YouTube mukbang, you’re skipping a peculiar yet captivating experience. (Well, perhaps not entirely—but let us explain.) Mukbang creators film themselves eating, often engaging with their audience in real-time. The concept is straightforward, yet oddly mesmerizing, especially when they tackle enormous portions of indulgent, unhealthy meals.

What’s the conversation like? It ranges from everything to nothing. Food is always a central topic, but mukbangers also dive into their personal lives—discussing relationships, style, diet plans, fitness goals, and, frequently, their fellow mukbang creators.

While it might seem absurd, mukbang is a compelling cultural trend. According to Kim-Hae Jin, a Ph.D. candidate at Chosun University, viewers often tune in to fulfill their cravings vicariously through these videos. While the food draws them in, it’s the drama that keeps them hooked. Fans relish when their favorite mukbangers collaborate, only to later clash and air their grievances. These YouTube personalities thrive on gossip, calling each other out for their online missteps. Controversy is the name of the game, and the mukbang scene is dominated by one overarching theme: cancel culture.

Cancel culture has gained momentum in recent years, with the public holding influencers to higher standards. In the mukbang community, this translates to creators publicly criticizing one another. When a mukbanger faces backlash, their fanbase often abandons them, leading to a significant drop in viewership and, consequently, income.

Merriam-Webster highlights that canceling has a performative element. The individual who is “called out” often experiences a short-lived surge in popularity. While the goal of canceling is to withdraw attention, this rarely plays out as intended with YouTubers. “Publicly canceling someone often involves drawing attention to the act,” Merriam-Webster notes, “which ironically keeps the target in the spotlight.”

Now, let’s dive into the most controversial mukbang creators. We’re confident you’ll be intrigued enough to explore each one further.

10. Trisha Paytas: Self-Identifies as a Chicken Nugget

If you search for “notorious mukbang creator,” Trisha Paytas is likely the first name that comes up. This blonde sensation has been a YouTube staple since 2007, amassing over five million subscribers. Known for stirring up drama, she’s been embroiled in countless public disputes with other mukbang stars.

Paytas’s videos swing wildly from glamorous to raw and emotional, often featuring her on her kitchen floor mid-breakdown. Over the years, she’s made some bizarre claims, including marrying a Brad Pitt cardboard cutout and declaring herself transgender (specifically, a gay man with “penis envy” who embraces drag and opulence). One of her most unforgettable moments was when she detailed why she identifies as a chicken nugget—a video that has garnered over 1.1 million views.

Paytas manages multiple YouTube channels and boasts a net worth of approximately $8 million. Her primary channel, Blndsundoll4mj, has surpassed 1.8 billion views. Reports suggest her channel earns thousands daily from video ads, not to mention the substantial income from her Patreon subscribers.

However, Paytas isn’t driven by money. “I’ve never been motivated by wealth,” she once stated. “My constant craving has always been attention. Whether that’s good or bad, it’s what fuels me.”

In May 2019, fellow mukbang star Nikocado Avocado (featured next) publicly criticized Paytas for her actions. His viral exposé, “Exposing Trisha Paytas With Receipts,” has nearly 3 million views. Perry, who had hoped Paytas would boost his fame, tearfully accused her of ghosting and belittling him. He shared their private messages, embracing the cancel culture drama that fans can’t resist.

9. Nikocado Avocado: Emotional Turmoil Overshadows His Meals

Don’t be deceived: Nikocado Avocado (Nicholas Perry) often portrays himself as the victim, but he’s just as controversial as Paytas. (The two have since made amends, and yes, there’s a video documenting their reconciliation.)

Since 2014, this mukbang creator has been sharing food videos, starting as a slender 21-year-old vegan. Over time, he transformed into an overweight enthusiast of junk food, abandoning veganism after deeming it harmful to his health. Perry, a pioneer among male mukbangers, now runs three channels: Nikocado Avocado, Nikocado Avocado 2, and Nikocado Avocado 3. He uploads nearly every day, with each video showcasing his signature eccentricity.

Perry attributes his career choice to his struggles with being adopted. “I always craved attention,” he confessed to Paytas during their collaboration. “I wanted to be in the spotlight.” He achieves this by consuming massive amounts of food and staging dramatic meltdowns on camera. From crying and yelling to throwing food and collapsing, his antics are extreme. His fans particularly enjoy his broom-smashing food tantrums. “They love it when I’m upset, crying, or hyper,” he revealed.

In December 2019, Perry teamed up with fellow mukbangers Stephanie Soo and Zach Choi (ranked 8 and 1 on our list). Shortly after, Soo released a video titled “Why I am Scared of Nikocado Avocado,” which exposed Perry’s “abusive” behavior and garnered nearly 10 million views. This sparked a series of retaliatory videos between the two, with fans largely supporting Soo.

Perry blamed the online feud for his deteriorating mental health and the collapse of his marriage. A Change.org petition titled “Remove Nikocado Avocado from YouTube” has even surfaced, aiming to cancel his online presence. Despite the backlash, Perry continues to produce emotionally charged content, cementing his status as a chaotic figure.

8. Stephanie Soo: Misbehavior Isn’t Entirely Her Fault

From Stephanie Soo’s viewpoint, Perry is the root of all the mukbang controversies. During her collaboration with Nikocado Avocado, Soo spoke negatively about her friend and fellow mukbanger Veronica Wang (ranked 3 on our list). Soo insisted that Perry coerced her into making those remarks, as she had no intention of criticizing Wang. Overwhelmed by guilt, Soo experienced multiple panic attacks, which allegedly prevented her from finishing the planned collaboration with Perry. The two attempted to cancel each other, but Soo emerged victorious, with most prominent mukbangers supporting her and leaving Perry struggling to regain his footing.

So, who is Stephanie Soo? She’s among the most accomplished mukbang creators globally. Hailing from South Korea, the birthplace of mukbang, she now lives in a luxurious $2.29 million mansion in the San Fernando Valley. Her home is in Sherman Oaks, a neighborhood known for housing wealthy social media influencers and YouTube personalities.

Despite only two years in the mukbang scene, Soo has already left a significant impact. With 1.3 million subscribers, her videos have amassed over 250 million views (on just one of her channels). Far from being a “broke ass biss” (a phrase she playfully references with her “BISS” t-shirts), she cruises around Los Angeles in her $100,000 Tesla.

7. Hungry FatChick: Ecstatic Reactions to Food and Beyond

In her thesis “Watching Women Eat: A Critique of Magical Eating and Mukbang Videos,” Samantha Gillespie examines the role of mukbang in society’s obsession with thinness. Gillespie highlights the well-known mukbanger Hungry FatChick (also known as Candy Godiva) as a key figure in this discussion.

While Paytas and Perry are overweight, Godiva—standing at 155 cm (5’1”) and weighing 180 kg (396 lbs)—is classified as morbidly obese. Always impeccably styled with flawless hair and makeup, she indulges in massive portions of food. With every bite, Godiva delivers the signature lip-smacking and moaning that viewers either adore or despise. To her detractors, she firmly states, “This is an eating channel, not a weight-loss channel. If you’re not here to watch a hungry fat chick enjoy food, then this isn’t the place for you.”

Godiva may not be entangled in major drama with other mukbangers, but she isn’t free from controversy. The YouTube star is also known for producing adult fetish content. Her series “Candy Godiva & SSBBW”—short for “Super-Sized Big Beautiful Woman”—showcases her in explicit scenes, complete with the moaning and lip-smacking her fans find irresistible.

6. Amberlynn Reid: Gained Significant Weight During Her Weight-Loss Journey

Similar to Godiva, Amberlynn Reid is a plus-sized creator. Despite her youthful and kind demeanor, she has stirred controversy with her “weight-loss” mukbang videos. Reid has been creating these videos for five years, documenting her life through three distinct relationship phases: the Krystal Era, Destiny Era, and Becky Era.

Reid meticulously tracks her calorie intake and often features healthy meals in her videos. However, fans and critics alike argue that she prioritizes her YouTube earnings over her well-being. Despite years of documenting her weight-loss journey, she has gained approximately 90 kg, now weighing 259 kg (570 lbs).

Thousands have signed a Change.org petition demanding an end to Reid’s video logs, accusing her of “earning at least $1,000 monthly by misleading her fans.” Could removing her monetization finally push her toward a healthier lifestyle?

5. Foodie Beauty: Pairs a Cheese Platter with a Disturbing Reference to Mass Suicide

Chantal “Foodie Beauty” Marie aims to “demonstrate that mukbangs (social eating shows) don’t have to promote unhealthy habits.” Her YouTube channel blends cooking, food reviews, wellness tips, and beauty content. It sounds uplifting, doesn’t it?

Most of the time, it is. However, she crossed a line with a highly controversial video (“**TRIGGER WARNING** HALLOWEEN CHEESE CEMETERY MUKBANG!”), which has since been removed. Foodie Beauty stunned her audience by displaying images and footage of the 1997 Heaven’s Gate mass suicide. As she snacked on cheese, she narrated the cult’s tragic tale to her 60,000 subscribers, leaving fans horrified.

“Imagine sitting there, displaying images of deceased individuals on screen while munching away and discussing the cost of Nikes,” one critic fumed. (Nikes played a significant role in the Heaven’s Gate narrative.) “She’s literally discussing mass suicide and pauses mid-sentence to review the taste of cheese. I’m absolutely stunned.” Foodie Beauty retaliated, accusing the critic of hypocrisy for body-shaming her.

4. Banzz: Misleading Ads? No Regrets

Banzz has an impressive appetite, capable of devouring 100 McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets in one go—no Trisha Paytas-style antics here. However, the YouTuber, also known as Jung Man-su, faced challenges in 2019 when he used his platform to promote his own line of ‘weight loss’ products.

A South Korean court fined Banzz for false advertising, with prosecutors seeking a six-month jail term. His defense argued that he had no intention of deceiving his audience and that the illegal content resulted from inexperience. Ultimately, he was fined 5 million won ($4,100)—a relatively small sum for someone reportedly worth millions.

Banzz shared a tearful apology video, a move popular among YouTube audiences who relish commenting on such posts. However, he worsened the situation by deleting unfavorable comments, prompting a wave of unsubscriptions and effectively creating his own cancel culture.

Despite the controversy, the YouTuber retains a substantial following, ensuring his continued earnings. While he consumes enormous quantities of food on camera, Banzz maintains a remarkably fit physique, often described as “ripped AF.”

3. Zach Choi: The Silent Mukbang Sensation

Zach Choi stands out as a mukbang superstar and is the only “good guy” on this list. He uniquely blends his eating videos with ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response), a phenomenon known for inducing a calming, tingling sensation (often referred to as a “head orgasm”). While mukbang’s slurping sounds naturally fall under ASMR, Choi takes it further by incorporating whispering and soft-spoken elements, appealing to both mukbang and ASMR enthusiasts.

Choi’s dual approach—loud chewing for mukbang fans and soothing whispers for ASMR lovers—has earned him nearly 7 million followers and an estimated net worth of $11 million. He reportedly earns around $1 million monthly from his content.

2. Ssoyoung: Live Animal Consumption—Cultural Practice or Shock Factor?

[WARNING: The video above contains graphic footage of live animals being killed and consumed.] South Korean YouTuber Ssoyoung has stunned the internet with her extreme mukbang videos. Some of her content is so unsettling that she was forced to remove it, though the clips remain widely accessible online.

In certain cultures, consuming live seafood—still moving—is a tradition. However, Ssoyoung amplifies this practice to attract a larger audience. She uses a saltshaker to induce seizures in eels before eating them and has even devoured an entire live octopus on camera, catering to those who find ASMR-like sounds appealing.

Ssoyoung sparked significant controversy with a video featuring her eating an entire pig’s head. Before taking her first bite, she warned viewers that the visuals might be unsettling. For 15 minutes, she gnawed on the pig’s head, creating a grotesque spectacle. However, the backlash wasn’t about the act itself but the cultural misrepresentation.

Ssoyoung suggested that eating a whole pig’s head is a Korean tradition, which it is not. Critics flooded the comments, accusing her of spreading false cultural information. “No Korean eats a pig’s head like that. Foreign viewers will think this is normal,” one commenter wrote. “Pig head meat is usually sliced and cooked. What you’re doing is nothing like that.” Another added, “You’re just chasing views.”

Although Ssoyoung issued an apology, she continues to face criticism. Some demand a more genuine apology for tarnishing Korea’s reputation, while others urge her to acknowledge that octopuses feel pain.

1. Veronica Wang: Suing the Underdog

While mukbangers earn substantial incomes, does that make them figures of authority? Veronica Wang believes so. This prominent YouTuber targeted a parody channel, using her influence to take aggressive action.

Shookbang, a channel that humorously parodies popular mukbang videos, gained a loyal following. Fans appreciated the extra layer of entertainment. However, Wang was displeased when Shookbang featured her in their parodies, especially since she didn’t profit from them.

Wang, along with other mukbang creators, filed illegitimate copyright strikes against Shookbang. This forced the parody channel to temporarily shut down to avoid further legal repercussions and protect its creators’ identities.

The YouTube community criticized Wang for her misuse of copyright claims. Shookbang’s content fell under Fair Use Law, which allows transformative use of original material with added music and edits. Wang’s claims were baseless and unlawful, and Shookbang has since resumed operations.