YouTuber Steven Crowder has millions of followers thanks to his controversial Christian views - but one video has shocked even his biggest fans.
The 35-year-old is an "anti-woke" commentator who has nearly six million subscribers and a recurring segment on his podcast called "Change My Mind."
He identifies as a conservative Christian and YouTube is often demonetising his content on the platform due to his contentious views.
Mr Crowder married his wife Hilary, who studied political science at Calvin College in Michigan, on August 25, 2012 after just three months of engagement.
The podcaster told FOX News: "Our wedding was perfect. Our wedding night was nothing short of amazing.
"Feeling judged? I couldn’t care less. You know why? Because my wife and I were judged all throughout our relationship.
"People laughed, scoffed, and poked fun at the young, celibate, naive Christian couple.
"We’d certainly never make it to the wedding without schlumping, and if we did, our 'wedding night would be awkward and terrible. Turns out that people couldn’t have been more wrong."
They went on to welcome twins, Magnus and Charlotte, in August 2021.
However, the pair are now in the middle of a bitter feud after the YouTuber announced in a video that his wife was divorcing him.
The married couple wanted to keep their divorce private to try and protect their two children.
He said: "In all this, one thing I wanna be really clear about is certain.
"True north here is that my children are blameless, completely without fault, and so we decided to resolve these issues privately as it's in their best interest both emotionally and physically to do so."
But numerous videos and shocking accusations has made their divorce public - with the disgraced YouTuber now facing a huge backlash after a video emerged of him abusing his wife.
Who is Steven Crowder?
The 35-year-old is an “anti-woke” YouTuber who has been accused of racism, homophobia and misogyny.
He is also known for controversial comedy sketches including his meme template "Change My Mind."
The meme is a screenshot of Mr Crowder getting ready to debate university students and is often edited around a topic.
He also has 1.21 million subscribers on his second channel Crowder Bits, which along with his other YouTube channel, reportedly earns him $80,000 a month thanks to advertising revenue.
The YouTuber is reportedly estimated to be worth $20million.
What started their feud?
The husband and wife started feuding back in January after Mr Crowder rejected a $50 million deal to join the Daily Wire, which he described as a “slave contract.”
During a YouTube video he accused the company of indulging in “big tech censorship” - which sparked a furious argument with Ben Shapiro, the co-founder of Daily Wire.
Despite being ideologically aligned, Hilary is employed by the Daily Wire, who were less than impressed with his video.
She released her own video describing his comments as "a total b***h move" and repeatedly hinted there was something going on in his personal life.
Hilary hinted it would embarrass himt, and his brand, if it was made public.
She claimed “his actions are a symptom of something much larger … Steven has a lot going on, I guess is the best way to say it.”
Hilary even urged her viewers to pray for him, saying: “Sometimes people need a prayer. Sometimes people need a scripture. Steven purports to be a Christian, and I believe that he needs to lean into his faith. And I am certain that in the near future, more information will come out.”
When did they announce their divorce?
Mr Crowder released a video on Tuesday admitting he had been going through “what has increasingly been a horrendous divorce” since 2021.
The video was mocked on Twitter and Facebook after the YouTuber implied he is more unhappy that his wife can divorce him without his consent in Texas.
He bemoaned: “She simply wanted out, and the law says, that's how it works.
“One thing that is undeniable, in this case, is that it's no one's fault but my own, in that I picked wrong.”
The YouTuber then played a clip of Hilary comments from January criticising “self-styled Christians,” adding he could pursue legal action if more of their dirty laundry airs in public.
He said: “I’ll be handling this through the proper legal avenues and channels available as a matter of record in which I have more than full confidence.”
Crowder abuses pregnant wife on Ring doorbell
A video was obtained by journalist Yashar Ali and showed Youtuber Steven Crowder sitting smoking as he repeatedly forbids his heavily pregnant wife from taking the car.
He said that if she did he would not be able to go to the gym, see his parents or his friends.
The video, which was taken on June 26, 2021, sees Hilary tell him "your abuse is sick" but she later repeatedly tells him she loves him.
Throughout the interaction he sits on a sofa smoking as his wife, pregnant with their twins, stands.
"I drew a boundary. You are not taking the car," he can be heard saying.
When she asks why, he says: "Because if you refuse to do wifely things then I will go get the groceries."
He can be heard saying: "The only way out of this is discipline and respect."
She eventually tells him: "I love you. But Steven, your abuse is sick. I love you. I love you very much."
Despite these assurances the YouTuber calls her love "disingenuous."
Mr Ali reported that Mr Crowder got even angrier and yelled "I will f*** you up!" but then pulled back.
Hilary "spent years hiding Steven's abusive behaviour"
In a statement to Mr Ali, Hilary's family said she is now living alone "apart from her family and support system in Michigan, and is focused on taking care of her young children."
The statement continued: "She is not prepared at this time to speak about her divorce becoming public or the misleading statements made by Steven about their relationship.
"The truth is that Hilary spent years hiding Steven's mentally and emotionally abusive behaviour from her friends and family while she attempted to save their marriage.
"She was the one who was asking to work on their relationship to keep the marriage intact for their unborn children."
Mirror Online has contacted Steven Crowder for comment.
