
A former videographer for Todrick Hall has gone public alleging exploitation and psychological abuse at the hands of the singer.
A Twitter user identified as “Jacob” and using the handle @bewilderberry took to the platform on February 14 to report his experience touring with Hall in 2018.
Jacob shared an image of himself following the tour, in which he looked thin and exhausted. In his post, he also claimed Hall never provided him meals, that his paychecks were frequently late, and that he was forced to load-in sets to venues–something a videographer would not be forced to do on a union production.
Throughout his series of posts, Jacob alleges that Hall played “mind games” with his crew and would “make an example” of anyone who complained by humiliating them in front of the rest of the company. He also alludes to even more “egregious” behavior on the part of Hall, but did not go into detail.
happened to leave out. I was too broke and embarrassed to go home and too paranoid to complain since I had seen others be made examples of in front of everyone. I barely told anyone about how horrible my time with him was because I didn’t want to affect future work. Todrick is
— Jacob (@BewilderBerry) February 15, 2022
I see his name in headlines I think “should I tell my experience? Am I doing others a disservice by not shit talking the hell out of this maniac?” And the answer is yes, I should be more vocal lest anyone else falls victim & anyone who defends him should be held more accountable.
— Jacob (@BewilderBerry) February 15, 2022
Oh, one huge thing I forgot to mention is that I was Todrick’s videographer, the loading of the set was something hoisted onto me a few days into the tour.
— Jacob (@BewilderBerry) February 15, 2022
Jacob further claims to have stayed silent for four years out of fear of reprisal, writing, “I barely told anyone about how horrible my time with him was because I didn’t want to affect future work.”
This isn’t the first time Hall has come under fire for alleged mistreatment of his employees.
In 2019, several former dancers and crew for his music videos claimed he never paid them for their work. That same year, Hall’s former assistant Tommy McKissock said that he had witnessed Hall sexually harassing employees. McKissock also leaked documents alleging that Hall had engaged in a legal settlement involving sexual harassment.
At the time of this writing, Hall has not responded publicly to Jacob’s allegations. Queerty reached out to the singer for comment but did not hear back.
Related: Todrick Hall’s former assistant accuses performer of abuse in string of Tweets
1898
“Jacob shared an image of himself following the tour, in which he looked thin and exhausted.”
without seeing a “before” pic, it’s hard to know whether this pic is supposed to be shocking or if that’s just how he always looks. his allegations might be 100% true but he’s not doing himself any favors by headlining those allegations with a bathroom mirror selfie that frankly looks a lot healthier and a lot more well-rested than most Americans
Dymension
Agreed
DarkZephyr
Maybe this is sad and wrong-headed of me but I am getting bored and unimpressed with “explosive accusations” against famous and somewhat famous people. They happen SO frequently that its starting to be for me like the “Boy who Cried Wolf”. I have no real reason to believe this guy is lying, but I also have no real reason to believe he’s telling the truth, particularly 4 years later. If he’s telling the truth, I am sorry for him but cancel culture has jaded me, I guess. So often its over the top and overreactive and I am just sick to death of it.
Troyfight
….could be wrong here of course, but it sure smells of the truth, DarkZeph. Just tragic.
ShiningSex
Some people don’t come out with the truth immediately because of fear of being blacklisted. How is that hard to understand. I believe it. Todrick sounds like a POS.
His music sucks btw, but that’s besided the point.
Creamsicle
I believe him because there have been so any similar accusations from independent and unrelated sources. It’s not like he’s getting paid to tell tales out of school by tweeting about this, either.
Todrick seemed to explode in fame very suddenly, and it looks like he did it on the backs of other people’s work and then ghosted them without paying, while threatening their livelihoods if they warned anyone else not to work with him. He wanted his own fame machine, but they aren’t cheap and he leveraged his limited funds by using young, unestablished artists who didn’t have any sway in the industry yet.
Kelezia
This would be a fair take … if it weren’t for his having been accused of this so frequently and consistently, from early on in his career when talented friends did volunteer their talents to his videos because they believed in him and knew he didn’t have the financial backing yet to afford to produce his visions; many also knew that their participation could be mutually beneficial from the potential springboard of their being seen for their own work.
As he became better known and sought out for more and well-funded projects–and paid well for his work–he never seemed to shift his mindset, that, while he was now paid well, less-established performers and crew alike should appreciate their inclusion as payment enough, even when legitimate contracts promised otherwise.
The only problem with this reporting is that there is nothing new or shocking about these allegations: they echo the predominant response almost anyone who has ever worked for him in any capacity has
I actually just assumed I was reading a four-year-old article some casual watching BB who didn’t know about him from elsewhere had dredged up, because this is the exact stuff that has been said for many years.
Queerty’s greatest fault with this article is in how repetitive it feels: a full exposé is warranted–and there are more than enough sources to present one–rather than just adding to the body count and click count while Toddrick is getting more mainstream visibility.
It’s not “cancel culture,” because such behavior would have had him cancelled eons ago if it were treated with appropriate concern and respect for denouncing his toxic workplace behaviors.
SDR94103
she messy. always messy.
mstone
You’re not going to get a comment from him, as he is on Celebrity Big Brother and won’t have access to his cell phone until after filming is wrapped.
ShiningSex
Who cares what that POS has to say. He’s been accused before so I believe it.
On Big Brother, he dresses horrible and he calls himself fashionable. That’s a joke.
Canadiancub
Literally this ?? but that would require queerty to do more than just copy and paste Twitter threads and claim them as articles
ShiningSex
I believe this guy. People may bitch about the number of acccusation to celebrities but let’s really look the number of accusations vs. probably the amount NOT reported. There are thousands of “celebrity”, so why is a shock the number of accusations? Seems low for what is probably occuring and not being reported.
Stop assuming the accuser is looking for money and/or attention. This is not the first time the horrible Todrick has been accused. Sounds like it true about that tired queen.
jlicks
After watching him on Ru Paul and Big Brother, I believe all Jacob has to say about him
Inspector 57
My take is that, “And to be clear, I haven’t even mentioned the truly egregious stuff because I simply don’t have the time or will to sit here and spell it out/relive it,” means “If I had a truly substantive and verifiable complaint, I’d be doing more than writing s*** about it on social media.”
daddytop
Jacob is protecting himself from a slander/libel lawsuit from Todrick by refraining from talking about it. It would be his word vs Todrick’s and Todrick has the cash to afford better attorneys. I totally believe Jacob.
missvamp
After seeing how he’s playing big brother, nothing shocks me. He’s being super shady, nasty & back stabbing to people who are his actual friends outside the house. Anything for $$.
NYeastvillage1
This boy posts a Guys With iPhones thirst trap photo to show the “ravages” of touring? And he worked for four years (through the pandemic, apparently) and could just never tear himself away from such horrid conditions? Bitch, please. Todrick may be a POS but why should anyone listen to this disgruntled ex-employee?
Creamsicle
Todrick Hall would be far from the first desperate Fame Ho to pull this trick of using young and unestablished artists for their work and then failing to pay them for that work. Fame machines aren’t cheap, and Todrick exploded onto the scene very suddenly, first as a choreographer, and then very quickly as a music artist.
He found his way to get what he wanted, and even successfully spun a toxic relationship in his favor by posting a series of Narcissistic tweets about a former lover, claiming he’d paid for the expense of bringing him on tour and then cheated on Hall. Girl, that’s your private business and ain’t nobody asking about it in the first place.
I think that behavior makes a lot more sense if Hall felt threatened by the possibility that this lover might spill the tea on his bad /professional/ behavior, and start a tide of exploited and discarded artists corroborating his claims.
callme_babybear
I completely believe everything being said about Todrick Hall… I used to work for Louis Vuitton and last year he had his entire bedroom custom made by LV, sorry but if you can afford that, pay your crew!
In my opinion he has always come across as the kind of person who would do what he needs to get where he wants to go and not really look back at the people who helped him get there, it’s just sad!
And as someone who is from the creative/film industry people in positions of power can destroy you over nothing!
I have had a personal experience where someone in my local film industry who knows a lot of people tried kissing me, and when I refused all over a sudden all the doors that where starting to open for me suddenly had deadbolts on them.
So I don’t blame the guy for taking his time to open up about how he was treated.
Fahd
What a sleazy business overall. One would think that a good labor lawyer could put some cases together to get some people their overtime and back pay not to mention other damages. The maltreated should get together; sometimes in unity there is indeed strength.
v6origal97
This may be overly capitalist- or communist – but he took a non union job. He could have left. He had a choice. Is anyone surprised someone cut corners on a non union production?
NYeastvillage1
I agree. And if it was that terrible, why stay for four years?
jackscott
Seems like Hall is a diva & doesn’t take care of staff. No surprise, he seems very full of himself!
ScottOnEarth
The biggest surprise: Todrick Hall went on tour?
Jim
Where there is smoke there is fire!
RyanMBecker
Based on comments from friends who have either worked with Hall, or close to it, I believe the accusations. But here’s the thing that annoys me … with the ubiquity of smartphones, where is the video (or audio) evidence? In this case, for example, is it so hard for him to record himself loading all the equipment? I would’ve done so, even if the experience was positive or neutral. Photos and videos of working with celebrities (even minor ones like Hall) are all over social media. As such, I would expect some footage of Hall humiliating staff, or as stated above, Jacob moving equipment. That said, I still believe him and hope that he has learned to negotiate a better contract next time.
As an aside, I hope this won’t turn into a race thing where Hall accuses his accusers of racism.
RyanMBecker
You guys should click on the Tweet. He retweeted a lot of damning tweets from others who have worked with Hall, and even quotes Hall himself.