David Dobrik, who has tens of millions of followers on YouTube, TikTok and other social networks, stepped down on Sunday from the board of the photo-sharing app Dispo. His departure came about a week after Insider reported the allegations of a woman who said she was sexually abused in 2018 by a former member of Dobrik’s influential group of friends known as “Vlog Squad”.
“David chose to resign from the board and leave the company so as not to be distracted by the company’s growth,” Dispo said in a statement to several media outlets. “The team, Dispo’s product and, most importantly – our community – defend the construction of a diverse, inclusive and empowering world.”
Dobrik and Dispo did not immediately respond to CNN Business’s requests for comment. In a YouTube video responding to Insider’s report last week, Dobrik apologized for disappointing his fans. “I do not advocate any kind of misconduct,” said Dobrik. “I was very disappointed with some of my friends. And for that reason I separated from many of them.”
Dispo, initially launched in invite-only mode, mimics the experience of using a disposable camera. Users take a photo and come back the next morning to “reveal” it with a retro filter. The application also has a social aspect and allows you to follow other users.
Hours before Dobrik stepped down on Sunday, one of Dispo’s biggest investors, Spark Capital, said he decided to “cut all ties” with the company due to reports about the social media star and Vlog Squad. The notable change comes a month after Spark Capital led Dispo’s $ 20 million financing round, with an estimated $ 200 million.
“We have resigned our position on the board and are in the process of taking steps to ensure that we will not profit from our recent investment in Dispo,” Spark Capital tweeted.
On Monday, Seven Seven Six, a fund started by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, said it would donate all the profits from its investment in Dispo to an unspecified organization that works with survivors of sexual assault.
“We have been working closely with Dispo for the past week and fully support their decision to part ways with David,” said Seven Seven Six said on twitter. “We believe in Dispo’s mission from the beginning and we will continue to support the working team to bring it to life.”
In the days following the accusations, brands like Dollar Shave Club, DoorDash and Hello Fresh canceled sponsorship deals with Dobrik, according to Insider.