Overview of Markiplier’s $20 Million GoPro Scandal - H3 Show #303
Ethan Klein returns after being sick and the episode meanders through the usual H3 mix of banter, fan calls, sponsor reads, and internet drama — but the main event is a deep dive into Markiplier’s GoPro investing controversy. Ethan argues that Markiplier likely crossed ethical lines by promoting GoPro while owning a major stake in the company, and that the timing around the public disclosure and stock movement looks highly suspicious. The rest of the show touches on MrBeast’s latest business moves, a viral Love Island charity video, Mike from PA’s latest harassment spree, and a few very H3 tangents about diva cups, lean, and bodily functions.
Main Topic: Markiplier, GoPro, and Possible Insider Trading
Why Ethan thinks this is a big deal
- Markiplier reportedly owned 8.5% of GoPro, making him a major shareholder.
- Ethan points out that Markiplier:
- posted a positive GoPro review/promo
- did not clearly disclose his ownership in the way audiences would expect
- appeared to minimize his financial connection while talking up the product
- Ethan repeatedly argues that:
- he should have been more transparent
- the timing of the public filing, stock reaction, and merger makes everything look bad
- even if no laws were broken, it was still misleading
Markiplier’s defense, as discussed on the show
- Markiplier claims:
- he was not paid in the usual sponsorship sense
- he believed in the product and wanted to support better filmmaking tools
- he filed the appropriate paperwork and had no insider knowledge of the merger
- Ethan and the crew are skeptical of the “small bean” explanation, especially given Markiplier’s scale and sophistication.
The key takeaway
- The crew generally lands on:
Even if this wasn’t illegal, it was ethically messy and should have been disclosed more clearly. - Ethan also notes that Markiplier could have avoided all of this by simply being upfront from the start.
Other Main Segments
MrBeast’s latest business push
- The crew roasts MrBeast’s new peanut butter drink and his expanding brand empire.
- They also discuss his co-authored book with James Patterson, joking that:
- MrBeast fans don’t read books
- James Patterson readers aren’t likely to want a MrBeast book
- the rollout feels overhyped and doomed
- Ethan frames it as MrBeast trying to sell anything and everything under his name.
Mike from PA gets suspended
- Ethan celebrates the temporary suspension of Mike from PA, a recurring online antagonist.
- He highlights:
- threats made toward Hutch
- inflammatory rhetoric, including “Jewish is a demonic ethnicity”
- Mike’s pattern of late-night harassment DMs and obsessive behavior
- The segment frames Mike as:
- deeply bitter
- unhinged
- one of the more openly hateful figures Ethan tracks online
Love Island / Anya charity video
- The crew reacts to a viral video of Anya from Love Island visiting her old middle school and donating money.
- The donation amount becomes the joke:
- a huge staged production
- a fancy car and giant check
- but only $500
- The segment’s tone is mixed:
- they acknowledge it’s still a kind gesture
- but the theatrical presentation for such a small donation is treated as funny and absurd
Ethan’s sickness and promethazine/lean
- Ethan explains he’s still recovering from illness and says a doctor’s cough medicine knocked him out.
- He jokes that he was basically on lean after taking promethazine/codeine-style medicine.
- He describes:
- extreme sleepiness
- sweating
- irritability
- feeling “off” for days
- This leads into a long, silly discussion about lean, opioids, and the general misery of feeling sedated.
Recurring Bits and Random Tangents
Diva cups and period talk
- The crew gets into a very long, very H3-style conversation about:
- diva cups
- boiling them
- sanitary concerns
- whether they could dislodge an IUD
- The discussion becomes a broader debate about bodily functions being natural but still gross.
Fan calls
- Several callers check in with:
- merch praise
- love for Hila and the girls episode
- comments on Markiplier
- questions about diva cups and period products
- One caller asks for a shoutout to Beyoncé/Fiance-type confusion, which becomes a joke about fan obsession.
Gabe “in space”
- Gabe is repeatedly joked about as if he’s floating in outer space.
- The bit plays into the episode’s loopy, drifting energy and becomes one of the recurring comedic threads.
H3 store and Teddy Fresh/Teddy Glow plugs
- Ethan and Hila promote:
- the H3 shop
- Teddy Fresh/Teddy Glow sales
- shared cart/free shipping
- The merch segment is unusually chatty and tied into the visual jokes and photo reactions.
Closing Thoughts
What this episode was really about
- At its core, this was a reaction and commentary episode:
- calling out Markiplier’s questionable GoPro promotion
- roasting MrBeast’s product saturation
- celebrating Mike from PA getting suspended
- and filling the rest with classic H3 chaos
Biggest takeaways
- Transparency matters when creators have financial stakes in what they review or promote.
- Markiplier’s case looked especially bad because the ownership, disclosure, promo, and stock movement all clustered together.
- Ethan believes the episode shows how quickly creators can blur the line between honest recommendation and self-serving promotion.
- The rest of the show is mostly classic H3 filler: bodily-function jokes, sponsor banter, fan calls, and live-stream derailments.