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Currently, two major tech YouTube channels — Linus Tech Tips (run by Linus Sebastian) and Gamers Nexus (run by Stephen Burke) — are in a back-and-forth over a recent controversy involving Honey (the browser extension). Honey is currently facing allegations of scamming creators by claiming their affiliate links and siphoning the creators' bonuses to themselves.
Recently, LTT posted an update on the Honey situation. They admitted to being aware of not receiving their affiliate revenue but also revealed that they did not make a video out of it due to potential backlash. This was a point of conflict for Gamers Nexus, who uploaded a video calling out LTT.
What is the controversy between Linus Tech Tips and Gamers Nexus?
Gamers Nexus' allegations against LTT (August 2023)
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A current back-and-forth is unfolding between Gamers Nexus and Linus Tech Tips. However, their feud traces back to August 2023, when Gamers Nexus released a video criticizing LTT for "unethical" practices in their product reviews.
The primary issue raised by Gamers Nexus centered on LTT's review of Billet Labs' water cooler for the RTX 3090 Ti. LTT tested the cooler with a different graphics card model, resulting in subpar performance. Additionally, they failed to return the cooler to Billet Labs after the review.
This controversy, however, has since been resolved. LTT later issued a response, acknowledging the issues and stating their commitment to improving their testing methodology in the future.
Gamers Nexus calls out LTT over the Honey scam (January 15, 2025)
On January 15, 2025, Gamers Nexus released an investigative video revealing that they were suing Honey over an alleged scam. In the video, they also criticized Linus Tech Tips for remaining seemingly silent about the controversy.
Gamers Nexus included a short clip of LTT addressing the Honey scam. In the clip, LTT explained that they chose not to make a video about the scam when they first learned about it, citing concerns over potential backlash. GN said:
"We're not gonna have this mentality where just because something would disproportionately be less impactful to us these days at our size, we don't talk about it. That's not how we're gonna do things here. It's just unbelievably disrespectful to all the solo people."
(Timestamp: 00:15:57)
LTT responds to Gamers Nexus (January 17, 2025)
LTT has issued a response to Gamers Nexus. In their latest WAN Show on January 17, 2025, they addressed GN's criticism, stating that the clip presented by GN was taken out of context and misrepresented the situation in a disingenuous manner:
"Even if we ignore how disingenuous it is to compare the climate today, what we know today to the climate years ago when we originally dropped our Honey sponsorship, court regular viewers will know that we provided additional context that dramatically changes the meaning of that (shown by Gamers Nexus) quote."
The “context” Linus is referring to is what he explained during his January 4 stream. He explained that had he made a video and asked people to uninstall Honey, it could have appeared that he was doing so simply because he wasn't earning money from it:
“If I told everybody, ‘Uninstall Honey!’, an extension that supposedly gets them a better deal because I wasn’t making enough money from it? Do you really, honestly — ask yourself, truly — think that would have gone well for me?”
Before the WAN Show, Linus Tech Tips also sent an email to Gamers Nexus, urging them to retract some of their statements, claiming that they were erroneous:
"Everyone is human, and we all make mistakes, but I believe that for you to become the journalist you aspire to be, there are some errors in both your approach and in your coverage that are large enough to merit correction."
Linus also suggested GN to “recuse” themselves from such drama:
“If you CAN’T put your biases aside, simply recusing yourself IS an option, but it might require some further retractions since you’ve claimed in the past that covering us is very important because of our business’ relevance to the tech industry.”
He concluded his mail by stating he is open to constructive criticism but is unwilling to engage in “public sniping matches”:
“I welcome valid, constructive, TWO-WAY feedback, but when I told you a year ago, I had no interest in public sniping matches...”
Gamers Nexus is expected to release another video addressing the issue following Linus Tech Tips' latest live stream and email. Along with Legal Eagle, GN is issuing a legal suit against Honey. Further updates will follow in due course.
GN’s upcoming response video will see him address the criticism of seemingly denying LTT the “right to reply.” Additionally, he admitted that there were a “lot” of topics that he wished to discuss, but due to their perceived rivalry, it never came to fruition.
