Turkey Tom is an American YouTuber best known for his commentary videos and video essays focusing on the histories and controversies surrounding internet celebrities and online figures. With over 900000 subscribers across multiple channels Turkey Tom has established himself as an influential voice within the YouTube commentary community.
Background and Early YouTube Career
Turkey Tom’s real name is Thomas. He was born on August 16 2002 in Maine United States, and is of Bulgarian descent on his mother’s side.
Tom started his main YouTube channel in July 2015, initially making videos criticizing other YouTubers like Mr. Enter. His early content was edgier and more inflammatory, leading to some controversies which he has apologized for.
Over the next few years, Turkey Tom shifted his content focus to more extensively researched video essays about internet histories and controversies. Some of his most viewed videos are multi-part deep dives on controversial YouTubers like Onision and FuturisticHub.
Rise in Popularity
Turkey Tom’s channel really started to gain traction in 2019 and 2020. During this period he gained over 200000 new subscribers, aided by his videos defending YouTuber Slazo from false allegations and documenting the controversial departures of YouTubers like Zaptie and LeafyIsHere.
His thorough coverage of influencer controversies, willingness to call out bad behavior, and dark sense of humor resonated with many viewers. Turkey Tom built a loyal fanbase that appreciated his frank, confrontational approach.
Ongoing Controversies
However, Tom’s outspoken style has also continually embroiled him in controversies over the years. He has faced backlash for:
- Using racial slurs in private messages
- Making edgy, offensive jokes about various figures
- Being perceived as unfairly targeting certain creators
- Questionable fact-checking and jumping to conclusions
In late 2020, Tom faced intense criticism for his coverage of the Pyrocynical grooming allegations, which many felt crossed ethical lines. This backlash led him to take a months-long break from YouTube.
While retaining many fans, Tom remains a polarizing figure even after returning to the platform, and has expressed regret over some past incidents.
Content and Style
On his main Turkey Tom channel, Tom posts weekly videos in a short documentary style, detailing the full histories behind internet celebrities, memes and events. He is known for his sarcastic voiceover narration and frequent use of meme imagery to tell these stories.
His TomDark channel features more informal commentary videos where Tom gives his opinions on recent YouTube and internet drama. These videos have a conversational vlog-style format.
Common themes in Turkey Tom’s videos include exposing bad behavior from influencers, analyzing “cringe” internet content, and recapping fandom controversies. His videos blend informational explainers with scathing takedowns of his chosen targets.
Personal Life and Other Details
Based on statements made across his videos and social media profiles, here are some other personal details known about Tom:
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He is a big fan of rock and metal bands like Slipknot, Linkin Park and My Chemical Romance.
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He drinks a lot of Monster Energy drinks, and often tweets about this habit.
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He has been highly critical of how he is portrayed on Wikitubia, and has disputed factual accuracy on his page.
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Tom owns a cat that occasionally makes appearances in his videos and social media.
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Despite his Bulgarian ancestry, he only speaks English.
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His favorite Bakugan is the Pyrus Siege.
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During high school, he created the Turkey Tom name based on his summer camp counselor noting his turkey sandwich.
Presence Across YouTube and Social Media
In addition to his two main YouTube channels, Turkey Tom maintains active social media presences:
YouTube
- Turkey Tom (900,000 subscribers)
- TomDark (350,000 subscribers)
- @TurkeyTom (250,000 followers)
- @tombutdark (65,000 followers)
Through these platforms combined, Turkey Tom has cultivated an audience of over 1 million followers invested in his commentary and exposes surrounding internet culture and online controversies.
Love him or hate him, Turkey Tom has clearly left his mark on the commentary section of YouTube through his distinct style and coverage of various influencer controversies and events. Despite multiple self-created controversies, he has maintained a sizable following by providing the kind of frank, critical content his core audience craves.
Ruben Sim and Turkey Tom play Minecraft
FAQ
Who is Tom turkey named after?
Is a turkey tom healthy?
Is Tom another name for turkey?
Who is Turkey Tom?
Turkey Tom (Real Name: Tom) is a popular American commentary YouTuber who makes commentary videos mainly focused on criticizing other YouTubers and their content, and videos about the history of certain YouTubers. Tom has also made videos about websites such as Reddit and DeviantArt, and an assortment of various other topics.
Why is it called a tom turkey?
The name “Tom turkey” has been cited in print since at least 1848 and 1851. A popular myth (since at least the 2000s) is that founding father Thomas Jefferson favored the bald eagle as the national bird, while Benjamin Franklin favored the turkey. After the eagle was selected, Franklin allegedly named it “tom turkey” after Jefferson.
Who was Turkey Tom’s inspiration?
One of Turkey Tom’s biggest inspirations was Zaptie, a YouTuber who left the internet due to accusations of sociopathy and pedophilia thrown at him by his friends. Tom and Nicholas DeOrio would make videos on the situation, eventually proving Zaptie’s innocence.
How many views does Turkey Tom have on YouTube?
He created his main channel in July 2015. He created a second channel, Not A Turkey, in April 2018. The videos on his Turkey Tom channel have gone on to achieve over 277 million total views. His video “YouTube’s Most Infamous Troll” has been viewed over 840,000 times since its release in early 2022.