I don’t know anything about this kid or his parents. They could be saints for all I know. Maybe all this happened organically. Maybe the kid loves this shit. Maybe the parents are putting their kid’s long term happiness and well-being first and foremost, and the millions in profit are a nice result of embracing his…

Yep. Sociopaths can manipulate on different scales, and while Marty here obviously manages some kind of sleazy charm one on one, he can also realize when it’s not going to translate to the world at large.

personally i think he probably doesn’t want their relationship to get out because he is talking to other women and conning them too (typical in prison) and he really isn’t into her. at. all. he is bored as hell and is using her for amusement. 

Even after all the article before that part, my heart just broke when I hit that. Although to correct the post, Shkreli didn’t stop talking to her because of the article, but because Smythe had sent that letter to support his release without his approval.

I think their videos are fine and mostly unobjectionable, and so I generally agree with much of what you say.  But I don’t think you can turn videos of your kid playing with toys into a content machine that generates $25.5 million in revenue without a “ruthless sense of opportunism.”

On that first point, the part that made me breaky out and scream at the screen was where Smythe explained that she wanted the public to understand that Shkreli’s villainy was just a public mask. The way you get a villaneous public mask is if you behave like a villain in public. Which is usually the requirement for…

Perfect choice of epithet. King Rat of the rat bastards.

I can’t wait to think of this 9 year old bringing in a quarter of a billion dollars the next time I read a heartwarming tale about a 94 year old man delivering pizza to make ends meet who gets the unexpected tip of a lifetime! Or the teacher who is teaching classes online from the hospital the day after she gave…

Eat the rich.

Ugh. We’ve been here already with yesteryear’s child stars from the movie industry, none of whom appeared to survive unscathed (if at all) and I’m feeling worried and depressed already for all the YouTube kids who could become a next generation of f***ed up adults. No amount of money is worth that. Absolutely none.

Huh? My daughter unboxing Calico Critters would be a pretty awesome channel, but I am not sure that I want that for her. Oh, wait, I am very certain that I don’t.

That’s EXACTLY what this is.

This suggests that — at least now — it may be not at all mutual.

Is it at all possible that the whole “planning a future together” thing (and perhaps even the “sharing a kiss” thing) was all in Smythe’s imagination? I’m not trying to defend Shkreli, but even assholes (especially famous assholes) can have stalkers. And even journalists can turn into stalkers.

This is, honestly, just classic hybristophelia. She “sees the real him”; she is involved with someone who cannot currently cheat on her, but she doesn’t need to actually do difficult relationship work; she’s the only one he really cares about, &etc...it’s sad, but really not that unusual.

That whole Elle article was just a list of red flags and him priming her to accept being manipulated by him.

There’s so much to unpack in that article.

Pretty sure this is one of those relationships that happen when you romanticize the joker and harley quinn.

Go to a lawyer first thing; all the nebulous anxiety about the process can be resolved at least in part by hearing in concrete terms how things work, and having a professional in your corner to sort out facts from emotion will be invaluable.

As a lesbian who’s March “fuck it I’m shaving my head” mood has now grown into a lil mullet.... you're welcome :D