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TGFbro
OriginDudley, England
YouTube information
Channel
Years active2012–2023, 2024−present
Genres
Subscribers6.17 million[1]
Total views1.46+ billion[1]
Associated actsS-X
100,000 subscribers
1,000,000 subscribers
Last updated: 23 April 2024

TGFbro (short for The Ground Floor) is an English YouTube channel created in 2012 by Jamie "Jay" Swingler[2] and Romell Henry.[3] The channel primarily consisted of vlogs, challenges, extreme pranks, stunts, and music videos.[4][5] As of April 2024, the channel has over 1.46 billion views and 6.17 million subscribers.

History

[edit]

The group was formed in 2012 when Swingler tweeted out who would want to make videos with him, and Henry replied "I'm on it".[6]

Due to the often extreme nature of the stunts that appeared on the channel, they were subject to multiple controversies and gained regular national media attention for stunts that include bringing the video game series Grand Theft Auto to life[7] and a live action hide and seek in Birmingham city centre with a £10,000 reward that led to a police warning.[8]

In 2016, they hosted a show on Channel 4 called Polterguest.[9][10]

In January 2024, Swingler revealed in a post on his subreddit, "r/jayswingler", that the TGFbro channel has ended, saying, "It became too hard to sustain. From a legal standpoint, it was just getting out of hand and life was becoming unbearable with all the trouble we dealt with over the years, not to mention the mental health issues, the broken bones, the cuts, the bruises and the pain."[11] Romell later also confirmed this in July 2024 on his new podcast "Vocal Pickups"

Controversies

[edit]

I Cemented My Head In A Microwave

[edit]

In 2017, the duo uploaded the video "I Cemented My Head In A Microwave", in which spackling paste is used to seal Swingler's head into a microwave. However, the makeshift breathing tube became blocked, and attempts to remove Swingler's head from the microwave failed, resulting in emergency services being called to remove his head to prevent him from suffocating.

Following the incident, Swingler was criticised by both the public and the West Midlands Fire Service for "a call-out which might have prevented us from helping someone else in genuine, accidental need".[12] After the story went viral, prompting a BBC News interview, Swingler responded to the controversy, saying "The plan was literally to set my head in there but not let it set completely. It [the cement] was like a thick jelly... if I really wanted to, I could pull it [the microwave] off and it would slide off. I thought 10 more minutes wouldn't hurt... [but the cement] solidified a lot faster than I thought." He also stated that he was thankful for the help from the firefighters and would be willing to pay a fine.[13][14][15]

In 2018, the incident was dramatised in the Fox television series 9-1-1.[16]

Extreme Driving Test

[edit]

In March 2020, the duo uploaded the video "Extreme Driving Test", in which the duo, accompanied by a driving instructor, drove recklessly onto grass embankments, crashed into parked vehicles, and flipped their car in the areas of Telford and Wrekin and Staffordshire.[17]

In a statement, West Mercia Police announced that Swingler, Henry and the instructor faced prosecution under "Operation Snap".[2] The duo were charged with dangerous driving on 6 March 2020, while the instructor was charged with two counts of aiding and abetting dangerous driving.[18] On 15 September 2022, Swingler and Henry pleaded guilty to careless driving and were sentenced at Shrewsbury Crown Court. Both were fined £1000 each, ordered to pay £95 court costs, and given five penalty points on their driving licenses. The instructor will be sentenced at a later date for aiding and abetting the driving of a car without due care and attention.[19]

Other ventures

[edit]

Swingler's boxing career

[edit]

On 25 August 2018, Swingler had an amateur boxing bout on the undercard of KSI vs Logan Paul at Manchester Arena, Manchester, England. He fought British YouTuber AnEsonGib and lost via unanimous decision.[20]

On 27 August 2022, it was announced that Swingler would make his professional boxing debut against American YouTuber Cherdleys as co-feature bout on MF & DAZN: X Series 002 at the Sheffield Arena, in Sheffield, England on 15 October.[21] On 15 September the bout was changed to the headliner after the bout between Hasim Rahman Jr. and Vitor Belfort was postponed to X Series 003.[22] Swingler defeated Cherdleys via knockout in the first round.[23]

On 14 January 2023, it was announced that Swingler would face Singaporean YouTuber NichLmao as the headliner to X Series 005 in Milton Keynes, England on 25 February.[24] However, the bout was postponed to 4 March at the Telford International Centre in Telford, England due to clashes with Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury on the same date.[25] Swingler defeated NichLmao via majority decision.[26]

On 5 May, Swingler announced his retirement from the sport and instead wanted to focus more on content creation.[‡ 1] However, on 31 August 2024 at X Series 17, Swingler announced that he his no longer retired and called out NichLmao for a rematch.[27] On 14 October, the rematch between Swingler and NichLmao was announced for X Series 19 – Qatar: The Supercard at the Lusail Sports Arena in Doha, Qatar on 28 November.[28] However, Swingler withdrew from the bout due to medical issues and was replaced by Warren Spencer.[‡ 2][29]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "About TGFbro". YouTube.
  2. ^ a b "Three men facing prosecution for driving offences – UPDATE". www.westmercia.police.uk. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  3. ^ "Youtube star Romell Henry from Dudley faces driving charge". Dudley News. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  4. ^ "WELCOME TO TGF". TGFbro. 4 November 2014.
  5. ^ "TGFbro". YouTube.
  6. ^ Duncan, Timothyna (23 December 2016). "The biggest online youtuber – you've probably never heard of". BirminghamLive. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  7. ^ "GTA Comes To Life In Crazy 3rd Person Camera YouTuber Experiment". ScreenRant. 21 October 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  8. ^ Coussins, Jordan; Hicks, Amber (30 November 2019). "YouTubers 'offer £10,000 for city hide and seek game' – despite police warning". mirror. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  9. ^ "Polterguest". Channel 4. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  10. ^ Travis, Ben (2 November 2016). "Polterguest is your new TV guilty pleasure". www.standard.co.uk. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  11. ^ jay_swingler (27 January 2024). "TGF IS NO MORE". r/jayswingler. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  12. ^ "YouTuber comes unstuck – West Midlands Fire Service". 16 March 2018. Archived from the original on 16 March 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  13. ^ Ma, Alexandra. "This guy cemented a microwave to his head for a YouTube video, and had to be rescued by the fire brigade". Business Insider. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  14. ^ "A YouTuber cemented his head in a microwave for views and firefighters were not impressed". www.indy100.com. 9 December 2017. Archived from the original on 17 June 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  15. ^ "Man cements his head in a microwave as prank to get more 'likes'". The Indian Express. 11 December 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  16. ^ Preston, Tori (25 September 2018). "'9-1-1' Premiere: The Best Procedural On TV Returned ... And Killed Harvey Weinstein". Pajiba. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  17. ^ Robertson, Dominic (30 October 2020). "Telford YouTuber charged over 'extreme driving' video". www.shropshirestar.com. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  18. ^ Robertson, Dominic (30 October 2020). "Black Country YouTubers charged over 'extreme driving' video". www.expressandstar.com. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  19. ^ Ashmore, Kelly (22 September 2022). "YouTube duo TGFbro fined £1k for flipping car near Wrekin". www.birminghammail.co.uk. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  20. ^ Richards, Alex; Smith, Alex; Domin, Martin (26 August 2018). "KSI vs Logan Paul undercard results as YouTube boxers clashed". mirror. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  21. ^ Donovan, Jake (27 August 2022). "Hasim Rahman Jr-Vitor Belfort Tops 'MF & DAZN: X Series' Show, October 15 In Sheffield". Boxing Scene.
  22. ^ Christ, Scott (15 September 2022). "Vitor Belfort vs Hasim Rahman Jr fight postponed, MF x DAZN card on Oct. 15 set otherwise". Bad Left Hook. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  23. ^ Schuller, Rudi (16 October 2022). "Jay Swingler defeats Cherdleys by first-round KO". DAZN News. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  24. ^ Astbury, Matt (14 January 2022). "What channel is Jay Swingler vs. Nicholai Perrett? Live stream info, start time, how to watch on DAZN". Dazn. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  25. ^ Happy Punch Promotions (26 January 2023). "🚨 Misfits 005 has been rescheduled to Sat March 4th, according to the official @DAZNBoxing website". Twitter.
  26. ^ Montoya, Erika (4 March 2023). "MF & DAZN: X-Series 005: Jay Swingler takes win in emotional fight with NichLmao". DAZN New.
  27. ^ Domin, Martin (31 August 2024). "So Jay is back?". Daily Mirror.
  28. ^ Walker, Christopher (14 October 2024). "Gib vs. Slim headlines mammoth event in Doha, with the return of Deji leading a mouth-watering undercard". DAZN.
  29. ^ "When is Gib vs. Slim? X Series 019 fight card, start time, how to watch on DAZN". DAZN. 22 November 2024.

Primary sources

In the text these references are preceded by a double dagger (‡):

  1. ^ Swingler, Jay (5 May 2023). "The influencer boxing stuff was fun while it lasted and it really did effect my life in such a positive way, i learnt & gained so much from taking part in it all, and i'll forever be grateful for @MisfitsBoxing". Twitter.
  2. ^ Swingler, Jay (21 November 2024). "hey everyone, so it stings to have to write this but unfortunately i won't be fighting next week over in Qatar can't due to a medical condition that i need to investigate". Twitter.
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