Mum behind popular YouTube channel 'pepper-sprayed children, locked them in cupboard'
The woman responsible for a popular YouTube channel punished her children if they failed to perform for the camera, according to police in Arizona.
Machelle Hackney, the mother behind the Fantastic Adventures channel was charged with multiple counts of abuse, unlawful imprisonment, child neglect and molestation of her adopted children.
The Fantastic Adventures channel has 800,000 subscribers and features videos starring Ms Hackney’s children that have been watched more than 240 million times.
Machelle Hackney, Fantastic Adventures AP/AAP
The Arizona Republic reports police Ms Hackney’s children told police they were pepper sprayed and locked in a cupboard without food, water or a toilet.
Local authorities arrived at the home to find one child locked in a cupboard while six others appeared malnourished and underweight.
The children have all been removed from the property.
The home of Machelle Hobson in Maricopa, Arizona, where many of the YouTube videos were filmed. AP/AAP
Ms Hackney, who also goes by her maiden name Machelle Hobson, was earning money through the channel, filmed around her house with the children.
Police say the children were kept home from school.
YouTube now says the channel is unable to profit from the videos while the investigation continues.
Ms Hackney’s two adult sons were also arrested.
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