If you spent any time on Musical.ly or TikTok between 2017 and 2023, you know the name Zoe LaVerne. At one point, she was the "it girl" of the platform, a Midwest teenager who turned lip-syncing into a massive career. But today, her name is basically shorthand for "controversy." If you look at her comment sections or search her name on X (formerly Twitter), the vitriol is intense. It's not just standard hater behavior either.
Why is Zoe LaVerne hated so deeply by so many? It’s a messy mix of serious allegations, questionable parenting choices, and a perceived lack of accountability that has spanned nearly a decade.
The Connor Joyce Scandal: The Moment Everything Changed
Most creators have a "cancellation" that they eventually bounce back from. For Zoe, the 2020 incident with Connor Joyce wasn't just a PR hiccup; it was a fundamental shift in how the public viewed her.
Basically, a video surfaced showing Zoe, who was 19 at the time, kissing Connor, who was only 13. The internet went into a collective meltdown. People weren't just annoyed; they were horrified. Initially, the defense was that they were just "close friends," but Zoe eventually admitted to "catching feelings" for the minor.
Recent Developments in the Case
For a long time, the story sat in the "problematic past" category. But in May 2025, Connor Joyce went public on TikTok with much more serious allegations. He didn't just call it a mistake; he accused LaVerne of statutory rape and grooming that allegedly started when he was only 12.
He claimed that the reason no legal action was taken back then was because Zoe allegedly threatened to self-harm if he moved forward. While these are allegations and hasn't resulted in a criminal conviction as of early 2026, the detail in his story reignited the fire. The fact that law enforcement reportedly refused to reopen the case has only made fans—and former fans—more vocal about why they feel she shouldn't have a platform.
Monetizing Motherhood: The Emersyn Controversy
After the Connor Joyce situation, many thought Zoe would fade away. Instead, she got married to Dawson Day and had a daughter, Emersyn. But the way she handled her pregnancy and birth created a whole new wave of backlash.
Honestly, the "pay-to-see-my-baby" scheme is what sealed the deal for a lot of people. In 2021, Zoe announced she was charging fans around $15 to $20 to see exclusive photos of her newborn on a website called "Linktree" and later through other paywalled platforms.
People were disgusted. The general consensus was that she was exploiting her child for a quick buck before the kid could even crawl. She later tried to explain this away, saying she did it for the "safety" of the baby and to control who saw the photos. It didn't land well. Most people saw it as a transparent cash grab.
- Selling baby photos: Charging fans to see a newborn.
- The "Secret" Pregnancy: Changing stories about when she found out and who the father was (initially some speculated it was Cody Orval, which she denied).
- Public Arguments: Constant digital feuds with Dawson Day that played out in real-time on Instagram Stories.
A Pattern of "Fake" Apologies?
One of the biggest reasons the "hate" stays fresh is the way Zoe handles apologies. If you watch her old YouTube videos or TikTok lives, there’s a recurring theme. She cries, she says she’s "only human," she mentions her mental health, and then a week later, she's back to the same behavior.
This "cycle of accountability" feels performative to her audience. When you apologize for something as serious as the Connor Joyce incident but then go on to mock fans or get into petty drama with other influencers like Charli D’Amelio or Loren Gray, people stop believing you're sincere.
She famously had a falling out with her former best friend, Cody Orval. She’s been accused of being a "mean girl" behind the scenes. She’s leaked private DMs. It’s the sheer volume of these smaller incidents that creates a "death by a thousand cuts" scenario for her reputation.
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The 2026 Reality: Where She Stands Now
As of right now, Zoe LaVerne exists in a weird corner of the internet. She still has millions of followers, but her engagement is a fraction of what it used to be. Most of her views come from "hate-watchers" or people keeping tabs on the latest drama.
Social media experts often point to her as the primary example of how not to handle a crisis. Instead of taking a two-year hiatus to actually reflect and change, she tried to "post through it." In the world of 2026 influencer culture, the audience has a long memory. They don't just want a "sorry" video; they want to see a fundamental change in character, which many feel hasn't happened.
What You Can Learn From This
If you're following this saga, the takeaway isn't just "influencers are bad." It’s about the power of the audience. We are in an era where:
- Receipts are forever: Everything you say on a Live is recorded.
- Child safety is a non-negotiable: Monetizing kids is the fastest way to lose a core audience.
- Authenticity beats acting: People can smell a fake apology from a mile away.
The "hate" for Zoe LaVerne isn't a random trend. It's a reaction to years of specific, documented actions that many people find morally or ethically wrong. Whether she can ever truly "cancel the cancellation" seems unlikely at this point, especially with new allegations surfacing years after the original events.
If you're looking to understand the timeline better, the best move is to look at the archived TikToks from Connor Joyce himself. His 2025 "Part One" video provides a perspective that was missing for years. Seeing the story from the victim's side often provides the context that "apology videos" conveniently leave out.