TMG Podcast Will Continue Without Host Cody Ko Following Allegations

YouTuber Cody Ko has announced he is stepping away from his popular podcast network Tiny Meat Gang, following continued claims that he had sex with creator and Cancelled podcast host Tana Mongeau when she was underage. The flagship show, which was founded by Noel Miller and Ko in 2017 and has since published over 300 episodes on YouTube, will continue with Miller as the sole host.

Miller confirmed the news on Wednesday, posting a short statement to his Instagram Stories and saying he would return with a new episode next week. “Hey everyone,” Miller wrote. “I wanted to say thank you for the messages and support. It means a lot to me.” TMG Studios did not immediately respond to Rolling Stone‘s request for comment.

This is the first public statement Miller has made since Monday, when TMG Studios announced Ko would be stepping away. Since 2017, the podcast has become known for its raunchy hosts and growing slate of comedy shows like The Zach and Walid Show, Insanely Chill, Meat Locker, and Trillionaire Mindset, but began to receive increased attention after Mongeau reiterated claims at a live recording of her Cancelled podcast that she had sex with Ko when she was 17. (Ko would have been 25 at the time.) At least one TMG podcast, Emergency Intercom hosted by Drew Phillips and Enya Umanzor, announced they were leaving the network entirely, though they did not reference the Ko allegations directly. On Monday, TMG Studios released a statement announcing Ko would be taking a step back. “As we enter into this next phase of the studio, we wanted to let you know that Cody will not be involved in the day-to-day operations at TMG Studios,” the statement read. “What has transpired over the past few weeks is a personal issue for him, and Cody wants to remove any effect this is having on your professional and personal lives and the work you and our other hosts have done to make TMG Studios so successful.”

The attention on Ko and his alleged behavior first began at a live podcast recording in May, when Mongeau revealed during a “hot seat” segment that she and Ko slept together when she was a minor. “I was literally 17,” she said. (Representatives for Ko did not respond to Rolling Stone’s request for comment. Representatives for Mongeau declined to comment.) Mongeau has made it clear that she does not consider her alleged sexual experience with Ko to have been traumatic but said in podcast appearances on Trish Paytas’ podcast Just Trish that she’s received harassment from Ko fans for speaking out.

This week’s announcements, that Ko would be stepping down and Miller would be continuing as sole host, are the first times Ko has directly addressed any of the allegations. At the height of Mongeau’s comments last week, Ko was criticized online by fans for failing to comment, instead attending a Las Vegas beach DJ set where he fist bumped to a remix of Justin Bieber’s hit song Sorry. It is unclear whether Ko will return to his hosting duties or tto he podcast network.