Tana Mongeau and The Fallacy Of The “Perfect Victim”
Tana Mongeau
Trigger Warning: This article does mention sexual assault
Cody Ko, a Canadian YouTuber, comedian, podcaster, and former Vine star, has continued to face allegations from Tana Monguea, an American internet personality and co-star of the Cancelled Podcast. Since 2021, Ms. Monguea has been sharing that Cody Ko had a sexual relationship with her when she was 17 making him 25 at the time. It was during one of her live shows for the Cancelled Podcast where she was asked “Who’s the smallest **** you have ever had sex with?” Ms. Mongeau answered “Omg, no one look at me. Cody Ko. I can say that I was 17.” The recording of this video started going viral. It didn't take long for people to do the math and realize that if Ms. Mongeau was 17 at the time, Cody Ko would have been 25, making their alleged relationship illegal due to the age of consent laws. Despite the serious allegation, the public was dismissive, and didn't seem in a hurry to cancel Cody Ko or express sympathies to Ms. Mongeau. Some individual would go as far as blaming her for being a provocative young YouTuber. Why is this the case?
To begin with, it seems that larger channels or content creators don’t want to hold Cody Ko accountable, likely due to his status as the “Golden Boy” of YouTube. Cody Ko consistently refuses to address this issue. However, people have become skeptical due to his silence as the allegation continues to resurface time and time again leading them to take a closer look into the situation.
The main reason why Ms. Mongeau's story has kept being ignored or disvalued is because she does not fit the mold of the “perfect victim.” This idealized, narrow, unrealistic definition suggests that a victim must be passive, faultless, and often associated with an innocent appearance to be deemed worthy of empathy and support. Ms. Mongeau is known for her at-times controversial persona. She has built a brand around her controversial image, it even influenced the name of her podcast, “Cancelled with Tana Monguea”.
Aside from the allegation, one of Ms. Mongeau's statements earned her credibility. She claimed that Gabbie Hanna, an American internet personality, pulled Cody Ko aside and informed him that Ms. Mongeau was 17. Despite this, Cody Ko still pursued her. This statement aligns with a story Hanna shared years earlier, in which she referred to the individuals involved as "this guy" and "this girl" without naming them.
Ms. Mongeau shouldn’t have to earn credibility for her to be taken seriously. As her story gained more attention, she faced increasing negativity. This reaction reflects a misogynistic perspective that selectively judges which women are considered innocent and which are not, based on their adherence to Western ideals of purity and respectability. It unfairly confines women into restrictive categories, disregarding that they can be controversial, make mistakes, express anger, and deviate from conventional beauty standards while still deserving respect and empathy, particularly in cases of sexual assault. The way Ms. Mongeau has been treated for persistently coming forward could discourage other girls or women from sharing their own stories.
Meanwhile, Cody Ko remains overlooked despite the serious allegations against him. Since the allegations have gained popularity, following YouTuber D’Angelo Wallace’s video condemning those not speaking out, Ms. Mongeau has confirmed she had sexual relationships with Cody Ko multiple times. As an influential figure, Cody Ko has a responsibility to clarify the situation and speak his truth or take accountability for his actions. He has the power to address the hate Ms. Mongeau has received and influence the discourse surrounding these allegations.
