YouTuber Nick Shirley Receives 'Serious' Death Threats After $100m Daycare Exposé

Independent content creator and YouTuber Nick Shirley has declared that he is receiving serious threats as a result of his viral expose into the alleged fraud surrounding childcare and other taxpayer-funded services in Minnesota, USA.

Shirley's footage, which accumulated tens of millions of views on social media, shows several licensed daycare centres allegedly receiving large amounts in government subsidies despite showing little or no activity.

Viral Expose and Money Claims

In a 42-minute video released shortly before Christmas and spread across X and YouTube, Shirley claimed to have discovered over $100 million (£74.20 million) in alleged fraud in one day while working in the field in Minneapolis.

According to Shirley and collaborators, however, many of the places they visited, including many of the supposed daycare centres, were licensed but without obvious traces of children and staff at work during business hours.

Independent reporting and public records confirm that the Quality Learning Centre in South Minneapolis, as captured in video clips, received millions in state funding for child care licences over the last several years. However, the centre was recently inspected and found to comply with state regulations when children were present at the time of the inspections, local authorities say.

Shirley's work caught the attention of high-profile individuals in conservative circles, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation became aware of the fraud investigations before the viral video and claims of widespread probes into possible misuse of federal funds.

Claims of Threats and Intimidation

According to accounts of the incident, Shirley and his colleague, identified as David, have been receiving serious threats from unknown persons opposed to the investigation. The Kenya Scoop report describes encounters the duo had with members of the public while filming, including one in which a local woman allegedly screamed at Shirley to leave, accusing him of being a federal immigration agent, which Shirley denied on camera.

The report also states that Shirley has confessed in his account presented on X that he is receiving some serious threats, although law enforcement and published authorities do not confirm exactly what kind of threats he is receiving, and from whom.

Independent reporting has shown that the fraud investigation is far older than Shirley's video and involves a much wider network of alleged misappropriation across a number of federal assistance programmes.

Backlash and Debate

Shirley's viral claims have resulted in an intense debate in the US. While supporters praise his investigative style and insist his work has attracted much-needed attention to potential misuse of taxpayer funds, critics and mainstream outlets have raised concerns about the accuracy, framing, and potential consequences of his reporting.

For example, some commentators have wondered whether Shirley made the discoveries on his own or was amplifying stories grounded in existing federal investigations, and whether his methods, confronting people and filming without formal journalistic safeguards, are applicable to matters with real-world ramifications.

At the same time, others have claimed that the controversy highlights gaps in oversight and accountability in public spending, particularly in programmes that assist families and children.