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'David After Dentist' Family Pulls Six Figures From YouTube Fame

by Amar Toor on March 19, 2010 at 03:40 PM

When David DeVore first posted the now legendary video of his son's backseat existential crisis, he never expected it would be the viral and cultural sensation that it has since become. With over 54 million views, the clip was the second most watched video on YouTube in 2009, bested only (and inexplicably) by Susan Boyle. Unlike most YouTube celebrities, though, the DeVores have found a way to channel the clip's popularity into some pretty hefty profits -- even in the face of controversy.

When David and his father aren't making the rounds on American TV and radio, they've been busy creating a mini cottage industry based on their two minutes of glory, selling t-shirts on their Web site and speaking at events like this week's SXSW. Vizio TV even used David's voice in their commercial during this year's Super Bowl. All along the way, of course, the DeVores have been raking in the dough. While he wouldn't say exactly how much his family has earned off of his child's drug-induced rant, David DeVore told CNN that the grand total is somewhere in the "low six figures."

Some, however, think that David's father has taken things a bit too far, and have even gone so far as to accuse him of child exploitation. Moral compass Bill O'Reilly, for example, told the elder David, "I would never do this to my kids. I think it's a little exploitative" (presumably, of course, after O'Reilly paid him to appear on the show). DeVore shrugs off any criticism, however, telling CNN, "As much as he can understand, we've included him in the decision process and there's been nothing he didn't want to do that we have been involved in." The father also points out that they've donated about $6,000 of their revenue to charitable organizations, and says he hopes to pay for David's college tuition by the time it's all said and done.

There's certainly an argument to be made against parents using their kids for financial gain, but it's not like David's pushing his son to become the next Macaulay Caulkin or anything. It seems like he's fully aware that the video has a cultural shelf life, and it's hard to blame him for taking advantage of that. Besides, after giving all of us such a uniquely brilliant video, the least the family should get is the chance to pay for their child's education. [From: CNN]

Tags: DavidAfterDentist, kids, meme, money, top, viral, viralvideo, web, youtube

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