Nelk#Full Send Podcast

In 2010, Kyle Forgeard created the YouTube channel, at the time called NelkFilmz, along with other founding members Braden Macdonald, Niko and Marko Martinovic, and Lucas Gasparini. In 2014, Forgeard met Jesse Sebastiani at an MTV Canada conference, who would soon after become a prominent member of the group.{{cite web |date=2018-06-19 |title=Who are the NELK boys? - |url=https://couchguysports.com/who-are-the-nelk-boys/ |access-date=2021-05-10 |website=couchguysports.com |language=en-US}} All four besides Forgeard ended up leaving the group at some point thereafter.

On September 8, 2021, Nelk uploaded the first episode of their "Full Send Podcast", exclusive to YouTube and Apple Podcasts.{{Cite web |title=FULL SEND PODCAST on Apple Podcasts |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/full-send-podcast/id1582758729 |access-date=2022-01-22 |website=Apple Podcasts |language=en-US}} In February 2022, Forgeard was officially added to the Forbes 30 under 30 list for social media influencers.{{cite web |date=February 2022 |title=Kyle Forgeard |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/kyle-forgeard/?sh=1a10676026c2 |access-date=19 October 2022 |website=Forbes |language=en}}

In October 2020, members of the group met with President Donald Trump on Air Force One during one of his 2020 presidential election rallies.{{cite news |last1=Nolan |first1=Emma |date=3 November 2020 |title=NELK Boys and Donald Trump meet on Air Force One in viral YouTube video |language=en |work=Newsweek |url=https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-nelk-boys-youtube-air-force-one-1544335 |access-date=22 January 2021}} They were also seen dancing to "Y.M.C.A." with Trump onstage following his rally.{{Citation |last=Page |first=Sam |title=Donald Trump and the Potency of his Assemblage |date=October 23, 2020 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9780429242670-12 |work=Political Landscapes of Donald Trump |pages=180–192 |access-date=November 3, 2020 |location=Abingdon, Oxon |publisher=Routledge |doi=10.4324/9780429242670-12 |isbn=978-0-429-24267-0 |s2cid=225169714|url-access=subscription }} They met Trump again in July 2021 at UFC 264, and he appeared on the Full Send Podcast in March 2022.{{cite web |last1=Press-Reynolds |first1=Kieran |title=Who are the Nelk Boys? Why Donald Trump appeared on a frat prank podcast |url=https://www.insider.com/donald-trump-appeared-on-youtube-group-nelks-full-send-podcast-2022-3 |access-date=26 April 2022 |website=Insider}} The episode went viral, receiving 5 million views in 24 hours, at which time it was removed by YouTube. Following the podcast, Full Send Podcast became the second most popular podcast in the US on Spotify.{{Cite web |date=March 11, 2022 |title=YouTube Pulls Donald Trump's Interview With 'Full Send' Podcast For Misinformation |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/youtube-podcast-interview-donald-trump_n_622b502ce4b02961583a4752 |access-date=2022-03-13 |website=HuffPost |language=en-US}} Nelk supported Trump's campaign in the 2024 United States presidential election, during which Forgeard spoke at a number of campaign rallies.{{cite web |last1=Pastis |first1=Stephen |title=Trump Invites ‘Nelk Boys’ Onto Plane In Election’s Closing Stretch—After Montage Of Pro-Trump Pranks |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/stephenpastis/2024/10/22/trump-invites-nelk-boys-onto-plane-in-elections-closing-stretch-after-montage-of-pro-trump-pranks/ |website=Forbes |access-date=9 November 2024 |language=en |date=22 October 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Chaffin |first1=Joshua |title=How Barron Trump Connected His Father to the Manosphere |url=https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/how-barron-trump-connected-his-father-to-the-manosphere-71b0e167?mod=djem10point |publisher=Wall Street Journal |access-date=9 November 2024 |date=8 November 2024}}{{cite news |title=Donald Trump Courts the Manoverse |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/30/us/politics/trump-politics-nelk-boys.html |access-date=9 November 2024 |work=New York Times |date=1 September 2024}}

Nelk's videos, in addition to pranks, are themed around North American college culture. The group's videos combine vlogs of their party lifestyle and travel, as well as footage of their actual pranks. Nelk is known for popularizing and later trademarking the slang term "Full Send" (stylized as FULL SEND) which Forgeard defined as meaning "any activity you do, give it your absolute best".{{cite news |last1=Lorenz |first1=Taylor |title=What Won't the Nelk Boys Do? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/29/style/nelk-youtube.html |access-date=19 September 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=29 June 2021}} The group has also popularized a number of other terms, including "Rona Season," a reference to the group's constant consumption of Corona beer. Sebastiani has referred to the group's trademark words as "Canadian-influenced slang".{{cite web |last1=Heck |first1=Alexandra |title='It was a wake-up call': Shelburne's Jesse Sebastiani on the YouTube prank that landed him in jail |url=https://www.orangeville.com/news-story/9513823--it-was-a-wake-up-call-shelburne-s-jesse-sebastiani-on-the-youtube-prank-that-landed-him-in-jail/ |website=Orangeville.com |access-date=June 3, 2020 |language=en-CA |date=July 22, 2019}}

Nelk operates the Full Send clothing brand. The clothing is sold in one-time Supreme-style "drops", where each style of clothing has limited availability and is only available once.{{cite web |last1=Bluestein |first1=Adam |title=How Supreme-Style Merch Drops Took Over Corporate America |url=https://marker.medium.com/how-supreme-style-merch-drops-took-over-corporate-america-48dcea56e5c6 |website=Medium |access-date=23 September 2021 |language=en |date=3 March 2021}} Once the entire drop is sold out, no Full Send clothing can be purchased until the next drop, when new styles will become available. Nelk sells almost $100 million worth of apparel every year.{{Cite book |last=Seessel |first=Adam |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PN5sEAAAQBAJ |title=Where the Money Is: Value Investing in the Digital Age |date=2022-05-24 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-1-9821-8514-5 |page=98 |language=en}}

Nelk, along with partners, created a hard seltzer brand in 2021 called Happy Dad,{{cite web |title=Nelk Boys' Happy Dad Hard Seltzer Officially Hits Shelves in California |url=https://www.brewbound.com/news/nelk-boys-happy-dad-hard-seltzer-officially-hits-shelves-in-california/ |website=Brewbound |access-date=23 September 2021 |date=14 June 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Higgins |first1=Daniel |title=Wisco Hard Seltzer puts Stillmank Brewing in prime position grab a "little small fraction" of the market |url=https://www.postcrescent.com/story/entertainment/nightlife/beer/2021/09/22/wisco-hard-seltzer-made-stillmank-brewing-enters-hot-market-wisconsin/8381406002/ |website=The Post-Crescent |access-date=23 September 2021}} which is produced and packaged at Minhas Breweries & Distillery in Monroe, WI.{{cite web |date=2021-06-01 |title=Edgy Prank Channel Nelk Launches 'Happy Dad' Hard Seltzer Brand |url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2021/06/01/nelk-launches-happy-dad-hard-seltzer-brand/ |access-date=2021-06-02 |website=Tubefilter |language=en-US}}{{cite web |date=2021-06-02 |title=We Made Our Own NELK Alcohol! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlZ-Wc3cMP8 |access-date=2021-06-02 |website=youtube.com}} In 2023, Happy Dad became a top five hard seltzer brand at Total Wine according to IRI data.{{cite web |last1=Ward |first1=Tom |title=From YouTube Pranks To Beverage Moguls: The Nelk Boys And Shahidi Brothers' Happy Dad Hard Seltzer Is A Huge Success |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomward/2023/04/10/from-youtube-pranks-to-beverage-moguls-the-nelk-boys-and-shahidi-brothers-happy-dad-seltzer-is-a-huge-success/?sh=1cce02c97d9a |website=Forbes |access-date=1 February 2024 |language=en}} The group also hosts a podcast called the Full Send Podcast.{{cite web |last1=Weiss |first1=Geoff |title=Nelk Launches 'Full Send' Podcast To Talk Business Ventures, Recount Legendary Antics |url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2021/08/05/nelk-launches-full-send-podcast/ |website=Tubefilter |access-date=23 September 2021 |date=5 August 2021}} Notable guests have included Donald Trump, Mike Tyson, Elon Musk, Andrew Tate, O. J. Simpson, Ben Shapiro, Tucker Carlson, and others. The podcast was created in partnership with Shots Podcast Network.

Current and recurring members include Kyle Forgeard, Stephen “SteveWillDoIt” Deleonardis, Salim Sirur, Gabriel Poncio, Justin Dalley, Aaron "Steiny" Steinberg, "Jimmy Gambles" (Arthur Kulik),{{cite web |author=Devika |date=October 12, 2021 |title=Hilarious! Bryson DeChambeau Pranks People on a Golf Course |url=https://www.essentiallysports.com/golf-news-hilarious-bryson-dechambeau-pranks-clueless-people-on-a-golf-course/ |accessdate=2021-12-26 |publisher=EssentiallySports}} and "Cousin Jay" (Jordan Nwanne).{{cite news |last1=Mustafa |first1=Filiz |date=29 October 2020 |title=Celebs react to Donald Trump and Nelk Boys' video – "the funniest crossover in internet history" |work=HITC |url=https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2020/10/29/nelk-donald-trump/ |access-date=22 January 2021}} Nelk Headquarters is located in Newport Beach, California.{{Citation |title=Bowling in Other People's Lanes! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTVj8fCqPtw |access-date=2021-03-21 |language=en}} Nelk also has an offshoot location in Miami, Florida under SteveWillDoIt LLC. The group previously resided in Ontario, Canada, and Los Angeles.{{cite web |last=AffiliateLabz |date=2020-02-08 |title=Nelk Boys New Full Send House They Just Moved Into Is Huge |url=https://www.famouscelebrityhomes.com/nelk-boys-new-full-send-house-they-just-moved-into-is-huge/ |access-date=2021-03-21 |website=Famous Celebrity Homes |language=en-US}}

Jesse Sebastiani was a founding member of the group. Prior to joining Nelk, was known for his self-published documentary, Saved by the Status,{{cite web |date=February 17, 2014 |title=Saved by the Status: across Canada in 100 days (exclusive) |url=https://bzfilm.com/talks-interviews/saved-by-the-status-jesse-sebastiani-across-canada-in-100-days/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603041212/https://bzfilm.com/talks-interviews/saved-by-the-status-jesse-sebastiani-across-canada-in-100-days/ |archive-date=June 3, 2020 |access-date=June 3, 2020 |publisher=BZ Film}} and his role in the MTV show Careless Teens. Years after joining, he expressed his displeasure with his and the group's lifestyle. In a tweet posted on January 29, 2020, he wrote, "I hate fame... I've lost almost everything I use to love about life."{{Cite web |title=Jesse Sebastiani Tweet 6:42 AM 2019-01-29 |url=https://twitter.com/jessesebastiani/status/1222409644506742789 |access-date=2022-02-20 |website=Twitter |language=en}} He eventually became less active in Nelk videos, and in late 2020, he began primarily working on the Full Send brand. In 2022, he officially took distance from the group, bought out of the company, and started his own brand called “Sunday”.{{cite news |last1=Fowler |first1=Kate |date=9 February 2021 |title=What happened to Jesse from NELK? Fans confused by disappearance! |work=HITC |url=https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2021/02/09/what-happened-to-jesse-from-nelk/ |access-date=23 September 2021}}

Other former members of the group include Niko and Marko Martinovic, Lucas Gasparini, and Jason Pagaduan. Niko and Marko, who are twins, were members of Nelk in the early development, but left in 2015 to pursue YouTube independently. Gasparini left in 2017 citing concerns of his association with the channel's content, which consisted of public misconduct which would affect his career outlook, as well as the pursuit of educational studies as a plumber.{{cite web |last1=Lloydi |first1=Baloydi |date=January 15, 2018 |title=What/Who is NELK? |url=https://asknoypi.com/what-who-is-nelk/ |access-date=April 26, 2020}} He then returned in 2021 joining the rest of the team in Los Angeles before leaving the group again after speculation regarding a gambling scam scandal.{{Citation |title=Pretending to be an Amazon Delivery Driver! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJTCJofbAg4 |access-date=2021-03-10 |language=en}} Pagaduan, who was known by his Instagram handle "905shooter" or simply "9-0," was withdrawn from the group in October 2019 for behavioral misconduct from sexual harassment allegations stemming from Pagaduan sending direct messages of a graphic and sexual nature to fans, as well as not meeting standards.{{cite web |last1=Kipling |first1=Ella |date=9 September 2021 |title=Nelk Boys explain brutal reason 905 Shooter left the group |url=https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2021/09/09/nelk-boys-explain-brutal-reason-905-shooter-left-the-group/ |access-date=23 September 2021 |website=HITC}} He has since returned to the channel and resumed a minor role in videos as well as coordinating photography and video with the team.https://www.complex.com/music/a/erik-leijon/drake-meets-nelk-boys-at-ufc-297

{{dynamic list}}

Throughout Nelk's career, they have been the subject of various legal issues and controversies. In January 2015, Nelk posted a video titled "Coke Prank On Cops" in which they told police officers in Los Angeles that they had "coke" in the back of the car, leading the officers to think that they were referring to cocaine when in reality they were referring to Coca-Cola.{{cite news |last1=Rogers |first1=Katie |date=May 19, 2016 |title=When YouTube Pranks Break the Law |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/20/technology/when-youtube-pranks-break-the-law.html |url-status=unfit |access-date=June 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190514122234/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/20/technology/when-youtube-pranks-break-the-law.html |archive-date=2019-05-14}}{{cbignore}} The group received a warning, and the Los Angeles Police Department released a statement informing the public that the prank was illegal and warning potential copycat pranksters against doing so.{{cite web |last1=Del Ray |first1=Marina |date=January 13, 2015 |title=LAPD Not Laughing Over Pranksters' Viral 'Coke' Gag On Officers |url=https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2015/01/13/lapd-not-laughing-over-pranksters-viral-coke-gag-on-deputies/ |access-date=April 12, 2020 |publisher=CBS}} The video has received 49 million views and is currently their most viewed, having almost three times as many views as their second-most viewed video. It is also notably regarded as the video that sparked their global popularity.

In January 2019, Sebastiani was arrested during a prank in which he walked into a Barnes & Noble store with fake blood smeared on a white jumpsuit and asked workers for books on covering up a crime scene. He was charged by Columbus, Ohio police department, and found guilty of disorderly conduct in the Ohio Court of Common Pleas.{{cite web |last1=Halliday |first1=Chris |date=January 11, 2019 |title=Shelburne prankster, NELK Boys YouTube star found guilty of amended charge in U.S. court |url=https://www.orangeville.com/news-story/9121109-shelburne-prankster-nelk-boys-youtube-star-found-guilty-of-amended-charge-in-u-s-court/ |access-date=April 12, 2020 |website=Orangeville.com}} In August 2019, Nelk participated in a "spin the globe challenge", and ended up in Europe. In Ireland, Nelk planned a meetup in a public park, but failed to notify the local police. The meetup got out of control, with large mobs of fans swarming the area in an unsafe manner, causing the meetup to be cut short.{{cite web |last1=O'Callaghan |first1=Gavin |date=September 9, 2019 |title=Gardai speak to famous Youtube pranksters 'The Nelk Boys' after hundreds turn up to Phoenix Park meet up |url=https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/gardai-speak-famous-youtube-pranksters-16887220 |access-date=April 12, 2020 |publisher=Dublin Live}} Afterward, Jason Pagaduan was removed from the group. In February 2020, Nelk moved into a residence in Los Angeles, California which they refer to as the "Full Send House". Salim Sirur and Cousin Jay also joined Nelk at this time.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}} In May 2020, Forgeard, Deleonardis, Sirur, along with several other members were arrested for disturbing the peace while filming a prank at a Target store in Mississippi. They were later released on bond.{{cite web |title=NELK on Instagram: "Its Jesse boys. Im out and good but the boys just got arrested. Keep you guys updated as soon as i know more #FREENELK" |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CALtLqTj-GP/ |url-access=registration |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/CALtLqTj-GP |archive-date=December 24, 2021 |access-date=May 14, 2020 |website=Instagram |language=en}}{{cbignore}}

In September 2020, the police department in Normal, Illinois announced an investigation into Nelk after they hosted a flash mob of about 200 people on-campus at Illinois State University in violation of COVID-19 regulations.{{cite web |date=September 10, 2020 |title=Watch now: NELK Boys parties could bring consequences for Illinois State University students |url=https://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/police-disperse-gathering-after-youtube-stars-nelk-boys-appear-near-illinois-state-university/article_f48ac98d-43b9-56f7-b9c0-5556e8e1a5c6.html |access-date=September 10, 2020 |website=The Pantagraph |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Schladebeck |first1=Jessica |date=10 September 2020 |title=Illinois State University students could face legal consequences for attending massive party thrown by YouTube stars The NELK Boys |work=nydailynews.com |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/coronavirus/ny-coronavirus-illinois-state-university-nelk-boys-party-youtube-20200910-yfsuunqlmfhe7ai2x4tqvhyyyy-story.html |access-date=23 September 2021}} Following this, YouTube announced a decision to totally demonetize the Nelk YouTube account in addition to most of their specific videos, so that no money could be earned from YouTube. They attributed the decision to the platform's Creator Responsibility Policy, which mandates that creators do not engage in “on- and/or off-platform behavior [that] harms our users, community, employees or ecosystem," claiming that Nelk had harmed YouTube users by hosting a group of people and thereby violating COVID-19 regulations.{{cite news |last1=Gstalter |first1=Morgan |date=12 September 2020 |title=YouTube stars' account demonetized after they are accused of throwing parties amid pandemic |language=en |work=The Hill |url=https://thehill.com/regulation/technology/516143-youtube-stars-account-demonetized-after-they-are-accused-of-throwing |access-date=30 March 2021}} Chris Koos, the town's mayor, also stated that he intended to pursue legal action against Nelk.{{cite web |date=September 15, 2020 |title=8 Arrested As YouTube Stars' Fans Get Unruly In Seaside Heights |url=https://patch.com/new-jersey/tomsriver/youtube-stars-visit-jersey-shore-drew-thousands-seaside |access-date=September 15, 2020 |website=Patch |language=en}} A week later, police in Seaside Heights, New Jersey broke up a gathering of about 1,500 people at a house being rented by Nelk, which violated New Jersey's COVID-19 restrictions. Nelk, despite no intentions to draw a crowd, was eventually kicked out of the house by the landlord and 8 fans were arrested. Governor Phil Murphy called the event "knucklehead behavior".{{cite news |last1=Yates |first1=Toni |date=16 September 2020 |title=Arrests made after police break up large party outside 'Jersey Shore' house |language=en |work=ABC News |agency=6ABC Philadelphia |url=https://6abc.com/the-nelk-boys-jersey-shore-house-seaside-heights-coronavirus/6425984/ |access-date=30 March 2021}}{{cite news |date=16 September 2020 |title=Murphy criticizes YouTube stars for 'Jersey Shore' gathering |work=Concho Valley Homepage |agency=AP |url=https://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/entertainment-news/murphy-criticizes-youtube-stars-for-jersey-shore-gathering/ |access-date=30 March 2021}}

On March 23, 2021, Nelk was unable to upload a video due to suggestions by their attorney in relation to an arrest warrant filed against Forgeard in Texas.{{cite web |date=2021-03-23 |title=Nelk Boys' Kyle Forgeard Has Warrant Issued In Texas |url=https://prosportsextra.com/nelk-boys-kyle-forgeard-has-warrant-issued-in-texas-nelkboys/ |access-date=2021-03-23 |website=Pro Sports Extra |language=en-US}} That same month, CBS reported that Nelk was responsible for a series of physical assaults at a group meet in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 15, 2021.{{cite web |date=April 2021 |title=4 Suspects Sought for Assault at Nelk Boys Meetup in Fort Worth, Police Say |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/dfw/news/4-suspects-sought-assault-nelk-boys-meetup-fort-worth/ |website=CBS News}}

The YouTube Streamy Awards, or commonly referred to as the Streamy's, are presented annually to recognize and honor excellence in online video, including directing, acting, producing, and writing.

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

Category:Canadian YouTubers

Category:Prank YouTubers

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Lifestyle YouTubers

Category:Comedy-related YouTube channels

Category:Canadian Twitch (service) streamers

Category:YouTube channels launched in 2010

Category:American YouTube groups

Category:Canadian YouTube groups

Category:Living people

Category:YouTubers from Ontario

Category:YouTubers from California