TGFbro

The group was formed in 2012 when Swingler tweeted out who would want to make videos with him, and Henry replied "I'm on it".{{Cite web|last=Duncan|first=Timothyna|date=23 December 2016|title=The biggest online youtuber – you've probably never heard of|url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/biggest-online-celebrities-midlands-who-12126498|access-date=28 December 2020|website=BirminghamLive|language=en}}

Due to the often extreme nature of the stunts that appeared on the channel, they were subject to multiple controversies and gained regular national media attention for stunts that include bringing the video game series Grand Theft Auto to life{{Cite web|date=21 October 2020|title=GTA Comes To Life In Crazy 3rd Person Camera YouTuber Experiment|url=https://screenrant.com/gta-3rd-person-camera-real-life-youtube/|access-date=28 December 2020|website=ScreenRant|language=en-US}} and a live action hide and seek in Birmingham city centre with a £10,000 reward that led to a police warning.{{Cite web|last1=Coussins|first1=Jordan|last2=Hicks|first2=Amber|date=30 November 2019|title=YouTubers 'offer £10,000 for city hide and seek game' – despite police warning|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/youtubers-offer-10000-city-hide-20998490|access-date=28 December 2020|website=mirror|language=en}}

In 2016, they hosted a show on Channel 4 called Polterguest.{{Cite web |title=Polterguest |url=https://www.channel4.com/programmes/polterguest |access-date=28 December 2020 |website=Channel 4 |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Travis |first=Ben |date=2 November 2016 |title=Polterguest is your new TV guilty pleasure |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/e4-s-polterguest-with-tgfbro-is-a-supremely-daft-late-halloween-treat-a3385621.html |access-date=28 December 2020 |website=www.standard.co.uk |language=en}}

In January 2024, Swingler revealed in a post on his subreddit, "r/jayswingler", that the TGFbro channel has ended, saying, "It became too hard to sustain. From a legal standpoint, it was just getting out of hand and life was becoming unbearable with all the trouble we dealt with over the years, not to mention the mental health issues, the broken bones, the cuts, the bruises and the pain."{{Cite web |last=jay_swingler |date=2024-01-27 |title=TGF IS NO MORE |url=http://www.reddit.com/r/jayswingler/comments/1acot2w/tgf_is_no_more/ |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=r/jayswingler}} Romell later also confirmed this in July 2024 on his new podcast "Vocal Pickups".

In 2017, the duo uploaded the video "I Cemented My Head In A Microwave", in which spackling paste is used to seal Swingler's head into a microwave. However, the makeshift breathing tube became blocked, and attempts to remove Swingler's head from the microwave failed, resulting in emergency services being called to remove his head to prevent him from suffocating.

Following the incident, Swingler was criticised by both the public and the West Midlands Fire Service for "a call-out which might have prevented us from helping someone else in genuine, accidental need".{{Cite web |date=16 March 2018 |title=YouTuber comes unstuck – West Midlands Fire Service |url=https://www.wmfs.net/youtube-pranker-comes-unstuck/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316154414/https://www.wmfs.net/youtube-pranker-comes-unstuck/ |archive-date=16 March 2018 |access-date=20 December 2020}} After the story went viral, prompting a BBC News interview, Swingler responded to the controversy, saying "The plan was literally to set my head in there but not let it set completely. It [the cement] was like a thick jelly... if I really wanted to, I could pull it [the microwave] off and it would slide off. I thought 10 more minutes wouldn't hurt... [but the cement] solidified a lot faster than I thought." He also stated that he was thankful for the help from the firefighters and would be willing to pay a fine.{{Cite web |last=Ma |first=Alexandra |title=This guy cemented a microwave to his head for a YouTube video, and had to be rescued by the fire brigade |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/tgfbro-jay-swingler-buries-head-microwave-cement-west-midlands-emergency-services-2017-12 |access-date=20 December 2020 |website=Business Insider}}{{Cite web |date=9 December 2017 |title=A YouTuber cemented his head in a microwave for views and firefighters were not impressed |url=https://www.indy100.com/offbeat/cement-head-microwave-youtuber-jay-swingler-tgfbro-firefighters-annoyed-risking-life-8100831 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210617174538/https://www.indy100.com/offbeat/cement-head-microwave-youtuber-jay-swingler-tgfbro-firefighters-annoyed-risking-life-8100831 |archive-date=17 June 2021 |access-date=20 December 2020 |website=www.indy100.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=11 December 2017 |title=Man cements his head in a microwave as prank to get more 'likes' |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/trending/trending-globally/man-cements-his-head-in-a-microwave-as-prank-to-get-more-likes-tgfbro-youtube-channel-4976690/ |access-date=20 December 2020 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}

In 2018, the incident was dramatised in the Fox television series 9-1-1.{{Cite web |last=Preston |first=Tori |date=25 September 2018 |title='9-1-1' Premiere: The Best Procedural On TV Returned ... And Killed Harvey Weinstein |url=https://www.pajiba.com/tv_reviews/911-premiere-the-best-procedural-on-tv-returned-and-killed-harvey-weinstein.php |access-date=20 December 2020 |website=Pajiba}}

In March 2020, the duo uploaded the video "Extreme Driving Test", in which the duo, accompanied by a driving instructor, drove recklessly onto grass embankments, crashed into parked vehicles, and flipped their car in the areas of Telford and Wrekin and Staffordshire.{{Cite web |last=Robertson |first=Dominic |date=30 October 2020 |title=Telford YouTuber charged over 'extreme driving' video |url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/crime/2020/10/30/youtuber-charged-over-driving-video/ |access-date=20 December 2020 |website=www.shropshirestar.com |language=en}}

In a statement, West Mercia Police announced that Swingler, Henry and the instructor faced prosecution under "Operation Snap". The duo were charged with dangerous driving on 6 March 2020, while the instructor was charged with two counts of aiding and abetting dangerous driving.{{Cite web |last=Robertson |first=Dominic |date=30 October 2020 |title=Black Country YouTubers charged over 'extreme driving' video |url=https://www.expressandstar.com/news/crime/2020/10/30/black-country-youtubers-charged-over-extreme-driving-video/ |access-date=30 October 2020 |website=www.expressandstar.com |language=en}} On 15 September 2022, Swingler and Henry pleaded guilty to careless driving and were sentenced at Shrewsbury Crown Court. Both were fined £1000 each, ordered to pay £95 court costs, and given five penalty points on their driving licenses. The instructor will be sentenced at a later date for aiding and abetting the driving of a car without due care and attention.{{Cite web |last=Ashmore |first=Kelly |date=22 September 2022 |title=YouTube duo TGFbro fined £1k for flipping car near Wrekin |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/black-country/youtube-duo-tgfbro-fined-1k-25027005 |access-date=4 November 2022 |website=www.birminghammail.co.uk |language=en}}

On 25 August 2018, Swingler had an amateur boxing bout on the undercard of KSI vs Logan Paul at Manchester Arena, Manchester, England. He fought British YouTuber AnEsonGib and lost via unanimous decision.{{Cite web |last1=Richards |first1=Alex |last2=Smith |first2=Alex |last3=Domin |first3=Martin |date=26 August 2018 |title=KSI vs Logan Paul undercard results as YouTube boxers clashed |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/boxing/ksi-vs-logan-paul-undercard-13108326 |access-date=28 December 2020 |website=mirror |language=en}}

On 27 August 2022, it was announced that Swingler would make his professional boxing debut against American YouTuber Cherdleys as co-feature bout on MF & DAZN: X Series 002 at the Sheffield Arena, in Sheffield, England on 15 October.{{Cite web |last=Donovan |first=Jake |date=27 August 2022 |title=Hasim Rahman Jr-Vitor Belfort Tops 'MF & DAZN: X Series' Show, October 15 In Sheffield |url=https://www.boxingscene.com/hasim-rahman-jr-vitor-belfort-tops-mf-dazn-x-series-show-october-15-sheffield--168652 |website=Boxing Scene}} On 15 September the bout was changed to the headliner after the bout between Hasim Rahman Jr. and Vitor Belfort was postponed to X Series 003.{{Cite web |last=Christ |first=Scott |date=2022-09-15 |title=Vitor Belfort vs Hasim Rahman Jr fight postponed, MF x DAZN card on Oct. 15 set otherwise |url=https://www.badlefthook.com/2022/9/15/23355223/belfort-vs-rahman-jr-fight-postponed-mf-x-dazn-card-oct-15-set-otherwise-boxing-news-2022 |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=Bad Left Hook |language=en}} Swingler defeated Cherdleys via knockout in the first round.{{Cite web |last=Schuller |first=Rudi |date=16 October 2022 |title=Jay Swingler defeats Cherdleys by first-round KO |url=https://www.dazn.com/en-US/news/boxing/jay-swingler-vs-cherdleys-live-updates-results-highlights-from-mf-dazn-x-series-002/1ljnthur1a4u21u4enmnhf2ovb#:~:text=It%20took%20just%201%3A10,as%20quickly%20as%20it%20started. |access-date=20 November 2022 |website=DAZN News}}

On 14 January 2023, it was announced that Swingler would face Singaporean YouTuber NichLmao as the headliner to X Series 005 in Milton Keynes, England on 25 February.{{Cite news |last=Astbury |first=Matt |date=14 January 2022 |title=What channel is Jay Swingler vs. Nicholai Perrett? Live stream info, start time, how to watch on DAZN |url=https://www.dazn.com/en-GB/news/boxing/what-channel-is-jay-swingler-vs-nicholai-perrett-live-stream-info-start-time-how-to-watch-on-dazn/j2ydne7xywbn1prhepxvzafkw |access-date=15 January 2023 |newspaper=Dazn}} However, the bout was postponed to 4 March at the Telford International Centre in Telford, England due to clashes with Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury on the same date.{{Cite web |last=Happy Punch Promotions |date=26 January 2023 |title=🚨 Misfits 005 has been rescheduled to Sat March 4th, according to the official @DAZNBoxing website |url=https://twitter.com/HappyPunchPromo/status/1618363393387417601 |website=Twitter}} Swingler defeated NichLmao via majority decision.{{Cite web |last=Montoya |first=Erika |date=4 March 2023 |title=MF & DAZN: X-Series 005: Jay Swingler takes win in emotional fight with NichLmao |url=https://www.dazn.com/en-GB/news/other/mf-dazn-x-series-005-jay-swingler-vs-nichlmao-live-updates-results-and-highlights/d2lbrn6x8ddx1jqk3hrzveopd |website=DAZN New}}

On 5 May, Swingler announced his retirement from the sport and instead wanted to focus more on content creation.{{Cite web |last=Swingler |first=Jay |date=5 May 2023 |title=The influencer boxing stuff was fun while it lasted and it really did effect my life in such a positive way, i learnt & gained so much from taking part in it all, and i'll forever be grateful for @MisfitsBoxing |url=https://twitter.com/JaySwingler/status/1653427603137544193 |website=Twitter}} However, on 31 August 2024 at X Series 17, Swingler announced that he his no longer retired and called out NichLmao for a rematch.{{Cite web |last=Domin |first=Martin |date=31 August 2024 |title=So Jay is back? |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/boxing/misfits-boxing-results-live-stream-33574693 |website=Daily Mirror}} On 14 October, the rematch between Swingler and NichLmao was announced for X Series 19 – Qatar: The Supercard at the Lusail Sports Arena in Doha, Qatar on 28 November.{{Cite web |last=Walker |first=Christopher |date=14 October 2024 |title=Gib vs. Slim headlines mammoth event in Doha, with the return of Deji leading a mouth-watering undercard |url=https://www.dazn.com/en-GB/news/boxing/gib-vs-slim-headlines-mammoth-event-in-doha-with-the-return-of-deji-leading-a-mouth-watering-undercard/19hjoj60y0bkx19x6eh0s7g6zw |website=DAZN}} However, Swingler withdrew from the bout due to medical issues and was replaced by Warren Spencer.{{Cite web |last=Swingler |first=Jay |date=21 November 2024 |title=hey everyone, so it stings to have to write this but unfortunately i won’t be fighting next week over in Qatar can’t due to a medical condition that i need to investigate. |url=https://x.com/JaySwingler/status/1859669993090130308 |website=Twitter}}{{Cite web |date=22 November 2024 |title=When is Gib vs. Slim? X Series 019 fight card, start time, how to watch on DAZN |url=https://www.dazn.com/en-CA/news/boxing/when-is-gib-vs-slim-how-to-watch-and-stream-mf-dazn-x-series-019/1jr69rn0x82pq1ps3uoomkssez |website=DAZN}}

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Category:English YouTubers

Jay Swingler

Category:YouTube channels launched in 2012

Category:YouTubers from Shropshire