Troopz, the loud Arsenal superfan who became a YouTube‑era cult figure through AFTV, first joined Barstool Sports in late 2020 as part of the outlet’s push into soccer content.
He moved to New York, launched his own podcast, Back Again, and quickly became one of the more recognizable faces in Barstool’s soccer lineup, doing watch‑alongs, fan‑cam-style rants, and cross‑country trips with American fans.
In August 2023, he announced on his YouTube channel that he was leaving Barstool, framing it as a natural evolution rather than a breakup.
He thanked key figures like Dave Portnoy, producer Jetz, and Barstool’s then‑CEO Erica Shaffer, stressing that there was “no animosity” and that he was returning to London to run his own operation full time. To fans, it looked like a guy cashing in on his global platform and going independent, not someone being pushed out.
The Unwritten Tensions Behind the Split
Despite the friendly public tone, reports from sports media outlets suggest the relationship had started to fray before his exit.
One recurring theme was availability: Troopz remained based in London, while Barstool expected a stronger physical presence in New York and on the road, which reportedly created friction over how often he showed up for studio work and events.
There were also concerns about his behavior and its alignment with Barstool’s image. Coverage from sports‑media blogs points to a sense that he was seen as ungrateful or difficult to manage, especially after Barstool had invested in him and given him a high‑profile platform.
Barstool Sports (Credit: BBC)
Some commentary notes that Dave Portnoy, who regained full control of Barstool around that time, appeared to view Troopz as a misfit, with one outlet describing him as “basically an ungrateful rat” and suggesting Portnoy disliked him personally.
Compounding that, Troopz’s Arsenal allegiance sat awkwardly with Portnoy’s public support for Tottenham, which already had its own on‑air personality at Barstool. That dynamic made it easier for the company to walk away if his conduct or commitment ever felt shaky.
Controversy, Culture, and the Cost of Being “Too Real”
Beyond internal politics, Troopz’s public persona brought its own complications. In 2023, a clip surfaced of him shouting at his wife during an Arsenal watch‑along after the team conceded to Manchester City, which Barstool initially shared with a joking caption before deleting it.
Fans and critics called the moment “toxic” and “vile,” arguing that even if it was framed as banter, it normalized aggressive behavior toward a partner.
That incident, and similar outbursts, fed into a broader debate about whether outlets like Barstool reward volatility over accountability.
For a brand built on edgy, unfiltered content, walking the line between “raw authenticity” and outright toxicity has become a recurring problem, and Troopz’s exit landed in the middle of that conversation.
His departure, then, looks less like a simple contract decision and more like a collision between a chaotic individual and a company trying to recalibrate its image and internal culture.
Today, Troopz is back in London running his own channels and collaborations, while Barstool continues to reshape its soccer roster under Portnoy’s tighter grip.
What started as a flashy transatlantic hire now reads like a cautionary tale about how hard it is to scale a particular kind of personality across different markets, time zones, and expectations.
On 5 January 2024, BELIFT LAB announced that ILLIT would debut as a five‑member group and confirmed that Youngseo had terminated her exclusive contract after talks about future activities.
The agency emphasized that the choice was mutual, asked fans not to speculate, and stated that it respected her wishes, positioning the exit as calm and amicable.
Context made that hard to accept at face value for many followers. Youngseo had finished second on the survival show R U Next, was widely viewed as one of the most recognizable trainees, and had featured heavily in pre‑debut content and photoshoots.
Walking away from a near‑certain HYBE girl group debut so late in the process struck a lot of fans as unlikely unless something behind the scenes had shifted.
Online forums and social media threads quickly filled with theories, from disagreements over concepts to internal conflicts with the company.
Some fans felt the wording of the statement, particularly the firm request not to speculate, made them even more suspicious, especially given HYBE’s broader history of tightly controlled messaging around its trainees and groups.
Company Strategy, Fan Theories, And The “Five‑Member Group” Question
One of the most persistent talking points has been whether Youngseo left because BELIFT LAB wanted ILLIT to debut as a five‑member act for strategic reasons.
Articles and viral posts on Korean community sites argued that her removal conveniently aligned with a cleaner lineup, suggesting that someone higher up had decided a smaller group would be easier to market.
Some commentary cited HYBE founder Bang Si‑hyuk’s alleged influence over the final debut lineup, claiming he preferred a tighter group and that Youngseo was pushed out despite earlier magazine shoots and pre‑debut promotions.
Youngseo (Credit: CNN)
Others pushed back, pointing out that if HYBE had intended to remove her from the start, it would have made little sense to showcase her so extensively on R U Next and in official content.
International outlets covering K‑pop have highlighted how the lack of transparency fits a broader pattern, where agencies often rely on vague mentions of “personal reasons” or “mutual agreements” while leaving fans to piece together the rest.
That ambiguity fuels ongoing debate and keeps Youngseo’s exit from ILLIT on fan timelines long after the group’s debut.
A New Chapter With THEBLACKLABEL And What It Says About Youngseo
If the company version focused on a calm, mutual parting, Youngseo’s own path after leaving tells a more determined story. Reports from outlets like Kbizoom and Koreaboo describe how she contacted other agencies herself, sending performance videos and applications instead of stepping away from the industry.
In later interviews, she spoke about fearing she was already “too old” after leaving HYBE, which suggests the decision was emotionally difficult regardless of who initiated it. Rather than frame herself as a victim, she described taking control, sending DMs and clips, and rebuilding her career step by step.
That tone resonated with many fans, who saw it as proof that she had never lost the drive that made her stand out on R U Next in the first place.
For people who followed her journey, the story feels bittersweet. ILLIT debuted without the trainee many expected to be at its center, while Youngseo has had to start again in a different system with new teammates and expectations.
At the same time, watching her carve out another shot through sheer effort offers its own kind of comfort, especially to fans who wondered if that abrupt January announcement had quietly closed the door on her idol’s future.
