For Millennials. By Millennials.
Zoe LaVerne is a popular TikToker and YouTuber. She’s got millions of subscribers and supporters on all of the main social media platforms. However, all of that is now changing due to allegations that she was grooming a 13-year-old fan, Connor. A video circulated online where she was kissing him which led to more backlash. She was accused of abusing him and manipulating him. Now, she’s broken her silence and admits to her mistake.
What Zoe LaVerne did can be classified as pedophilia
People who follow Zoe LaVerne know that she’s close friends with a 13-year-old boy Connor. Connor has often appeared in Zoe’s TikTok videos and the two claimed to be best friends. But things took a disturbing turn when close people in Zoe’s circle were leaving her because her friendship with Connor was problematic.
When there was a video circulating online where a 19-year-old Zoe LaVerne was kissing a 13-year-old Connor, many were shocked and disturbed.
Even though her mother didn’t think there was anything wrong with it, the entire internet was calling her out.
By definition, what Zoe Laverne is doing is engaging in pedophilia. Pedophilia is described as a sexual attraction to children:
‘characterized by sexual interest in prepubescent children or attempts to engage in sexual acts with prepubescent children.’
And here are the age limits:
The DSM-5 further stipulates that the interest or behaviour in question must be present for at least six months for clinical diagnosis, and the affected individual must be at least 16 years of age and at least 5 years older than the child (or children) at the centre of the individual’s sexual fantasies.
Zoe LaVerne is more than five years older than Connor and she is a legal adult. Clinically speaking, any form of sexual contact with underage individuals is often enough to call ‘pedophilia’.
Zoe LaVerne attempts to clear things out by saying she and Connor caught feelings for each other
In a rather long apology note, Zoe LaVerne tried to explain her side of things. She admits that she and Connor both caught feelings for each other since they were so close to each other.
i would like to say i am aware of what was leaked.. but connor was nor raped etc. connor and i kissed yes.. never had a relationship but we did catch feelings for each other after being so close.. these videos were from months ago and we both realized it was wrong and we both cut it off.
Zoe LaVerne does admit that kissing Connor was wrong. But she wanted to clarify that she did not rape Connor. Moreover, both of them were aware that it was not the right thing to do to pursue a romantic relationship of any sort.
Moreover, Zoe shared that she did tell Connor’s mother about the kissing incident:
before anything was leaked i did tell his mom we kissed. she wasn’t happy obviously but she understood that we are both teenagers and that feelings can be caught. i am aware that i am an adult and i am aware that i have done something wrong and i am very sorry for what i have done. connor and i will go live together as soon as this all calms down and explain our selves.
Zoe again highlighted that she understands she was in the wrong and is expressing regret over her actions.
Plus, she also mentioned that she and Connor have not talked to each other for a couple of days:
connor and i have had no communication for 3 days now. we are still friends but we think it’s best to stop talking and work on each other’s mental health and spend time with our family’s.
Here’s the whole apology note shared by Def Noodles:
It’s going to be rather difficult for Zoe to revive her career after this. Let’s see what happens next and what more explanations she has to offer.
Personally speaking, there should have been an official investigation into the matter instead of simply canceling her on the internet. Let’s also hope Connor is safe.
