David Dobrik is reportedly 'no longer an owner' of a women's soccer team backed by celebs like Serena Williams and Natalie Portman
- YouTube star David Dobrik is "no longer an owner" of the Angel City Football Club, its president said in an internal letter.
- The women's soccer team has high-profile backers and is expected to launch in 2022.
- Dobrik has been embattled in controversy following an Insider investigation into a former "Vlog Squad" member.
YouTube star David Dobrik is "no longer an owner" of the Angel City Football Club, a US women's soccer team backed by high-profile names slated to play for the first time next year.
The news was announced in an internal letter from Angel City Football Club President Julie Uhrman that was shared on Twitter by the sports journalist Meg Linehan.
"I want to address the current events with one of our owners and the steps we took to ensure we live up to Who We Are," Uhrman wrote. "Angel City was built to lead by example, to set higher expectations, and to do the right thing, even when the right thing is hard.
"To that end, David Dobrik is no longer an owner of Angel City."
Representatives for Angel City did not immediately return Insider's request for comment.
"Over the last couple of weeks, our values were challenged. I want to thank all of you for coming together to provide your expertise, guidance, and support as we reviewed the situation and determined the right path forward for Angel City," Uhrman continued. "It can be difficult, especially with social media and other outside voices, to take the necessary time needed to make an informed decision; one that is right for both the short and long term."
According to a January report from the Los Angeles Times, four dozen of the club's more than 60 investors are women. High-profile athletes have invested with the team, include tennis star Serena Williams, Tennis legend Billie Jean King, Los Angeles Sparks superstar Candace Parker, and Olympic skier Lindsay Vonn.
Hollywood A-listers including Natalie Portman, Jessica Chastain, Eva Longoria, Jennifer Garner, and America Ferrera have also invested in the club. Angel City has the largest women ownership group in US sports history, according to the LA Times.
The Southern California soccer team will begin playing next year in the National Women's Soccer League.
Dobrik, meanwhile, is embattled in controversy following the publication of an Insider investigation this week, which included an accusation of rape against Dominykas Zeglaitis - known online as "Durte Dom" - an associate of Dobrik and former member of his YouTube group dubbed the Vlog Squad.
In the investigation published Tuesday by Insider's Kat Tenbarge, a woman said members of Dobrik's Vlog Squad provided her with alcohol that led her to be unable to consent to sex that was depicted in a YouTube video posted by Dobrik.
The investigation followed another controversy that began in February after former Vlog Squad member Seth Francois said he had been tricked into kissing Vlog Squad member Jason Nash in a 2017 video.
Dobrik spoke out following the article's publication in a brief, under three-minute YouTube video in which he did not directly reference the contents of the investigation but said consent was "super super important" to him.
Multiple businesses have since parted ways or are considering their relationship with the YouTuber, who earlier in March presented at Nickelodeon's "Kid's Choice Awards," following the backlash. As Insider reported, Dobrik has been dropped by brands including DoorDash, EA Sports, and Dollar Shave Club. Longtime sponsor SeatGeek is reviewing its partnership with the YouTube star.