ImJayStation

Early YouTube career and legal issues

Jason Ethier launched his YouTube channel under the name JayStation in 2015, quickly establishing a pattern of controversial content. His early videos often featured him appearing to break into and explore empty homes, stadiums, and office buildings overnight, a format he presented as daring urban exploration. In 2016, the Ottawa Police arrested Ethier for trespassing, with evidence for the charge coming directly from the videos he had posted online. This legal trouble led to the demonetization of his original YouTube channel, cutting off a primary revenue stream. Later that year, he re-emerged under the new handle "ImJayStation," reuploading much of his previous content while omitting material directly tied to his trespassing charges. His subscriber count grew significantly, approaching two million by 2018 as his content shifted more toward paranormal themes. That same year, Ethier was arrested again for trespassing, this time at Walt Disney World in Florida, where he was also charged with resisting arrest. Following this incident, he publicly called for a boycott of the theme park and threatened legal action against the company, although no such action materialized. These early arrests established a pattern of conflicts with authorities that would continue throughout his career.

Rise of 3 AM challenges and celebrity controversy

Ethier's channel found its most recognizable format in the "3 AM challenge," a subgenre of prank videos styled as paranormal investigations. These videos, often filmed in the middle of the night, typically featured Ethier using Ouija boards, spirit boxes, and other props to stage supernatural encounters in locations presented as haunted or abandoned. The production style deliberately mimicked popular paranormal reality television shows, using suspenseful music, night-vision camera filters, and jump cuts to create a sense of authentic fear. In 2019, this format escalated into significant controversy when he produced a series of videos attempting to contact recently deceased celebrities through these paranormal means. The backlash intensified with a particular video where Ethier offered an apology for capitalizing on celebrity deaths while simultaneously criticizing other creators for the same practice. This message was widely seen as hypocritical, as the video itself used a clickbait title referencing the tragic suicide of popular YouTuber Etika, which viewers argued exploited the event for views. This period cemented his reputation for provocative and ethically questionable content designed to generate maximum online engagement, often at the expense of real-world tragedies.

The 2020 death hoax and platform ban

In January 2020, Ethier's actions culminated in one of the most infamous scandals of his career. He posted a video announcing that his girlfriend, fellow YouTuber Alexia Marano, had been killed by a drunk driver. Subsequent content showed him visiting a memorial and attempting to contact her spirit using a Ouija board, framing the loss as a personal tragedy for his audience. However, an investigation revealed the entire story was a fabricated publicity stunt designed to gain subscribers, with plans allegedly in place to "resurrect" Marano in a follow-up video. The BBC News described the incident as a "death hoax," bringing mainstream media attention to his deceptive practices. In the aftermath, Marano separated from Ethier and deleted her own YouTube channel, effectively ending her online presence. The Toronto Police issued a warrant for Ethier's arrest following allegations of abuse made by Marano, adding a serious legal dimension to the personal fallout. Later in 2020, the pair briefly returned to YouTube on a joint channel called Dream Team, but the channel's content was removed after a second separation. Ethier then restructured the channel under the name "666," where he produced reaction content until his primary channel was terminated by YouTube in 2021 for severe violations of its community guidelines.

Return to YouTube in 2025

Following a four-year hiatus after his channel termination in 2021, Jason Ethier returned to YouTube in October 2025. His return was facilitated by YouTube's "Second Chance" program, a new initiative that allows banned creators to return to the platform from scratch under strict conditions and monitoring. Ethier initially launched a new channel called "TheScariest," where he produced content focused on cryptid narrations and similar paranormal topics, marking a slight shift from his previous live-action format. He subsequently rebranded this channel to "Station Studios," marking a return to the style of content that originally defined his online persona. On this revived channel, Ethier resumed creating his classic 3 AM challenges and paranormal-related videos, attempting to rebuild his audience under the platform's new guidelines for previously banned creators. The success and reception of this new venture remain unclear, as he operates without the subscriber base and notoriety of his original channel, which had approached two million followers before its termination.

Content style and public reception

ImJayStation's content repertoire was built on a foundation of sensationalist and often staged scenarios designed to attract a young audience fascinated by horror and mystery. His signature 3 AM challenges borrowed heavily from the aesthetics of paranormal reality television, combining eerie locations, suspenseful editing, and fabricated supernatural encounters. Other recurring video types included fake creepypasta phone calls, elaborate unboxings of mysterious packages, and reaction videos to other viral online content. The public and critical reception to his work was overwhelmingly negative, focusing on the deceptive nature of his stunts and their exploitation of sensitive topics like death and tragedy. Media outlets and viewers frequently criticized his work for being irresponsible clickbait that blurred the line between entertainment and harmful misinformation. The 2020 death hoax was widely condemned as a new low for online creator ethics, causing significant damage to his reputation and contributing directly to his removal from the platform. This consistent pattern of controversy made him a frequent subject of discussion regarding the ethical boundaries of content creation on platforms like YouTube.

Key controversies and incidents

Jason Ethier, known as ImJayStation, was involved in numerous incidents that drew public scrutiny and legal attention throughout his career. He was arrested by Ottawa police for trespassing in 2016, which led to the demonetization of his YouTube channel. In 2018, he was arrested at Walt Disney World in Florida and charged with trespassing and resisting arrest. His controversial actions included a widely criticized death hoax involving his girlfriend in 2020, which resulted in a warrant for his arrest by Toronto Police.

• 2016: Arrested by Ottawa Police for trespassing, leading to the demonetization of his original YouTube channel.
• 2018: Arrested at Walt Disney World in Florida on charges of trespassing and resisting arrest.
• 2019: Faced major backlash for videos attempting to contact deceased celebrities, including a controversial video referencing YouTuber Etika's death.
• January 2020: Executed a death hoax claiming his girlfriend Alexia Marano had died, later revealed to be a subscriber-gaining stunt.
• 2020: A warrant was issued for his arrest by Toronto Police following abuse allegations from Alexia Marano.
• 2021: His primary YouTube channel was terminated by the platform.
• October 2025: Returned to YouTube under the "Second Chance" program with new channels.

These incidents defined his public persona as a creator who repeatedly tested the boundaries of platform rules. His channel was terminated in 2021 following these severe guideline violations. In October 2025, he returned to YouTube under its Second Chance program, which allows banned creators to return under strict conditions. He initially returned on a channel called TheScariest, later rebranding it to Station Studios, where he resumed making his classic 3 AM challenges and paranormal content.

Comparison to other online controversies

The career of ImJayStation exists within a broader context of YouTube creators who have faced bans for controversial actions. Unlike creators removed for hate speech or coordinated harassment, Ethier's violations centered on coordinated deceptive practices and real-world harm through hoaxes. The 2020 death hoax shares similarities with other infamous online stunts, but its personal nature and the subsequent abuse allegations set it apart. His legal issues, including multiple trespassing arrests and a warrant for alleged abuse, add a layer of offline consequence not always present in other creator scandals. The decision by YouTube to include him in the 2025 "Second Chance" program indicates the platform's evolving approach to content moderation and creator rehabilitation. His return under strict monitoring serves as a precedent for how platforms may handle formerly banned personalities who wish to rebuild their channels under new, enforced guidelines. This places his story within ongoing debates about accountability and second chances in digital media.

Questions about ImJayStation

Why was ImJayStation banned from YouTube?

ImJayStation was banned from YouTube in 2021 following a series of severe community guideline violations. The most direct cause was the 2020 death hoax involving his then-girlfriend Alexia Marano, which involved fabricating her death for views and subscribers. This incident, combined with a history of deceptive content and previous legal issues like trespassing arrests, led YouTube to terminate his channel. The platform deemed his actions a serious breach of its policies against harassment, scams, and coordinated deceptive practices.

What is the 'Second Chance' program that allowed his return?

YouTube's "Second Chance" program launched in October 2025 as an initiative to allow previously banned creators to return to the platform. The program permits them to start new channels from scratch but under strict conditions and heightened monitoring. Creators accepted into the program must adhere closely to community guidelines and are subject to immediate termination if they violate rules again. ImJayStation was among the first creators to return under this program, launching his new channel "TheScariest" in October 2025.

What happened with the Alexia Marano death hoax?

In January 2020, Jason Ethier posted videos claiming his girlfriend, YouTuber Alexia Marano, had been killed by a drunk driver. He filmed himself visiting a memorial and using a Ouija board to contact her. It was later revealed the entire story was a staged publicity stunt to gain subscribers, and Marano was alive and well. The BBC labelled it a death hoax. The fallout was severe: Marano separated from Ethier, deleted her channel, and Toronto Police issued a warrant for Ethier's arrest following abuse allegations she made.

Has ImJayStation been in trouble with the law?

Yes, Jason Ethier has faced multiple legal issues. In 2016, he was arrested by Ottawa Police for trespassing, with evidence sourced from his own videos. In 2018, he was arrested at Walt Disney World in Florida on charges of trespassing and resisting arrest. In 2020, following the death hoax scandal, the Toronto Police issued a warrant for his arrest based on allegations of abuse made by Alexia Marano. These incidents contributed to his problematic public record.

What kind of content did ImJayStation make?

ImJayStation was primarily known for his 3 AM challenges, a subgenre of prank videos stylized as parodies of paranormal reality TV shows. His content also included Ouija board videos, fake creepypasta calls, and unboxing videos. His controversial content, produced between 2015 and 2021, often involved staged or allegedly real trespassing into empty buildings. In 2019, he attracted significant controversy for videos attempting to contact deceased celebrities using Ouija boards and spirit boxes. After his YouTube channel was terminated in 2021, he returned in October 2025 under YouTube's Second Chance program, initially making cryptid narrations on a channel called TheScariest before rebranding to Station Studios to resume his classic 3 AM and paranormal content.

What is ImJayStation's channel called now?

ImJayStation's channel is now called Station Studios. This followed his return to YouTube in October 2025 after a four year hiatus due to his previous channel's termination. He returned under the platform's Second Chance program, which allows banned creators to start anew under strict conditions. He initially launched a channel named TheScariest where he produced cryptid narration videos. He subsequently rebranded that channel to Station Studios, where he returned to making his classic style of content, including 3 AM challenges and paranormal related videos.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Novello Desserts desk. Last updated 2026-10-26.