Point-by-Point Factual Corrections
Summary
This document provides factual corrections to false and misleading statements made in a YouTube video titled “Why I Regret Supporting Plushie Dreadfuls.” The video contains multiple demonstrably false claims, presents information out of context, and omits critical facts that would contradict its narrative.
Most significantly, the video creator contacted our support staff, received detailed factual answers to her questions, promised a follow-up video, but never produced it – leaving her false allegations uncorrected despite having access to the truth.
Table of Contents
- Autism Rabbit & ABA Therapy Allegations
- Pansexuality “Phase” Discord Controversy
- Manufacturing & “Handmade” Labels
- Autism Rabbit Design “Infantilizing” Claim
- Customer Interaction & Community Management
- Donation Transparency
- Pattern of Bad Faith
1. Autism Rabbit & ABA Therapy Allegations
THE CLAIM:
“They are raising money for the A.E. Wood Foundation which you can do a little bit of research but they’re not great and support and perform ABA… this little guy is not a friend to autistic people.”
THE FACTS:
What Actually Happened:
– Years ago, we initially partnered with A.E. Wood Foundation based on their claim that they used only “modified/advanced ABA techniques” that avoided problematic traditional ABA methods
– When the autistic community expressed concerns despite our clarifications, we:
– Severed ties with A.E. Wood Foundation
– Retired the original autism rabbit design
– Created a completely new autism rabbit design
– Changed donations to Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network (AWN) – https://awnnetwork.org/
– Publicly apologized for any harm caused
– This correction happened multiple years ago
Current Reality:
– Current autism rabbit proceeds go to Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network (AWN)
– AWN’s mission: “Disability justice, gender & racial equity, neurodiversity & trans liberation”
– This information is publicly available on our website
– Monthly donation amounts are posted transparently with receipts
Why This Claim is False:
The video presents a years-old, corrected situation as if it’s current practice. We listened to community feedback, made changes, and apologized – years before this video was made. The video completely omits this crucial information.
Evidence:
– Donation records: https://plushiedreadfuls.com/blogs/charitable-donations/charitable-donations
– FAQ addressing this directly: https://plushiedreadfuls.com/blogs/news/common-questions-and-concerns
2. Pansexuality “Phase” Discord Controversy
THE CLAIM:
“Well apparently pan was the phase people went through… people lost interest in being ‘pan’… I call it a phase because it was trending hugely on TikTok…”
The video creator calls this “casual homophobic things” and claims it shows I don’t care about LGBTQ+ customers.
THE FACTS:
What the Conversation Was Actually About:
– This was a public Discord discussion about product redesigns based on inventory/sales
– Someone asked if we’d redesign the pansexual rabbit
– I explained we had ordered 2,000 units of the current design
– Sales had spiked during a TikTok trend about pansexuality (this is verifiable via Google Trends)
– When the TikTok trend cycle moved on, sales normalized
– I was discussing a “phase” of consumer interest/trending, NOT calling pansexuality itself a phase
– I immediately clarified this in the same conversation – the clarification is visible in the same screenshots she shares
Critical Context Omitted from Video:
The person I responded to defensively had a documented history of:
– Participating in organized bot attacks costing us $20,000+ in lost marketing spend
– Engaging in coupon fraud costing thousands more
– Daily harassment, scamming, and demanding refunds/discounts
– After publicly trashing the company, they requested to be made a Brand Ambassador with a lifetime discount code to “help promote your brand”
The Discord had been weaponized by a group deliberately damaging the company financially. My defensive reaction was triggered by ongoing fraud and harassment, not by someone politely correcting terminology.
My Personal Background:
– I am pansexual myself (San Francisco LGBTQ+ scene, late 1990s)
– My stepmother is transgender – I witnessed a violent hate attack against her that left her hospitalized for two weeks
– I’ve spent 30+ years advocating for LGBTQ+ communities through my creative work
– Alice: Madness Returns tackled themes of childhood abuse from my own experiences
– Plushie Dreadfuls dedicates entire product lines to LGBTQ+ representation
– Our team includes gay, trans, and queer individuals
– We make monthly donations to Covenant House from LGBTQ+ product sales
Actions Taken:
– I apologized for my tone
– I removed myself from public-facing roles
– The Discord was deleted
– A community manager now handles all official communication
– This incident occurred in August 2023 – over a year ago
Detailed Explanation:
Full context available at: https://www.americanmcgee.com/2025/06/30/plushie-dreadfuls-creator-pansexual-controversy-my-side-of-the-story/
Why This Claim is Misleading:
The video cherry-picks screenshots, ignores my immediate clarification (visible in the same screenshots), omits all context about fraud/harassment, and presents a one-time defensive reaction to scammers as a pattern of homophobic behavior. It also ignores my 30-year track record of LGBTQ+ advocacy and my own identity.
3. Manufacturing & “Handmade” Labels
THE CLAIM:
“Both of my plushies came with labels that said they were handmade… but mine shipped directly from mainland China like if I ordered something off Alibaba… something gives me kind of a red flag there.”
THE FACTS:
Manufacturing Reality:
– I have lived in China since 2004 (over 20 years)
– My wife and children are Chinese – China is my home
– I have successfully operated two businesses in China:
– Spicy Horse (game studio)
– Plushie Dreadfuls (current company)
– Manufacturing is done in reputable Chinese factories with:
– Humane labor practices
– High-tech equipment (laser CNC machines for precise cutting)
– Hand sewing for final assembly (making “handmade” labels accurate)
– High-quality materials
– Strict quality control
– China has strict labor laws governing manufacturing
– These are the same factories that produce toys for major brands like Disney
Why Labels Are Accurate:
– Products ARE partially handmade – final assembly involves hand sewing
– This is standard practice in the plush toy industry worldwide
– The label accurately reflects the production process
Why This Claim is Problematic:
The video weaponizes xenophobic “made in China = bad” stereotypes while ignoring:
– China is my home and my family is Chinese
– The manufacturing is legitimate, ethical, and high-quality
– Major Western brands use the exact same manufacturing processes
– The insinuation that “shipping from China = Alibaba sweatshop” is both factually wrong and racist
Additional Context:
Our FAQ addresses our production methods transparently: https://plushiedreadfuls.com/blogs/news/common-questions-and-concerns
4. Autism Rabbit Design “Infantilizing” Claim
THE CLAIM:
“Does this rabbit just scream infantile?… my autism itself is not represented by infantile-like things and I am an adult and like adult things… this really to me stands out on their website and it feels quite intentional.”
THE FACTS:
Design Process:
– The current autism rabbit was created through our Crowd Design process
– This means the design was driven by input FROM the autistic community
– The autism rabbit is one of our best-selling products
– This indicates many autistic people actively chose to purchase and love this design
– Autism is a spectrum – no single design can represent all experiences
– All plush toys are inherently cute/soft/comforting by their nature as plush toys
Donations:
– Proceeds go to Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network (AWN)
– This information is clearly stated on the product page
Why This Claim is Problematic:
- Gatekeeping: The video creator is essentially saying “I’m autistic and I get to decide this design is offensive” while ignoring that:
– Other autistic people DESIGNED it
– Many autistic customers LOVE it
– It’s one of our best sellers - Hypocrisy: The video creator herself presents with an extremely “cutesy” aesthetic:
– Pink hair
– Cat ears
– Rainbow and heart pixel graphics
– Very “kawaii” presentation style
Yet she criticizes autistic people who might appreciate similar aesthetics in their comfort items.
- Spectrum Erasure: Many autistic adults DO love cute, soft, comforting aesthetics. The video creator dismisses these valid autistic experiences to suit her narrative.
Evidence:
– Product page with community-driven design information
– Best-seller status indicates broad community acceptance
– Crowd Design process documentation
5. Customer Interaction & Community Management
THE CLAIM:
The video portrays me as routinely “combative,” “defensive,” and threatening to ban customers who give feedback. Claims I show a pattern of hostility toward marginalized customers.
THE FACTS:
The Discord Ban Threat:
– This was a one-time reaction to a specific person with a documented history of fraud
– Context explained in Section 2 above
– I did NOT actually ban this person
– They were later banned by moderators for Terms of Service violations (fraud)
– This was NOT about them correcting my language – it was about ongoing financial attacks on the company
My Communication Style:
– I am autistic myself
– My communication style can be direct/blunt
– I have a logic/justice-oriented worldview
– I recognize this can sometimes come across as curt
Actions Taken to Improve:
– I removed myself from public-facing community management
– The Discord no longer exists (deleted)
– We hired a professional community manager
– She handles all official communication in a very sweet and polite way – always
– I try to avoid situations where my autistic communication style might cause problems
Customer Satisfaction Evidence:
– TrustPilot rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars (based on 1,190 reviews)
– Rated “Excellent”
– Reviews consistently praise:
– Product quality
– Customer service responsiveness
– Company values and representation
– Fast problem resolution
– Meaningful designs that help people feel seen
Link: https://www.trustpilot.com/review/mysterious.americanmcgee.com
Sample Customer Reviews:
– “This company makes those invisible things that haunt me not feel so haunting anymore.”
– “Amazing quality, and surprisingly fast international shipping.”
– “Customer service is always very helpful.”
– “I love the ethos of the company.”
– “They’re bringing representation and awareness to so many conditions.”
Why This Claim is False:
The video cherry-picks ONE incident from over a year ago, ignores all context about fraud/harassment, and presents it as a pattern of behavior. Our 4.9/5 TrustPilot rating (nearly 1,200 reviews) directly contradicts the claim that we treat customers poorly.
6. Donation Transparency
THE CLAIM:
“They’re very vague about who they donate to in general now, and I wouldn’t trust that some of the money is going to perhaps some foundations that maybe don’t support the people that the plush is about.”
THE FACTS:
Complete Transparency:
- Monthly Donation Records Posted Publicly Since November 2022:
– https://plushiedreadfuls.com/blogs/charitable-donations/charitable-donations
– Includes exact dollar amounts
– Includes receipts/proof of donations
– Updated every month without fail - Detailed FAQ Page:
– https://plushiedreadfuls.com/blogs/news/common-questions-and-concerns
– Explains exactly which products generate donations
– Lists all recipient organizations with links
– Explains our vetting process - Current Monthly Donation Recipients:
– Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network (AWN) – autism products
– Covenant House – LGBTQ+ products
– NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders) – rare disease products
– Project Semicolon – mental health products
– Higgy Bears – scoliosis products
– St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital – cancer products
– National Audubon Society – bird-related products
– Hear & Speak – deafness products
– Children’s Tumor Foundation – neurofibromatosis products
– Against All Odds Rabbit Rescue – monthly recurring donation - Product Pages:
– Each product that generates donations clearly states this on its product page
– Organization receiving funds is explicitly named
– Links to organization websites provided
Recent Donation Examples (2025):
– November 2025: $2,639 USD
– October 2025: $1,589 USD
– September 2025: $1,866 USD
– August 2025: $2,546 USD
– July 2025: $1,739 USD
– June 2025: $2,132 USD
Total for 2025 alone: Over $20,000 in documented charitable donations
CRITICAL EVIDENCE OF BAD FAITH:
The video creator emailed our support staff asking about donations. She received detailed, factual answers. She told her audience she would make a follow-up video. She never did.
This means:
– She had access to the facts
– She received clear, documented answers
– She chose not to share this information with her audience
– She left the false “vague donations” claim in her video
– This is deliberate misinformation, not an honest mistake
Why This Claim is Demonstrably False:
There is literally nothing vague about our donation practices. We post:
– Exact amounts
– Exact organizations
– Monthly receipts
– Organization links
– Which products generate which donations
The video creator had all this information and chose to suppress it.
7. Pattern of Bad Faith
Summary of Video’s Approach:
- Presents corrected, years-old situations as current practice
– A.E. Wood Foundation issue was corrected years ago
– Current donations go to AWN (autism-led organization)
– Video never mentions this correction - Cherry-picks screenshots and omits critical context
– Shows Discord conversation but omits my immediate clarification
– Ignores organized fraud/scamming context
– Presents one-time defensive reaction as pattern of behavior - Deliberately suppresses contradicting evidence
– Video creator emailed support, got facts, promised follow-up
– Never made the follow-up video
– Left false claims uncorrected despite knowing the truth - Ignores readily available public information
– Monthly donation records with receipts
– Comprehensive FAQ addressing all concerns
– 4.9/5 TrustPilot rating from 1,200+ customers
– 30+ years of LGBTQ+ advocacy work - Uses xenophobic framing
– “Ships from China” presented as inherently suspicious
– Ignores that China is my home, my family is Chinese
– Ignores legitimate, ethical manufacturing practices - Engages in gatekeeping
– Decides which autistic experiences are “valid”
– Dismisses community-designed products loved by many autistic people
– Hypocritically criticizes “infantile” aesthetics while using similar aesthetics herself
Conclusion
This video contains multiple demonstrably false claims, presents years-old corrected situations as current practice, cherry-picks information while omitting critical context, and most damningly, deliberately suppresses facts that contradict its narrative despite the creator having access to those facts.
The video has caused ongoing harm to:
– Our business reputation
– Our team members (many of whom are LGBTQ+ and/or have mental health conditions)
– Our community of customers who find comfort and representation in our products
– The charitable organizations we support through our donations
We have:
– Apologized for past mistakes
– Made corrections based on community feedback
– Maintained complete transparency in our operations
– Removed problematic individuals from public-facing roles
– Continued to support marginalized communities through our work and donations
The pattern of behavior from the video creator suggests this is not good-faith criticism but a targeted smear campaign that weaponizes LGBTQ+ and disability issues to damage our company while suppressing contradictory evidence.
Supporting Documentation
Donation Records:
https://plushiedreadfuls.com/blogs/charitable-donations/charitable-donations
FAQ Addressing All Concerns:
https://plushiedreadfuls.com/blogs/news/common-questions-and-concerns
Detailed Pansexuality Controversy Explanation:
https://www.americanmcgee.com/2025/06/30/plushie-dreadfuls-creator-pansexual-controversy-my-side-of-the-story/
Customer Reviews (4.9/5 from 1,190 reviews):
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/mysterious.americanmcgee.com
Document Prepared By: American McGee / Plushie Dreadfuls Legal Team
Date: January 16, 2026
Purpose: Factual correction of false and misleading claims
Status: All facts verifiable via provided links and public records
I’m constantly impressed (in a bad way) by the things people say when they attempt to make you out to be a bad guy with bad intent. Your DID plush is one of my comfort items and i’ve been following your work for quite a few years.