The Brooke Houts dog abuse controversy began in August 2019 when the YouTuber accidentally uploaded an unedited clip to her channel showing her being physically aggressive toward her Doberman, Sphinx. The footage showed her hitting, spitting on, and pinning the dog to the floor, contrasting sharply with the upbeat pet parent persona she projected in her edited content. The internet responded with immediate outrage, leading to a police investigation and a massive conversation about influencer accountability and animal welfare. In the meme world, the incident is frequently used to symbolize the fake nature of social media stars, serving as a cautionary tale about what happens when the mask of a curated online life slips.