The father behind Mighty Mike Plays says he has lost his job and must repay $118,000 after his nine-year-old son used a company credit card to promote his Minecraft videos on YouTube.

The channel features videos created by the boy, but the advertising campaign apparently operated on a rather less child-sized budget. His father, Dave, previously disclosed that the charges had reached $118,000.

How did the YouTube advertising bill grow so large?

In his original video about the spending, Dave said his son had used the corporate card to buy YouTube advertising campaigns for the channel. He did not explain in detail how the purchases continued long enough to reach six figures.

At that point, Dave said he did not know whether his employer would require him to reimburse the company. He was also unsure whether he would be allowed to keep his job.

A later video supplied both answers, neither of them especially helpful. Dave said the company had fired him and expected the full $118,000 to be repaid within 30 days.

According to Dave, failing to meet that deadline could lead to a legal dispute. He has presented the demand as a debt he and his family must now address, rather than an unfortunate advertising expense everyone can quietly forget.

Why is Dave refusing to launch a GoFundMe?

Dave said many viewers had urged him to create a GoFundMe campaign, believing online donations could cover the bill quickly. He and his family do not plan to do that, at least for now.

He said he still wants to try to solve the problem himself. The options under consideration include selling the family home, which makes the usual parental complaint about excessive screen time seem relatively modest.

Dave and his son have also opened a merchandise store connected to the channel. They plan to sell T-shirts to raise money toward the repayment, although shifting enough clothing to cover $118,000 would require a fairly committed customer base.

He also warned that other people have created fundraisers while pretending to represent him. Some have reportedly launched meme coins linked to the story. Dave said those campaigns and cryptocurrencies are not his, giving viewers another reminder that an online financial crisis rarely remains uncomplicated for long.

What are viewers saying about the claim?

Reaction has been divided. Some viewers have expressed sympathy and encouraged Dave to accept donations. Others have questioned whether the story is genuine or suggested it could be an attempt to make money from the attention.

In response to the skepticism, Dave shared photographs that he said showed the relevant charges on his American Express account. The images were intended to support his account of the spending, though doubts have continued among some commenters.

Several viewers have also criticized his refusal to use GoFundMe. One compared the situation to Breaking Bad, arguing that Dave appeared to be rejecting an easier source of money because of pride.

Another commenter wrote: “Don’t underestimate the generosity of the internet and do NOT let pride get in the way.”

For now, Dave says the family will rely on its own fundraising efforts while facing a 30-day repayment deadline and the possibility of legal action. Whether T-shirt sales can make a meaningful dent in a six-figure advertising bill remains the most practical question in an already unusual story.