2 YouTubers say they were refused entry from the Ace Family Festival with no explanation despite paying for tickets

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2 YouTubers say they were refused entry from the Ace Family Festival with no explanation despite paying for tickets
Drama vloggers Rich Lux and MadCatster allege they were denied entry to the Ace Family Fest this past weekend.The Ace Family via YouTube
  • Two drama YouTubers said they were turned away from the entrance of the Ace Family's event.
  • They told Insider they were not given a reason for being refused entry despite having bought tickets.
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Two YouTubers say they were denied entry to a festival hosted by YouTube influencers the Ace Family with no explanation.

YouTubers Rich Lux and MadCatster, who requested Insider did not use their real names, said they purchased advance tickets for the Ace Family Fest, which was held Saturday in Lancaster, California. The event, hosted by Ace Family YouTubers Austin and Catherine McBroom, was billed as "Disneyland meets Coachella" and promised carnival rides, games, and a meet-and-greet with the family.

Lux paid $128.93 for his ticket, Insider confirmed.

Lux and MadCatster, who have 490,000 and 15,000 subscribers respectively, run internet drama channels, where they post updates and commentary on influencer controversy and gossip.

When they arrived at the festival, security guards refused them entry and "did not articulate the precise reason we were not permitted to enter, nor did they offer a refund," MadCatster told Insider.

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In a video posted to Lux's social media accounts, a security guard at what appears to be the Ace Fest can be seen telling the pair they are not allowed to enter. Both Lux and MadCatster posted about the incident on their respective channels, speculating they were turned away due to their prior coverage of the McBrooms, which included criticism of their legal and financial battles. Both suggested the Ace Fest would end in controversy.

Lux told Insider he felt "this was an opportunity for the Ace Family to let in their biggest critics and prove them wrong. But they dropped the ball." MadCatster added that the pair "left quietly, without making a scene."

Several high-profile internet drama channels, such as Defnoodles and Spill Sesh, who had previously been critical of the Ace Family in YouTube videos, posted footage showing themselves attending the event.

Many drama YouTubers gave the event largely negative reviews, saying it was "disappointing" considering the price of tickets. Some influencers included positive remarks in their assessment of the event, with Spill Sesh saying, "The way they were treating their fans was really sweet and really nice, and those interactions are going to keep fans wanting to meet them again and come to another event."

The McBrooms appeared to anticipate the festival might draw criticism. In a YouTube video posted on June 10, Austin McBroom advised fans not to "click these drama channels. Don't click these news outlets because they're just trying to get you to click. Just don't buy into it."

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Representatives for the Ace Family did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

The Ace Family is a vlogging YouTube account with over 18 million subscribers, run by Austin and Catherine McBroom, often featuring their three children.

The family has been embroiled in several reputation-damaging controversies over the past few years. Late last year, their $10 million mansion was foreclosed upon (they've since moved into a new home).

The influencers have also hosted controversial events in the past. In August 2021, various influencers filed lawsuits against Austin McBroom after participating in a boxing event he organized, saying they had not been paid for their involvement. Austin was also sued by the city of Beverly Hills after hosting what it said was an "unsanctioned" gathering of Ace Family fans in October 2021.

For more stories like this, check out coverage from Insider's Digital Culture team here.

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