The Janoskians (Just another name of silly kids in another nation)[2] was a YouTube comedy group and pop music group from Melbourne, Australia. They consisted of brothers Beau, Luke, and Jai Brooks, and Daniel Sahyounie and James Yammouni. Their videos include performing gross out humour and pranks on non-consenting members of the public as well as each other, mockumentaries, dares and skits.
Yammouni left in 2016. In 2018, the Janoskians broke up due to losing interest in maintaining the act.[3]
Career
The Janoskians began their YouTube channel in July 2011; they also have three secondary channels.[4] They were featured on Ellen'sDance Dares.[5] They appeared in the music video for "Forget the World" by Australian singer Faydee on 14 August 2012.[6]
In 2012, the Janoskians signed with Sony Music Australia.[7] Their first single, "Set This World on Fire", was released on 18 September 2012.[8] It spent 3 weeks on the Australian Singles Chart and peaked at number 19.[9] In New Zealand, it debuted at number 23; it spent a single week on the chart.[10] Their follow-up single "Best Friends" debuted at number 30 in Australia before falling off the chart the following week.[11][12] In late 2012, MTV Australia released the web series The Janoskians: MTV Sessions.[13][14] In May 2014, Lionsgate signed the group with a movie deal.[15] On 2 March 2015, they released the EP Would U Love Me.[16] Its first single "Real Girls Eat Cake" was their final single to chart in Australia, peaking at number 63.[17] In August, they released the Netflix film Janoskians Untold & Untrue and appeared at the 28th Annual Kids Choice Awards.[18][19] They released several singles that year and continued to regularly release them through 2018.[20]
On 28 August 2018, the film Public Disturbance was released.[21] Following this, the group ceased using the YouTube platform; Jai Brooks confirmed their break-up in May 2020.[3][22]
Criticism
The Janoskians have been criticised for their reckless, dangerous and juvenile behaviour, and pushing boundaries too far.[23]Media commentator Prue MacSween stated that, "Their act – if you can call it that – is so juvenile, and I think really irresponsible. It's astounding the power of the internet now. It just tells you that this global audience can be viral and suddenly nobodies with very little talent can suddenly be known by the world". The group has been criticised for pulling "disgusting pranks on strangers" and for engaging in "sleazy, offensive and intimidating" behaviour around babies and women.[24]
Set This World on Fire and Best Friends: Hung, Steffen. "Discography The Janoskians". Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung). Archived from the original on 7 May 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
^Hung, Steffen. "Discografie The Janoskians". Dutch Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung). Archived from the original on 13 May 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
^Hung, Steffen. "Discography The Janoskians". New Zealand Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung). Archived from the original on 25 July 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
