Site icon Erika Vieira

Dietitian YouTuber Abbey Sharp Admits to Prioritizing Views Over Science – Here’s What Creators Can Learn

abbey sharp

Dietitian YouTuber Abbey Sharp Admits to Prioritizing Views Over Science – Here’s What Creators Can Learn

If you’ve been anywhere near YouTube’s nutrition corner lately, you’ve probably seen the drama around Canadian registered dietitian Abbey Sharp. She has 730K subscribers, years of TV appearances, a bestselling cookbook, and her own supplement line. But earlier this summer, she uploaded a video that set her audience on fire.

In her confession video, Abbey admitted that some of her most popular content wasn’t built purely on science — it was built on what got views. That means, at times, she gave health advice based on what played well in the algorithm, not what the research said.

The problem? Viewers didn’t see it as nuance — they saw it as backpedaling and a lack of accountability.

The Backlash Was Brutal

The comment section turned into a battlefield. Other YouTubers called her out for:

Abbey’s brand was built on trust. People followed her because she had credentials and entertainment value. But when you admit you were chasing clicks, you risk losing the credibility that made people listen in the first place.

Why This Matters for Every Creator

I’m not here to cancel Abbey Sharp — I’m here to pull lessons from her mistake, because every creator (especially those with professional expertise) needs to hear this.

1. Integrity beats trends. If you’re positioning yourself as an authority, your credibility comes first. Always.

2. The algorithm is not your boss. You can be engaging without distorting the truth or cherry-picking facts.

3. If you mess up, own it. A genuine apology takes responsibility — not just “I’m sorry you felt that way.”

At the end of the day, trust is your most valuable asset as a creator. You can recover from a drop in views. You can’t easily recover from a broken bond with your audience.

I hope Abbey uses this moment as a real turning point — and that it reminds all of us to protect our integrity before chasing viral success.

FREE RESOURCES

YOUTUBE COURSES AND COACHING

TRUSTED YOUTUBE TOOLS

RECOMMENDED YOUTUBE/PODCASTING EQUIPMENT:

*Links include affiliate links

**Erika Vieira is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to www.amazon.com.

***Disclaimers: all opinions are my own, sponsors are acknowledged. Links in the description are typically affiliate links that let you help support the podcast at no extra cost.

abbey sharp

Author: Erika Vieira

Marketing and sales expert Erika Vieira is the host and producer of the #1 influencer strategy podcast, The YouTube Power Hour. The podcast, with over 100 episodes and hundreds of thousands of downloads is dedicated to content creators who are looking to start, improve and grow their unique influence online. Erika works with influencers on personal branding, content improvement and defining a niche via customized strategy sessions, channel critiques and business support. She also loves makeup, beauty and her family and believes anyone who has the drive and passion can find success online. Feel free to send her a message here.

Exit mobile version