Shay and Colette Butler, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, were living on food stamps just a few years ago. Now, thanks to their family vlog, the Butlers are now millionaires.
The Butlers, better known as the Shaytards, started a YouTube channel in 2007, first posting a video of Shay dancing in his wife’s unitard. Seeing the success that one video received, the family decided to keep filming videos and see what would happen. With more than 3.5 million subscribers and 2 billion video reviews, Shay explains to ABC News why he thinks his family has found YouTube success.
Inside, I think people want a happy family, that is a longing for a lot of people. And I think that is why people watch, to get hope that they can have that.
The Shaytards now have endorsement deals with companies like Target and BandAid, which helps them make a living. The Shaytards say they “know what it’s like to not be able to pay your bills,” and so when the opportunity came for them to make money while having fun as a family, they couldn’t turn it down.
The couple raises their five children in Pocatello, Idaho, where having cameras rolling on them is a daily occurrence. Despite the constant home videos, Shay tells ABC that he and his wife don’t want to force their kids into anything.
I don’t want to feel like I forced them into this stardom. But listen, if your dad is a farmer you gotta get up at 6 a.m. and milk the cows. If you’re my kid, you gotta look cute on camera.
Colette added that they have no aspirations for Hollywood or television roles since they strive to keep their kids grounded and represent who they really are. “We really want it to be a positive thing for our kids,” Colette explained.
Watch the ABC interview, posted above, and visit the Shaytard’s YouTube channel to watch some of their videos.
