Two of TikTok and Instagram's young stars, Bryce Hall and Jaden Hossler, were arrested last night, in Texas. Footage of the pair being detained by the Lee County Sheriff department made its way onto TikTok and YouTube early this morning.
Bryce and Jaden are part of the "Sway House", a group of TikTok creators with millions of views per video. Both men, aged 20 and 19 respectively, have over 6 million followers on TikTok and about 3 million on Instagram. Their content usually involves them lip-syncing to rap songs and doing popular dances alongside a mix of challenge videos. The two, along with the Sway House group, reside in a California mansion as part of a marketing deal/social media strategy with a company called TalentX Entertainment.
Videos started to surface shortly after Bryce posted about an impending road trip on Twitter. Within hours of a post which mentioned they'd just arrived in Texas, footage from TikTok users in Giddings, Texas showed Bryce, Jaden, and a few other friends being questioned by police officers. A look at the public inmate records for the Lee County, Texas Sheriff's Office reveals mugshots and details on the reason behind their arrest. The records show both are being charged with possession of marijuana, and a TikTok video from a nearby convenience store implies the boys were pulled over first, presumably leading to officers finding the contraband. Multiple YouTube videos have been released compiling the footage.
Bryce and Jaden Historically Court Controversy
Bryce Hall, Jaden Hossler, and most of the other members of Sway are not exactly known for wholesome content. They frequently celebrate hip-hop music and the related culture of drugs and sex. The majority of their videos on TikTok involve some form of either flipping off the camera or miming receiving oral sex from women or one another. While their fans on social media seem surprised to see them in police custody, that reaction appears to be inspired by the shock of the event itself, rather than a disbelief that the group would engage in illegal activity.
Bryce specifically has faced accusations of sexual misconduct as a teenager while working with his previous social media marketing firm. Details about the allegations are scarce but some followers believe his misconduct led to his removal from that tour. Jaden Hossler is an aspiring singer and fans consider him to be a "good guy" type. He recently launched a music career and his single "Angels & Demons" has millions of views on YouTube. As of this writing no public statements have been released from TalentX Entertainment, Bryce, Jaden, or personal contacts.
Source: YouTube, Lee County Sheriff's Office