THE BACKYARD BREAKS SCANDAL: What You Allow Becomes the Culture
What You Allow Becomes the Culture: Why Accountability Matters in Every Community
What Up, Chicken Nuggets? Let’s Talk About This.
Alright, y’all. Let’s get real. You ever scroll through social media and see something so wild that you have to pause, rub your eyes, and make sure you didn’t accidentally step into an alternate universe? That’s basically what happened with this Backyard Breaks situation—and we gotta talk about it.
For those of you who don’t know, Backyard Breaks is one of the biggest names in the sports card world. They do live breaks, repacks, and sell a ton of cards on platforms like Whatnot. Recently, one of their main guys, Grant, said some things on a live stream that were beyond inappropriate—we’re talking reprehensible. And instead of realizing, "Oh snap, I just crossed a line," he doubled down. Now, the sports card community is having a whole conversation about accountability, consequences, and culture.
But here’s the thing—I don’t want to just rehash the drama. Instead, I want to zoom out and talk about something bigger: how organizations, whether it’s a company, a school, or a streaming platform, shape their culture by what they allow.
Leadership Sets the Tone🎓
Back when I was a principal of a 6th-12th grade school, I had to attend monthly courthouse hearings for students who had serious discipline issues—truancy, bomb threats, weapons at school, you name it. Sitting there, I got a front-row seat to how different schools handled serious offenses.
At my school, if a student did something major, we took it seriously. If their actions jeopardized the safety or well-being of others, we made the tough call: they weren’t coming back. No second chances for stuff that crossed that line.
But then I’d hear from other schools, even huge ones, saying things like, “Oh, we just sent them to alternative school for two months” or “We gave them a week of out-of-school suspension.” Meanwhile, I’m sitting there thinking, "Wait… you let them come back?"
That’s when it hit me: the culture of a place is determined by what leadership allows. If you let people slide with major infractions, you’re telling everyone this is acceptable here.
What Companies Allow Becomes Their Culture 💰
Back to the sports card world. Companies like Backyard Breaks and the platforms they work with—Whatnot, PSA, Fanatics, etc.—aren’t just businesses. They’re setting a tone for the entire community.
If a company keeps elevating people who say or do offensive things, then they’re sending a message:
✅ "We’re okay with this."
✅ "This fits our brand."
✅ "This is who we want to represent us."
And let’s be real—money plays a role here. Backyard Breaks brings in serious revenue for Whatnot and other companies, so will they actually hold them accountable? Or will they protect their cash flow over their community?
The way these companies respond tells us who they really are. If they ignore it or brush it under the rug, they’re saying, "Hey, controversy is just part of the game, and we don’t really care about the people it affects."
What Can We Actually Do?
I get it—when stuff like this happens, it’s easy to feel powerless. But here’s what I think we CAN do:
1️⃣ Don’t Support People Who Go Against Your Values 🚫
If someone’s voice or actions don’t align with your values, don’t give them your time, money, or attention. Simple.
I’ve never personally bought anything from Backyard Breaks, and after this? I’m even more sure they’re not for me. But if you’ve been a fan, this is your moment to decide where you stand.
2️⃣ Hold Companies Accountable
If Whatnot, PSA, or other big brands keep promoting people who cross major lines, we get to decide how we engage with them. Ask yourself: Do you still want to support a company that’s okay with this?
If they DO take action and hold people accountable, then great—they're showing they care about the community. If they DON’T? That tells us everything we need to know.
3️⃣ Set the Standard in Your Own Spaces 🏡
I might not run a billion-dollar company, but I DO run my own content and community. And I take that responsibility seriously.
If someone drops a racist, sexist, or degrading comment on my videos? Blocked.
If I see something inappropriate in my community? Gone.
I try to create a space where people feel safe and welcome.
It’s the same reason I wouldn’t let my kids watch a Backyard Breaks stream. If I wouldn’t want my kids around it, why would I allow it in my community?
Cancel Culture vs. Consequences 🤔
A lot of people love throwing around the phrase “cancel culture”—but let’s be clear:
🚫 This isn’t about canceling someone.
✅ This is about CONSEQUENCES.
When Logan Paul did that awful thing in Japan, people thought he was done forever—but he bounced back, (seems to have) learned, and is more successful than ever.
Nobody’s stopping Grant or Backyard Breaks from making content. The question is: Do people still want to support them?
That’s the real test.
Final Thoughts: Where Do You Stand? 🤷♂️
At the end of the day, we all have a line. Some people will say, “Meh, I don’t care, I’m still gonna buy from them.” Others will say, “Nah, I’m done.” And that’s your call.
For me? I’m out. It was never my vibe to begin with, and now I know for sure it’s not for me.
But I want to hear from YOU:
Where do you draw the line?
Does this change how you feel about companies that work with Backyard Breaks?
What do you think accountability should look like?
Drop a comment or hit me up on social media—I want to process this with y’all.
TL;DR: What you allow becomes your culture. Companies, schools, and communities all set the tone by what they tolerate. And for me? I’m not about that life.
Be kind. Be good. And never stop collecting. 🎤
