The Nerdwriter is a YouTube channel known for insightful video essays that provide deep analysis of film, television, and culture. Run by Evan Puschak, the Nerdwriter videos have earned acclaim for their thought-provoking perspectives and polished presentation. Some controversy has arisen regarding The Nerdwriter’s relationship with the academic writing service EssayShark.
In 2016, Puschak partnered with EssayShark to create video advertisements for the company. EssayShark markets itself as a provider of custom written essays and academic papers for students, though some criticize it and similar services as facilitators of plagiarism and cheating. Puschak’s inclusion in EssayShark ads sparked debate within his viewer base about the ethics of the partnership.
Supporters argued that the ads were simply a way for Puschak to financially support his video making and saw no issues with a content creator monetizing their work through promotional partnerships. Critics felt it sent mixed messages and implied an endorsement of questionable academic practices. Puschak addressed the criticism in a Reddit AMA, stating he understood both perspectives but viewed the ads as harmless sponsorship agreements.
The criticism intensified in 2018 when Puschak published an essay for EssayShark titled “How to Write a Winning College Application Essay.” Some argued providing direct writing advice to customers of an essay service amounted to aiding and abetting academic dishonesty. Puschak maintained his work for EssayShark was meant to help legitimate students improve their writing, not enable cheating. He stated he had controls to prevent the essay from being directly submitted as a student’s own work.
Nonetheless, the optics of the situation left Puschak open to accusations of hypocrisy. His Nerdwriter videos critique media through an academic lens that values original thought and self-expression. By associating with EssayShark, critics felt he compromised those principles by potentially enabling the passing off of others’ work as one’s own. Puschak faced calls online to disavow the EssayShark partnership in order to remain intellectually consistent with his channel’s stated values.
Some observers suggested the controversy partly stemmed from the misunderstanding of Puschak’s role. While he created promotional videos and writing advice, he did not directly participate in EssayShark’s academic services. He was an external content creator paid for marketing, not personally involved in the facilitation of potentially fraudulent writing submissions. Had his role been made clearer from the start, it may have lessened accusations of hypocrisy against him. The mere association with an essay mill left Puschak open to tainting perception of his channel’s integrity.
To this day, Puschak has not ended his partnership with EssayShark or addressed renewed criticism on the subject. While his video production has continued to earn praise, the cloud of this sponsorship still lingers over assessments of The Nerdwriter project. While advertising conflicts may be an inevitable part of running a popular YouTube channel, the EssayShark deal highlighted the complex ethical questions that can arise. Creators must balance commercial opportunities against preventing harm or perceptions that undermine their stated messages and brand image.
Had Puschak acknowledged critics’ concerns more directly instead of dismissing them, he may have regained some benefit of the doubt. Continued silence allows the controversy to persist and questions about hypocrisy to linger unanswered. It remains a cautionary tale for online video makers seeking corporate sponsorships—even seemingly innocuous deals can damage a creator’s credibility if the optics compromise their stated principles or values. For The Nerdwriter, critiquing media through an academic lens while also partnering with an essay service continues to represent a thorny contradiction for some.
While Puschak’s video essays remain insightful, his EssayShark sponsorship remains a blemish that complicates assessments of The Nerdwriter brand and project overall. Had he distanced himself from the service in order to cement his intellectual consistency and commitment to original thought, it could have put the controversy fully to rest. Until then, the ethics of the partnership will continue to divide viewers and cloud perceptions of one of YouTube’s most acclaimed video essay channels and its creator’s credibility. It serves as an example of how even minor perceived hypocrisies or contradictions can undermine a public figure’s virtuous image if left unaddressed and unresolved.