Mighty Mike Plays is facing another wave of backlash after its official store began selling AI-assisted T-shirts for up to $97, including a $67 design built around the alleged $118,000 advertising bill that put the channel under scrutiny.
The channel is run by 9-year-old Mike, whose father, Dave, previously claimed that his son accidentally spent $118,000 on YouTube advertising for Minecraft and Roblox videos using a company credit card. Dexerto previously reported on the original claim.
In a later update, Dave said he had lost his job and was expected to repay the full amount within 30 days. He also said the family was considering selling their home and would not set up a GoFundMe. That update was covered by Dexerto here.
The channel admits AI was used in the designs
The latest development came in a video titled “I have some really bad news…”, where the channel’s description says comments were turned off after viewers became “way too aggressive over our use of AI tools for design creation.”
The description also claims the family has been transparent about the $118K story, stating: “I have been completely transparent and even uploaded the credit card balance as proof of the $118k ad spend.”
A deleted Community post preserved in a Reddit thread was even more direct, saying: “AI is here to stay, adapt or get left behind” and “YES we used AI to help design the t-shirt graphics.”
The post sparked criticism from viewers who objected to the use of AI and questioned why the family was selling expensive shirts instead of accepting financial help. Several commenters also pointed to the fact that the channel turned off comments after the backlash intensified.
The store now sells an “118K” shirt
Mighty Mike Plays’ official store currently lists 14 products, with prices ranging from $67 to $97.
The “118K” Black Tee is priced at $67 and is marketed as a “Legendary Drop.” Its product description calls the number “one viral moment” and says the shirt turns “one of Mighty Mike’s most unforgettable numbers” into a streetwear design.
The store also lists $97 versions of the “WASSUP CHAT” and “I’M DEFINITELY COOKED” designs, while standard shirts using those slogans are priced at $67.
Tom’s Hardware reported that Dave later shared a screenshot purporting to show the credit-card balance before removing it.
The image appears to show an American Express Business Gold Rewards card with a remaining statement balance of $118,479.83, a total balance of $120,628.49, and a statement period running from July 27 to August 26. The card also displays “No preset spending limit.”
The screenshot confirms that the image circulated and that the figures match the amount Dave discussed, but it does not independently prove that the account belongs to him, that every charge came from YouTube advertising, or that the image has not been altered.
For now, the new focus is less on whether the screenshot settles the $118K story and more on how the controversy is being monetized. The combination of AI-assisted designs, shirts priced near $100, a product built around the “118K” figure, and comments being disabled has reignited skepticism around Mighty Mike Plays.