The scandal began when one of Hobson's biological children contacted the police after witnessing her adopted siblings being systematically abused by her mother.

[5][6][7] On June 17, 2012,[8] Machelle Hackney Hobson created a YouTube channel, Fantastic Adventures, which would feature videos starring her seven adopted children.

[9] The channel ultimately attracted more than 800,000 subscribers,[8] more than 350 million views,[9] and netted at least tens of thousands of dollars in revenue.

[10] In 2017, one of the children involved in Hobson's videos was seen running naked through the neighborhood, raising suspicion among the neighbors as to some sort of impropriety.

[14] In May 2019, Hobson suffered a non-trauma-related brain injury at Pinal County Jail, and she was transferred to a local hospital.