About

All Or Nothing refers to an infamous Tumblr post and eventual crowdfunding project centered around a proposed sitcom called All Or Nothing, which would follow a pair of roommates who identify as asexual and pansexual. The general premise was constructed around the title, with other users adding components to the story, such as characterizations of each roommate, intended to subvert stereotypes and expectations about their respective identities.

Similar to the Miss Officer and Mr Truffles debacle, the proposal, at first a lighthearted post discussing a loose idea for a sitcom, was met with genuine enthusiasm from users on the platform, who moved to legitimize it. Despite successfully crowdfunding nearly $6,000, nothing (supposedly) related to the project materialized, leading to the incident largely being remembered as a deliberate scam. All Or Nothing eventually came to be regarded as a significant piece of Tumblr history and a long-running meme.

Origin

On February 19th, 2014, Tumblr^[1] user @discontentramblings wrote a text post joking about a show revolving around a pair of roommates, one asexual and the other pansexual, called All Or Nothing, in reference to the pansexual character's attraction to all genders and the asexual character's lack of attraction toward any. The post quickly spread across the platform, as Tumblr users loved the concept for its representation of ace and pan characters, which was rare at the time.

The same day, Tumblr^[2] user @everythingisnightvale expanded on the idea, introducing a subversion of stereotypes associated with each roommate's identity.

Spread

As the thread continued to gain traction on the platform, new additions to the thread solidified both the concept and the now-infamous post itself, which would spread beyond Tumblr and into the wider internet consciousness via screenshots. In a now deleted addition to the thread, Tumblr^[3] user @schrodingersnerd posted fan art of the theoretical sitcom's main characters.

As hype surrounding the concept for All Or Nothing continued to build, an Indiegogo^[4] fundraiser for the project was created by a teenager named Kaye Abernathy (username kitkatpaddywak on Tumblr at the time) on June 16th, 2014, receiving full funding for its initial goal of $600 in about four days.

A complete version of the original thread illustrating the sequence of events up to this point, archived by Tumblr^[3] user @heritageposts, can be seen below. Much of the meme's notoriety outside of Tumblr has been facilitated by the spread of screenshots of the thread.

The campaign succeeded due to massive Tumblr hype and excitement for queer representation, with the fundraiser eventually amassing close to $6000 USD. On June 24th, 2014, Tumblr^[5] user @realmorrigan expressed excitement for the show's release.

Though backers expected a real show, things fell apart quickly. The project's creators, most of whom were teenagers, had no prior production experience and were largely unprepared to handle an undertaking of that scale, as evidenced by their correspondence with those interested via the official All Or Nothing series account, @allornothingweb.^[6]

As more users asked questions, it became clear that the team behind the project had not established a comprehensive production plan, finalized scripts, or a detailed budget. Observers also noted that the crowdfunding target was set far below what would realistically be required to cover even a basic production. Updates would eventually cease altogether, turning it into a full-blown scandal on Tumblr.

Aftermath

Years passed with no updates, prompting many Tumblr users to assume that the All Or Nothing fiasco had been a deliberate scam, as none of the backers received refunds for their contributions to the campaign. On November 3rd, 2017, Kaye (@kitkatpaddywak) posted a detailed apology^[7] on Tumblr, taking full responsibility for the lost funds and explaining the sequence of events. In the post, they stated that much of the fallout was the result of being a “stupid and irresponsible 16-year-old.”

According to Kaye, the crowdfunding proceeds were deposited into the bank account of a family member because Kaye did not have a bank account at the time. Kaye later stated that the family member used the funds for personal expenses. Following the loss of the money, they went silent and tried to ignore the backlash.

Legacy

The All Or Nothing saga became a significant piece of Tumblr folklore and a cautionary tale about hype-driven projects. The incident continues to be referenced online, often humorously, in discussions about crowdfunding campaigns that users perceive as questionable or unlikely to succeed.

On March 21st, 2021, YouTuber^[8] @SarahZ posted a video essay titled "Tumblr's $6000 Scam: The Story of All or Nothing," which would come to be regarded as one of the most comprehensive examinations of the controversy.

In the video, Sarah Z argues that the project was likely the result of inexperience and poor planning rather than intentional fraud, characterizing its creators as teenagers who became overwhelmed by a project they were unprepared to manage and subsequently mishandled its collapse. The video has received 2.1 million views as of June 2026.

Various Examples

Search Interest

External References