The Five Shocking Reasons A Quarter-Million Users Signed The Petition To Remove Roblox CEO David Baszucki

The digital world is in turmoil, and the focus is squarely on the leadership of one of the world's largest gaming platforms. As of late December 2025, a massive user revolt has manifested in a viral Change.org petition demanding the immediate removal of Roblox Corporation CEO and co-founder, David Baszucki. This unprecedented pushback, which has garnered over a quarter of a million signatures in a matter of weeks, is not merely a protest against a new policy but a culmination of deep-seated frustrations regarding platform safety, moderation failures, and the company's overall direction.

The core of the crisis revolves around a series of high-profile controversies, with critics arguing that Baszucki’s leadership has prioritized growth and adult expansion over the well-being of the platform’s predominantly young user base. This article details the full profile of the man at the center of the storm and breaks down the five critical reasons why the community is demanding his resignation.

David Baszucki: Biography and Profile

David Brent Baszucki, known to millions of Roblox users by his developer username, "builderman," is a Canadian-born American entrepreneur, engineer, and software developer. He is the co-founder and current Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Roblox Corporation, the company behind the global sensation, Roblox.

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• Full Name: David Brent Baszucki
• Roblox Username: builderman
• Date of Birth: January 20, 1963
• Birthplace: Canada (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
• Education: Graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Electrical Engineering.
• Early Career: Baszucki co-founded his first company, Knowledge Revolution, in 1989, which created a physics simulator called "Interactive Physics." The company was later acquired by MSC Software in 1998 for $20 million.
• Roblox Foundation: He co-founded Roblox with the late Erik Cassel in 2004 (originally named DynaBlocks), with the platform officially launching in 2006.
• Marital Status: Married to author Jan Ellison; they have four children.
• Estimated Net Worth: Forbes estimates his net worth to be approximately $5.6 billion USD as of December 2025, solidifying his status as a major tech billionaire.

The Five Explosive Reasons Fueling the CEO Removal Petition

The Change.org petition, titled "Remove David Baszucki," quickly became a viral phenomenon, signaling a critical lack of trust between the Roblox community and its executive leadership. The following five issues represent the primary grievances driving the petition's massive signature count, which has surpassed 250,000 in a remarkably short time.

1. The Schlep Controversy and the Moderation Crisis

The single most significant catalyst for the petition was the infamous "Schlep" incident in August 2025. Schlep, a popular YouTuber known for conducting sting operations to expose sexual predators and child exploitation on the Roblox platform, was permanently banned by the company.

The ban came after Schlep's videos provided extensive evidence of harmful content and predatory behavior, raising serious questions about Roblox's commitment to child safety. Critics argue that instead of cooperating with the content creator who was actively protecting children, the Roblox Corporation chose to silence him, a move seen by many as protecting the platform's image over its users. This perceived prioritization of public relations over safety sparked immediate and widespread outrage, directly leading to the petition's launch.

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2. Persistent Failure to Combat Child Exploitation and Harmful Content

The Schlep incident merely amplified a long-standing criticism: the platform's alleged failure to adequately moderate content and protect its young audience. The petition explicitly blames Baszucki’s leadership for allowing "dangerous content" and failing to "act quickly" against sexual predators.

Despite the platform's massive resources and its target demographic of children, users claim that the moderation system is fundamentally broken. Reports of inappropriate games, explicit content, and grooming attempts remain alarmingly common. The petition claims that under Baszucki's watch, Roblox has maintained a policy of "next to no moderation," putting millions of children at risk and creating a systemic child safety crisis.

3. The Controversial Push for Adult Content and R-Rated Games

A significant shift in corporate strategy under Baszucki has been the push to expand the platform's demographic beyond children and teens to include older users. This ambition has been viewed by many parents and users as a dangerous move that directly conflicts with the platform's initial family-friendly image.

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In 2024 and 2025, Roblox introduced features and policies to accommodate more "mature" experiences, including discussions around R-rated games and content catering to adults. Critics argue that this pursuit of a broader, more profitable adult market has inevitably diluted safety standards and made the platform a more hostile environment for younger players, contributing to the overall moderation crisis.

4. Controversial Corporate Responses and Lack of Transparency

The company’s official response to the underlying controversies has often exacerbated the situation, further damaging user trust. Following the Schlep ban, the Roblox Corporation's legal team sent a cease and desist letter to the YouTuber, which was widely seen as an aggressive and counterproductive attempt to suppress criticism rather than address the safety issues raised.

Furthermore, Baszucki himself faced public scrutiny after an interview on a tech podcast where he appeared "flustered" when questioned about the platform's moderation failures. The perceived lack of accountability and the defensive corporate posture—highlighted by the absence of a direct, reassuring statement to the community regarding the petition—have solidified the narrative that executive leadership is out of touch with user concerns.

5. The Implementation of AI-Assisted Facial Age Estimation

Another policy change that drew significant user backlash was the announcement of new AI-assisted facial age estimation technology. While ostensibly a move to verify age and enforce safety, the technology was met with privacy concerns and skepticism from the community.

Many users questioned the necessity and security of submitting facial data to the platform, particularly given the ongoing data privacy debates surrounding large tech companies. This move was interpreted by some as an overreach and a corporate attempt to use technology to solve a problem—moderation—that they believe should be addressed through increased human oversight and better policy enforcement, all while expanding the platform’s data collection efforts.

What Happens Next: The Impact of a Viral Petition

While a Change.org petition demanding the resignation of a CEO is a powerful symbol of user outrage, it does not hold the legal or corporate authority to force David Baszucki's removal. The Roblox Corporation is a publicly traded company (NYSE: RBLX), and any change in executive leadership would require a decision from the Board of Directors, which is primarily driven by shareholder value and financial performance.

However, the sheer volume of signatures—over 250,000—and the intense media scrutiny generated by the Schlep controversy and the subsequent petition have a tangible impact on the company’s reputation and stock performance.

The petition serves as a critical signal to investors, advertisers, and regulatory bodies that there is a major confidence crisis among the platform’s user base. The ongoing public pressure forces the Roblox Corporation to address the moderation and child safety issues more seriously than ever before. For "builderman," the co-founder who has been with the platform since its inception, the petition represents the most significant challenge to his leadership and vision for the future of the Roblox metaverse.

As the situation develops, the community will be watching closely for a definitive, transparent, and actionable response from Baszucki and the executive team that goes beyond legal letters and new technology, aiming instead for genuine accountability and a renewed commitment to user safety.