Few Tumblr stories are remembered quite like All Or Nothing. What began as a lighthearted post imagining a sitcom about two roommates quickly grew into one of the platform's most ambitious community projects, fueled by widespread enthusiasm and a desire for greater LGBTQ+ representation.

However, the excitement surrounding the project eventually gave way to controversy. After thousands of dollars were raised through crowdfunding and years passed without a finished product, All Or Nothing became a cautionary tale frequently referenced in discussions about internet hype, crowdfunding campaigns and overly ambitious online projects.

Here's what happened with All Or Nothing, and why the show continues to spark memes and discourse to this day.

What Is 'All Or Nothing' And What Happened With It?

The origins of All Or Nothing can be traced to February 19th, 2014, when Tumblr user discontentramblings posted a joke about a sitcom centered on two roommates, one asexual and one pansexual. The proposed title, "All Or Nothing," referenced the contrast between the two characters' identities.

The concept quickly gained traction on Tumblr as it began garnering attention and discussion from other users on the platform.

Later that same day, Tumblr user everythingisnightvale expanded on the idea by adding character details that subverted stereotypes commonly associated with both identities.

As additional users contributed ideas, the concept evolved from a simple joke into a more fully imagined fictional series.

The thread continued to grow throughout 2014. Fan art, character concepts and additional worldbuilding helped transform the post into one of Tumblr's most recognizable collaborative creations.

As enthusiasm continued to build, teenager Kaye Abernathy, known on Tumblr as kitkatpaddywak, launched an Indiegogo campaign for a real All Or Nothing web series on June 16th, 2014.

The fundraiser quickly surpassed its initial $600 goal and ultimately raised nearly $6,000 thanks to widespread excitement surrounding the project.

Reactions To The 'All Or Nothing' Controversy

While supporters initially expected the crowdfunding campaign to lead to a genuine web series and animation, concerns emerged as users began asking questions about production plans, budgeting and logistics following the early hype.

Observers noted that the team behind the project had little or no prior production experience. Questions directed at the official All Or Nothing account increasingly revealed a lack of finalized scripts, detailed budgeting and concrete plans for creating the series.

Critics also pointed out that even the expanded crowdfunding total would likely have fallen far short of what would be needed to produce even a low-budget project.

As time passed, updates became less frequent before stopping altogether. With no show released and no visible progress being made, many supporters began questioning what had happened to the money raised during the campaign.

Years later, All Or Nothing had become widely regarded as one of Tumblr's most infamous crowdfunding failures. Many users came to believe the project had been a deliberate scam, particularly because contributors never received refunds and communication surrounding the project largely disappeared.

On November 3rd, 2017, Kaye Abernathy finally posted a lengthy apology on Tumblr addressing the controversy.

In the statement, they accepted responsibility for the project's failure and described the situation as the result of poor judgment and inexperience.

According to the post, the campaign funds had been deposited into a family member's bank account because Kaye did not have one of their own at the time. Following the loss of the funds, they said they withdrew from the situation and stopped communicating with supporters.

Despite the apology, All Or Nothing remained a frequent reference point online. Over time, the incident became part of Tumblr folklore and is still cited in discussions about crowdfunding campaigns that users view as unrealistic, suspicious or overly ambitious.

What Are Some Related Memes Or Events?

The legacy of All Or Nothing extends beyond the original fundraiser. The incident remains one of Tumblr's most frequently referenced cautionary tales and is often invoked whenever ambitious community-driven projects begin attracting crowdfunding support.

Miss Officer and Mr Truffles

Like All Or Nothing, Miss Officer and Mr Truffles began as a relatively small Tumblr concept before rapidly growing into a community-driven phenomenon.

However, despite raising money and attracting widespread support, the proposed series never materialized, leading many users to compare it to All Or Nothing in later discussions about failed internet-funded projects.

What Are Some Examples Of 'All Or Nothing' Memes And Reactions?

@koolyoin Also sneak peak of my next drawing bbgs #koolyoin #fyp #allornothing #tumblr #tumblr2014 #scam #comic #oc #originalcharacter #artist ♬ Kung Fu Fighting – Carl Douglas

@thesquirrelqueer okay so i had this idea for a tv show #allornothing#tumblrhistory#tumblr#tiktokart#procreate ♬ I'll Be There for You (TV Version with Dialogue) – The Rembrandts

@paigeion

plot twist

♬ CRAFT – OFEKNIV

@mistavelvet Replying to @Горноє Кольцо із Гонконга ❉ ALL OR NOTHING (shout out to my girl sarah z who also made a video about this. I had to go through a bunch of media for this vid but her video was the most comprehensive 😙) #tumblr #fandom #tumblrveteran #tumblrlore #anime #cosplay #fanfic #ao3 #fandomdrama #cosplayer #greenscreen ♬ Chopin Nocturne No. 2 Piano Mono – moshimo sound design

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For the full history of the All Or Nothing controversy, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry.