In an age where someone can earn millions of dollars and celebrity status by just yelling into a microphone whilst playing video games, one can’t really be surprised when these so called “professionals” reveal their sinister sides.
With 53 million subscribers to his channel Felix Kjellberg, aka PewDiePie, is YouTube’s most successful content creator. The Swedish internet personality, known for his provocative nature, has landed himself in hot water after recent videos reveal he finds anti-semitic jokes funny.
Disney’s online network Maker Studios, responsible for supporting the YouTuber, has since dropped PewDiePie from their roster of talent.
The Wall Street Journal conducted a thorough investigation of Kjellberg’s videos since August last year, and found nine videos containing Nazi and Hitler imagery, as well as other anti-Semitic remarks.
In one video, PewDiePie hired two Indian men to hold up a sign reading “Death to all Jews”. In another, he shows a man dressed as Jesus, saying “Hitler did absolutely nothing wrong.” With such a huge following, who knows what these messages have done to influence the young minds of his viewers.
Once the investigation was brought to Disney’s Maker Studios, the company pulled the channel from their representation, commenting “he clearly went too far in this case and the resulting videos are inappropriate.”
YouTube proceeded to pull PewDiePie from their premium advertising program and cancelled the second season of the gamer’s show.
PewDiePie’s response to the issue was a half-hearted Tumblr apology, claiming he creates his videos for entertainment purposes and doesn’t support “any kind of hateful attitudes.”
His excuse was that his jokes were intended to “show how crazy the modern world is.” Biggest backpedal of the century?
In this turbulent political climate, YouTube is facing the issue of preserving freedom of speech whilst ensuring they do not endorse or perpetuate hate speech.
While you’re here, check out our list of Disney songs that rule.
