YouTube and Disney Bail on Megastar PewDiePie Over Anti-Semitic Jokes

Last week YouTube canceled PewDiePie’s show because of anti-Semitic jokes and Nazi imagery from videos dating back to August 2016, reports Digital Trends. In

Subscription News: YouTube and Disney Bail on Megastar PewDiePie Over Anti-Semitic Jokes

Source: YouTube

Last week YouTube canceled PewDiePie’s show because of anti-Semitic jokes and Nazi imagery from videos dating back to August 2016, reports Digital Trends. In a January 11th video, for example, PewDiePie paid two Indian men he met through freelance site Fiverr to hold a sign that said “Death to All Jews.” The men were initially banned from Fiverr, says Digital Trends. The men later made a video apology, claiming they didn’t know what the sign meant, and PewDiePie helped to get them reinstated. PewDiePie has removed several of the videos on YouTube already.

According to The Verge, YouTube was set to release the second season of Scare PewDiePie, an original series for YouTube Red, the company’s premium subscription service. The release of the show has been canceled, and PewDiePie has been removed from the Google preferred advertising program. This will impact the star’s earnings, but he can still earn revenue from regular ads on YouTube.

Disney, who had a partnership with PewDiePie through Maker Studios, has severed ties with the internet star, saying he went too far and his videos were inappropriate, says The Verge. YouTube has not canceled PewDiePie’s popular YouTube channel, however, which has 53 million subscribers. According to Forbes, PewDiePie is the highest-paid YouTube star of 2015 and 2016. In 2016, PewDiePie made $15 million.

Subscription News: YouTube and Disney Bail on Megastar PewDiePie Over Anti-Semitic Jokes

Source: YouTube

Felix Kjellberg, who goes by PewDiePie, commented on the action on a Tumblr post dated February 12:

“This originated from a video I made a couple of weeks ago. I was trying to show how crazy the modern world is, specifically some of the services available online. I picked something that seemed absurd to me – that people on Fiverr would say anything for 5 dollars,” Kjellberg says. “I think it is important to say something, and I want to make one thing clear: I am in no way supporting any kind of hateful attitudes.”

Subscription News: YouTube and Disney Bail on Megastar PewDiePie Over Anti-Semitic Jokes

Source: Wikipedia

“I made videos for my audience. I think of the content that I create as entertainment, and not a place for any serious political commentary. I know my audience understand (sic) that and that is why they come to my channel. Though this was not my intention, I understand that these jokes were ultimately offensive,” he adds. “As laughable as it is to believe that I might actually endorse these people, to anyone unsure on my standpoint regarding hate-based groups: No, I don’t support these people in any way,” he concludes.

Mashable points out that YouTube doesn’t typically censor homegrown stars like PewDiePie and satire is permitted. However, YouTube’s advertising-friendly content guidelines prohibit certain types of content, including sexually suggestive, violent, inappropriate, offensive or harassing, drug-related and controversial or sensitive content. Posting that type of content can hurt a YouTube star’s ability to earn advertising revenue.

In YouTube’s standard policies, it addresses hate speech specifically. YouTube says it encourages free speech and will try to defend a YouTuber’s right to express unpopular points of view, but they do not permit hate speech including speech that promotes violence or hatred against individuals or groups based on race or ethnic origin, religion, disability, gender, age, veteran status or sexual orientation and gender identity.

“There is a fine line between what is and what is not considered to be hate speech. For instance, it is generally okay to criticize a nation-state, but not okay to post malicious hateful comments about a group of people solely based on their ethnicity,” says YouTube’s hate speech policy.

There doesn’t seem to be a fine line here, but if there is, PewDiePie crossed it.

Insider Take:

This is a delicate situation for all parties involved. PewDiePie claims he meant no offense; he was trying to prove a point. YouTube reacted by canceling the second season of PewDiePie’s show and removing him from the Google preferred advertising program. Disney pulled out altogether.

But PewDiePie is YouTube’s biggest star, and he is a big draw to the free site and to the paid version, YouTube Red. Alienating him could be costly to YouTube, and YouTube seems to have backtracked on its own hate speech policy by allowing the videos to be posted. YouTube has made a statement, sort of.

Disney, on the other hand, spoke clearly, saying “this is not ok.” PewDiePie, with such a huge following, is unlikely to be significantly impacted. He’ll continue to make money, though maybe not as much, and he will likely replace any followers he loses along the way.

This is the danger when brands – including subscription companies – tie themselves to a provocative star like PewDiePie. Sure, they can ride his coattails to fame and fortune, but at some point, they must stand for something.  Based on its own hate speech policy, YouTube waffled. It did not stand behind its own hate speech policy, and this could come back to bite them.  

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