Disney cut ties with the highest paid YouTube star, PewDiePie on anti-Semitism allegations
The reason for this decision was that he released several videos over the past several months, which contained anti-Semitic imagery and Nazi references. PewDiePie or Felix Kjellberg (real name) admitted that the materials he posted were offensive. However, he also insisted that they did not support any form of hateful attitude. According to reports, this Swedish star made $15m through YouTube last year.
Reason for His Fame
PewDiePie has become famous due to his association with Disney through Maker Studios, which is a company that supports a network of YouTube stars. The company draws billions of viewers each month and generates a huge income through advertising. Addressing this incidence, Maker Studios made a comment, saying:
“Although Felix has created a following by being provocative and irreverent, he clearly went too far in this case and the resulting videos are inappropriate”. In a controversial video, Kjellberg paid a couple of Indians to hold up a sign that said “Death to all Jews”, and paid them through crowd funding.
PewDiePie’s Background
He is a web-based comedian, who is famous for his commentaries titled “Let’s Play” and other vlogs he posts on YouTube. Originally, he pursued studies in Technology Management and Industrial Economics. In 2010, he was in university when he first registered on YouTube with the name PewDiePie, Soon he fell out of university as he lost interest in his studies. He then began to focus on earning as an apprentice through advertising in collaboration with a Scandinavian agency. Soon he gained fame and posted Photoshop art projects while he continued work at a hot dog stand.
Criticism for PewDiePie
This news got a lot of criticism. PewDiePie said, “Trying to show how crazy the modern world is, specifically some of the services available online”. He also said that people “would say anything for five dollars”. However, showing his regret to the incidence he added, “Though this was not my intention, I understand that these jokes were ultimately offensive.” In other videos on YouTube PewDiePie, also did a brief Nazi salute and had a video with swastikas drawn by a fan. He insisted all this was not supposed to be offensive but a joke of sorts.
Many of his fans would also know that last year, PewDiePie’s Twitter account was temporarily suspended. That was because he made similar jokes about an Islamic State.
Will PewDiePie Learn a Lesson?
It seems he has understood that making such videos is not funny to everyone. People don’t always have the same views about this for a number of reasons. The good thing about this incidence is that PewDiePie apologized and realized he was wrong to do such a thing. There is hope that he will not repeat such an act again in future, but some people may say otherwise. He had made an offensive joke about an Islamic country and received criticism, which should have been enough.
Click here to read our previous post “How to Stay Super Motivated” in case you missed it. To read more about amazing lifestyle tips, keep visiting us on www.lifestyleglitz.com. We are all you need for a great and happy lifestyle!
