Felix Kjellberg, widely recognized as “PewDiePie,”has established himself as a powerhouse in the online video landscape. Accumulating over 100 million subscribers, he made history as the first YouTuber to reach this milestone and held the title of the most subscribed channel from August 15, 2013, to November 14, 2022. Despite his immense popularity, PewDiePie’s journey has not been without its share of controversies.
This article outlines five noteworthy incidents that drew substantial criticism and attention to PewDiePie, highlighting the complexities of fame in the digital age.
Five Controversies That Made PewDiePie a Headline Maker
1. The N-Word Incident
In September 2017, while streaming the popular game PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), PewDiePie reacted to his teammate’s failure by using a racial slur. His remarks sparked outrage across social media:
“What a f**king ni**er! Geez, oh my god! What the f**k! Sorry, but what the f**k? What a f**king a**hole. I don’t mean that in a bad way, but Jesus! Why would he do that?”
The backlash was swift, prompting PewDiePie to release an apology, stating that the comment was made in a spontaneous moment of frustration.
2. Diss Track Disputes: “B*tch Lasagna”
In 2018, during his rivalry with T-Series for YouTube supremacy, PewDiePie released a diss track titled “B*tch Lasagna.”While some audiences found humor in his lyrics, many perceived them as offensive, with accusations of racism following closely behind. The controversy escalated to the point where T-Series pursued legal action to have the track removed from YouTube.
3. Connection to Christchurch Attack
The tragic mosque shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand, on March 15, 2019, brought PewDiePie’s name into the conversation in a deeply disturbing way. The perpetrator of the attack, who claimed allegiance to white supremacist ideologies, referenced “Subscribe to PewDiePie”during his livestream of the killings. In the aftermath, PewDiePie condemned the violent act and urged his followers to discontinue their rivalry with T-Series, recognizing the seriousness of the situation.
4. Accusations of Antisemitism
In 2017, a video showcasing PewDiePie’s trolling efforts on the platform Fiverr backfired when he paid individuals to display a sign reading “D**th to All Jews.”Despite his intention of satire, this act was met with intense backlash, leading many to label him as antisemitic. In response, he publicly apologized, acknowledging that the joke crossed the line.
“I’m sorry for the words that I used, as I know they offended people…and I admit that the joke itself went too far.”
As a result of this controversy, PewDiePie’s partnership with Disney was severed.
5. Controversial Endorsement of a Channel
In December 2018, PewDiePie inadvertently endorsed a YouTube channel named E;R, known for controversial and alt-right content, while praising its review of the anime ‘Death Note.’ Unbeknownst to him, the channel had a history of disseminating anti-Semitic narratives and Nazi propaganda. After realizing the error, PewDiePie deleted the original video and issued a clarification, denying any affiliations with alt-right ideologies and acknowledging it was a mistake.