Swedish YouTuber Felix Kjellberg, or PewDiePie as he is known by on the internet, cannot seem to catch a break. The 29-year-old has been in controversies for the last few years now and the latest in the long series is a petition that demands to ban him from the video streaming platform.
Reasons for asking for the ban
The petition is called “Remove White Supremacist Content From YouTube,” and Was created on change.org by Maria Ruiz.
The petition comes in the wake of mosque attacks in Christchurch, New Zealand where the shooter appealed to people to subscribe to PewDiePie before committing the heinous crime.
Felix responded by condemning the actions of the Australian native, saying he is “absolutely sickened” having his name uttered by him.
“In the wake of the most recent mosque shooting, I believe it is time to take action as a community and remove white supremacist content from our platforms. One of the largest platforms for white supremacist content is PewDiePie’s YouTube channel. PewDiePie has on many occasions proven once and again to promote and affiliate himself with white supremacist and Nazi ideologies. Worst of all his channel is very much aimed toward children in their formative years,” the petition reads.
The petition also lists several reasons for demanding the ban. It said that On several occasions the Swedish YouTuber used racial slurs, featured Hitler speeches in his videos, and made anti-semitic cartoons. It also pointed out that he performed the Nazi salute, paid people on Fiverr to display anti-semitic messages, and made rape jokes.
“At what point is YouTube legally responsible for the content it provides and allows on its platform?” it asks.
The petition has now gained 68,000 signatures.
PewDiePie fans respond
PewDiePie’s fans responded to the petition by starting a counter petition that asks for the ban of Maria Ruiz from change.org. It said,
“In the wake of Maria Ruiz blaming Pewdiepie for a mass shooting and making wild and inaccurate claims about his actions, it is necessary now, more than ever, to remove him or her from this website. He or she must be removed from his or her platform before he or she is given the opportunity to make more vindictive, deceitful petitions.”
