PewDiePie

In a reaction video, PewDiePie interrupted a clip by Scarlet May, a deaf creator who uses sign language, mocked her long nails and waved his dog's paws in a manner interpreted as imitating her signs. The segment prompted a strong reaction.

State of the evidence

Documented

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Personally implicated

YouTube removed Coco, PewDiePie's diss track targeting children's channel Cocomelon, finding that the video violated both its harassment and child safety rules. Children appeared in the video alongside extremely vulgar lyrics.

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Personally implicated

During the race to become YouTube's most-subscribed channel, PewDiePie released the diss tracks Bitch Lasagna and Congratulations targeting Indian group T-Series. T-Series argued that the songs were defamatory, insulting and contained racist elements; the Delhi High Court ordered their removal in India.

State of the evidence

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Personally implicated

The terrorist who murdered 51 people at two Christchurch mosques said 'subscribe to PewDiePie' during the broadcast of his attack, appropriating a global meme arising from the rivalry with T-Series. Kjellberg said he was sickened that his name had been used in this way.

State of the evidence

Documented

After reaching 100 million subscribers, Kjellberg announced a $50,000 donation to the Anti-Defamation League, widely interpreted as an attempt to move beyond his antisemitism controversies. Some fans reacted with hostility and spread claims that he had been forced into the donation, before he withdrew his pledge.

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Personally implicated

After a video about Hong Kong and memes comparing Xi Jinping to Winnie the Pooh, PewDiePie said he had been banned in China. Content and searches associated with his name had indeed been restricted on certain services.

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Personally implicated

An investigation identified several PewDiePie videos featuring antisemitic jokes or Nazi imagery, including a sketch in which he paid two people on Fiverr to hold a sign reading 'Death to All Jews'. Disney/Maker Studios ended its relationship with him, and YouTube cancelled the second season of Scare PewDiePie and removed his channel from its premium advertising programme.

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Personally implicated

During a livestreamed game of PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, Kjellberg used the N-word as an insult. Firewatch developer Sean Vanaman announced that he intended to use DMCA requests against PewDiePie videos showing his games, reigniting debate about game developers' responses to streamers.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated