PewDiePie Apologizes for Anti-Semitic Jokes, But Attacks Media for Taking Them Out of Context

[Behind the Aegis]

Source: Variety

PewDiePie, the internet star who was dropped by Maker Studios and YouTube this past week over pranks he staged involving anti-Semitic rhetoric, posted a video Thursday responding to the controversy.

The vlogger, whose real name is Felix Kjellberg, apologized for the videos, one of which detailed a stunt in which he paid two Indian men to hold up a sign that said, “Death to All Jews.” Kjellberg also reiterated that he was pointing out how crazy it was that it’s possible to pay random people $5 to get them to say outrageous comments, and that he absolutely doesn’t support hate groups.

“I’m sorry for the words that I used, as I know they offended people,” he said. “And I admit the joke itself went too far.”

But he also attacked the media, including Variety as well as the Wall Street Journal, which originally reported that Disney’s Maker had cut its ties to him. He claimed the newspaper and other news organizations have taken his “jokes” out of context to inaccurately portray him “as a Nazi.”

Read more: http://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/news/pewdiepie-apologizes-for-anti-semitic-%E2%80%98jokes%E2%80%99-but-attacks-media-for-taking-them-out-of-context/ar-AAn1h7s?li=BBmkt5R&ocid=spartandhp

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He's the victim, yo!

What an asshole!

[tenorly]

1. Must be popular with Republicans.

Especially the die-hard Trumpkins.

[mac56]

2. Bullies always do this.

"It was just a joke! Can't you take a joke?"

[guillaumeb]

3. Considering the Holocaust,

"Death to all Jews" cannot be taken as humor.

Mass murder cannot be a subject for humor.

[Raster]

7. I find NOTHING HUMOROUS about genocide, mass murder, the Holocaust or any...

...atrocities where millions of innocents were murdered because of a mad man.

Sorry, I don't get the humor. And frankly, I don't want to get the humor.

[Orrex]

4. In other words, "I'm sorry that my stupidity is costing me money."

[Raster]

6. Exactly!

[Raster]

5. why didn't he pay people to hold up signs saying "KILL PewDiePie"?

Maybe he isn't anti-Semitic or a nazi, but he certainly was capitalizing on sensationalizing anti-Semitic commentary.

Fuck off, dipshit. Your 15 are done and gone.

[SunSeeker]

8. What is scary is that this idiot has more subscribers, especially tweens, on Youtube than anyone.

PewDiePie is the most subscribed user on YouTube with over 53 million subscribers as of February 2017, and has been since 2013. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most_subscribed_users_on_YouTube

[starshine00]

10. this is why I loathe the online world more and more as time goes on

i deleted my twitter before signing on here and if I go back I vowed to only follow journalists. I understand that young unformed minds can be quirky in what they find appealing. What I don't like is how the online world is completely without discernment and gives the wrong kinds of folks a platform, an immense following, and literally millions of dollars in some cases, all for doing things that are completely without merit. Back in the day all these people would have had would have been some obscure cable tv channel. Now they have the potential to be incredibly powerful and shape young minds to go down completely misdirected paths and there is nothing I have seen whatsoever that convinces me that parents give enough of a damn to strictly regulate what their children are exposed to online, I see almost zero evidence that anyone is paying enough attention to the people that their kids are coming into contact with online.

[Codeine]

14. My kids used to watch that PewdiPie crap.

I am gravely suspicious of all the adults who make videos for young fans of Minecraft and the like; I don't generally believe they have innocent motives.

Add to that the over-the-top shouting and fake excitement over idiotic children's games and I just find the whole thing revolting. Glad he's gone.

[catsudon]

20. of course there is a motive

if you become popular on youtube, you can basically quit your job.

PewdiePie made 7.4 millions in 2014.... smh

a popular "magic the gathering" video content provider was laid off from his college teaching job, but now makes enough money to not ever have to work again, at least over 100k a year.

You can also 'double dip' youtube videos, first monetize your videos, and then join patreon to have fans donate you money.

[catsudon]

21. smh

he made millions... 7.4 mill in 2014...

[LonePirate]

9. He's discovering that free markets won't pay for hatred.

Just like with every other right wing idiot, hitting them in their pocketbook is the best tactic we can use to counter their hatred and bullshit.

[starshine00]

11. there is a certain segement of the young demographic that is tragically confused about free speech

and doesn't at all understand the difference between freedom of speech and hate speech. And then there are operators who are exploiting this to great financial ends.

[LonePirate]

12. Indeed. Let him apply to a RW rag if he wants to espouse that garbage. They'd love him.

[dawn frenzy adams]

13. I'm glad it's backfiring.

This guy's YouTube views started to decline. Instead of coming up with something innovative to gain new subscribers, he decided to use racism. He accused YouTube of discrimination because he was white. I'm not kidding. This because an Indian YouTuber was gaining a lot of subscribers. Never mind he has made millions from YouTube with absolutely no talent, whatsoever. I gather someone suggested to this character to go for the white supremacist demographic.

[Dave Starsky]

15. "My remarks were taken out of context."

Every time I hear one of these jerks say this, I keep BEGGING the press to ask the obvious question: In what context, exactly, did you intend them?

[SoCalMusicLover]

16. "But.....I Have Lots Of Jewish Friends"

Said the Anti-Semite.

[elmac]

17. tRump Jr

h's a legend in his own mind

[smirkymonkey]

18. Oh, it's always a "joke" when they are called on it!

What a snivelling little coward! He deserves to get canned. And what the fuck kind of a name is "Pewdiepie" anyway. Sounds like someone I would like to smack the shit out of.

[Little Tich]

19. What an idiot. "Death to all Jews" is not funny in any context. n/t