Cyber Week Sale! 50% Off All Access

Disney, Google Cut Ties With YouTube Star PewDiePie for Posting Anti-Semitic Content YouTube's most popular creator will no longer work with Maker Studios or stream the second season of his reality show on YouTube Red.

By Nina Zipkin

PewDiePie | Youtube
PewDiePie

Swedish YouTube star Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg, known as PewDiePie, has lost a partnership with Disney and faces restrictions from Google after posting several videos containing offensive imagery.

The most recent instance occurred in a video that Kjellberg uploaded on Jan. 11, in which he discussed a series of services he purchased online, including having paid two men make and hold up a sign displaying an anti-Semitic message in a video. The Wall Street Journal reportedly found nine videos by Kjellberg that featured this type of content.

Related: YouTube Star PewDiePie's Firm Rakes in $8 Million Profit

Kjellberg is YouTube's most popular creator, with more than 53 million subscribers. Maker Studios, a Disney-owned multi-channel network, announced this week that it has stopped working with Kjellberg. Last year, Kjellberg launched his own network, Revelmode, under the Maker Studios auspices.

While YouTube has not banned its biggest star from the platform, the site's subscription service, YouTube Red, has cancelled the second season of Scare PewDiePie, Kjellberg's reality series. He also can no longer participate in the Google Preferred advertising program, which is reserved for the top 5 percent of YouTube channels.

Over the weekend, Kjellberg took to Tumblr to respond:

Related: YouTube's Highest-Paid Star Just Trolled Everyone. Here's What You Can Learn.

"I make videos for my audience. I think of the content that I create as entertainment, and not a place for any serious political commentary. I know my audience understand (sic) that and that is why they come to my channel. Though this was not my intention, I understand that these jokes were ultimately offensive," he wrote. "As laughable as it is to believe that I might actually endorse these people, to anyone unsure on my standpoint regarding hate-based groups: No, I don't support these people in any way."

On Monday, a Maker Studios spokesperson told Variety, "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. Maker Studios has made the decision to end our affiliation with him going forward."

Nina Zipkin

Entrepreneur Staff

Staff Writer. Covers leadership, media, technology and culture.

Nina Zipkin is a staff writer at Entrepreneur.com. She frequently covers leadership, media, tech, startups, culture and workplace trends.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

'I Just Hustled': She Earned More Than $300,000 Wrapping Gifts Last Year — and It All Started With a Side Hustle

When Michelle Hensley lost her husband to cancer, she needed to figure out how to earn an income for her family.

Growing a Business

This Breakthrough Technology is Poised to Accelerate Your Company's Growth

Discover a breakthrough technology stacked on top of generative AI, now poised to revolutionize businesses across nearly every sector. Unlock unprecedented growth and profitability potential, achieving levels once thought unattainable.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Science & Technology

You Have 1 Month Left to Prepare for These 5 AI-Powered Marketing Changes — Act Now Before It's Too Late.

Big changes in 2025 will redefine marketing as AI evolves rapidly, offering growth opportunities but also risks. Learn how to stay ahead in this week's video, covering new search platforms and avoiding over-automation.

Business News

Google CEO Sundar Pichai Says 'You'll Be Surprised' By How Google Search Changes Next Year

AI has already changed the look of search, but Google's CEO says there are more changes to come.