As Apple hypes original content, Disney & Google sever ties with popular YouTube star PewD...
Disney and Google have drawn back their support of "PewDiePie," a leading YouTube star and the centerpiece of the YouTube Red subscription service, after a recent video featured an anti-Semitic joke. The shakeup comes just as Apple has begun teasing two upcoming exclusive programs for Apple Music.
Disney has severed all connections with PewDiePie, whose real name is Felix Kjellberg, CNET said on Tuesday. Google's YouTube, meanwhile, has removed his channel from a Google Prefered ads program, and cancelled the second season of "Scare PewDiePie," a show available exclusively to subscribers of the paid subscription service YouTube Red.
A since-deleted video uploaded on Saturday showed Kjellberg laughing as two people held up a banner that said "Death to all Jews." Since August last year he has in fact posted nine videos using Nazi or anti-Semitic references in jokes.
On Sunday he acknowledged that the videos were "ultimately offensive," adding that he doesn't support any "hate-based groups."
While Apple isn't planning to compete directly with YouTube, on Monday Eddy Cue, Apple's senior VP of Internet and Software Services, teased two shows the company is hoping will draw people into the paid Apple Music subscription service.
The first, "Planet of the Apps," is a reality TV show based on app development with Jessica Alba, Will.i.am, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Gary Vaynerchuck.
Joining it will be a spinoff of the "Carpool Karaoke" segments on "The Late Late Show with James Corden," featuring celebrities singing along to music while they're driven around town.
Apple is expected to venture more deeply into original programming, including scripted dramas like "Vital Signs," revolving around rapper and Apple employee Dr. Dre.
Disney has severed all connections with PewDiePie, whose real name is Felix Kjellberg, CNET said on Tuesday. Google's YouTube, meanwhile, has removed his channel from a Google Prefered ads program, and cancelled the second season of "Scare PewDiePie," a show available exclusively to subscribers of the paid subscription service YouTube Red.
A since-deleted video uploaded on Saturday showed Kjellberg laughing as two people held up a banner that said "Death to all Jews." Since August last year he has in fact posted nine videos using Nazi or anti-Semitic references in jokes.
On Sunday he acknowledged that the videos were "ultimately offensive," adding that he doesn't support any "hate-based groups."
While Apple isn't planning to compete directly with YouTube, on Monday Eddy Cue, Apple's senior VP of Internet and Software Services, teased two shows the company is hoping will draw people into the paid Apple Music subscription service.
The first, "Planet of the Apps," is a reality TV show based on app development with Jessica Alba, Will.i.am, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Gary Vaynerchuck.
Joining it will be a spinoff of the "Carpool Karaoke" segments on "The Late Late Show with James Corden," featuring celebrities singing along to music while they're driven around town.
Apple is expected to venture more deeply into original programming, including scripted dramas like "Vital Signs," revolving around rapper and Apple employee Dr. Dre.
Comments
Also, this kid "was" the highest paid person on YouTube. He made millions for acting like a moron.
I wish the pleasure had been indefinitely postponed.
He said it was "ultimately offensive". Why qualify it with ultimately? It was just offensive, dude.
And then he tried to defend himself by saying we should know HE would never espouse those views, and besides, he said, those guys were just using anti semitism for "shock value". Screw that. That is a half assed apology if we ever heard one.
Hey PDP can still make anti semitic videos if he wants. He just won't be making a dime doing so.
The fact is that Americans are way too sensitive about everything. Probably why they sue each other so much.
If you can live your life without offending anybody, you probably aren't human.
Your grandma is a peach! Apple thanks her for her support.
"Now, here's the rub: offence, is never given, its taken. If you're not offended by something, then there was no offence, it's as simple as that. If you are offended by something, walk away. I'm offended by things all the time but I haven't got the right not to be offended, and remember this: just because someone is offended it doesn't mean they're right. Some people are offended by equality, some people are offended by mixed marriage, some people are offended by everything. You can't worry about that. And you can't legislate against stupidity."