The TikToker has since responded to the incident with her own video
YouTube star PewDiePie is facing huge backlash after he allegedly mocked a deaf TikToker in his most recent video.
The Swedish star, whose real name is Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg, is one of the biggest names in YouTube; his channel was the most viewed on the platform from 2014 to 2017 and he still boasts over 111 million subscribers today.
However in his latest controversial video, PewDiePie watched deaf TikToker Scarlet May tell a story in American Sign Language (ASL), before he mocked her with his dog.
Just a few seconds into the video he refused to continuing watching the TikToker, stating: “No, I’m not listening to this”.
PewDiePie then remarked how his pug, who he was sat with, has the “same crazy nails” as May, before using his pet to imitate May’s signing and speech.
The 32-year-old YouTuber has since come under fire on social media.
“Pewdiepie mocking a deaf tiktok creator for signing in her videos simply because she has long nails,” one person wrote, “as if the dude couldn’t be any worse”.
“So why is nobody talking about pewdiepie making fun of a deaf black woman?” another said.
PewDiePie has now edited this controversial part of the clip out of his video, and re-uploaded a new video without it. However a clip of the video recorded by critics is still doing the rounds, with many sharing their disgust at PewDiePie’s behaviour.
Not Pewdiepie making fun of a deaf woman??? pic.twitter.com/sugizTcosx
— Iced (@Iced_Exponet) July 27, 2022
This is not the first time PewDiePie has been the subject of controversy. Previous incidents over the years have seen the Youtuber make use of racial slurs on multiple occasions and include themes of anti-semitism in his videos.
Regarding the most recent incident, TikToker May has since responded with her own video.
Speaking to her 6.2 million TikTok followers, May said: “[PewDiePie] made a reaction video to one of my TikToks, making fun of my nails, making fun of my signs with his dogs, and, I guess, at one point, mocking my voice,” adding that “it was unnecessary” of him to do so.
She said her purpose was to show that people who use sign language also have long nails.
May continued: “At the same time, I wasn’t surprised. I’m used to it. But a big creator comes on here and puts us a million steps back, so it’s very frustrating”.
@scarlet_may.1 Replying to @anethepeach we all make mistakes hopefully he learns from this ??? #fyp #foryou ♬ original sound – Scarlet May ?
The TikToker noted how if it had been any other person with long nails telling a story without having to sign, they wouldn’t have been mocked in this way.
“But because I have to sign to communicate and have long nails, he stopped the video after two seconds and didn’t even listen to the story, and then after that, proceeded to make fun of me with his dog,” she said.
May also criticised PewDiePie for editing his video instead of simply saying sorry to her.
“You don’t get to just mock deaf people who have been struggling for years with people like you and then go about your day,” she added.
PewDiePie is yet to comment on the incident.
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