PewDiePie describes the debacle in a new YouTube video, which has already received over half a million views. The clip sees the internet star criticize the platform and social media in general, claiming (rather eloquently) that it makes people “retarded.”
According to PewDiePie, the trouble began after he decided to un-verify himself by adding a globe icon next to his name on Twitter, with many of his fans following suit. A parody news account then tweeted an obviously fake story claiming PewDiePie had lost his Twitter verification due to “suspected relations with ISIS.”
Due to some unfathomable logic, PewDiePie (real name Felix Kjellberg) decided to retweet the fake story. He then shared an original tweet claiming that both he and fellow YouTuber JackSepticEye (yes, they all have silly names — go figure) had joined IS.
Twitter, which has been cracking down on Islamic State-related activity on its platform, briefly shut down Kjellberg’s account as a result. When his profile was restored, it was missing millions of followers, according to Engadget. That too seems to have now been fixed.
Twitter has refused to comment on the reasoning behind the ban, stating that it doesn’t “comment on individual accounts for privacy and security reasons.”
Only Kjellberg knows why he decided to tweet what he did. The reaction from fellow Twitter users has been mixed, with some suggesting it was a humorous stunt and others saying it was in bad taste. However, the YouTuber’s anti-social media statements don’t ring true, seeing as he built his massive following — and fortune — online.
If Kjellberg does change his mind about the shallow verification checkmark, he can simply request to have it restored. His huge following (7.5 million followers and counting) means Twitter will likely oblige.
