The Giant Beastcast: Episode 91

My hot take:

There are two discussions with PewDiePie: 1) His joke 2) the press' takedown of him.

The gang only commented on the joke which isn't everyone's cup of tea. It's a free country. You can make whatever tasteless joke you want. But it's weird when you get a massive audience by being cute and friendly and THEN go full edgelord. There is bound to be blowback, the least of which by sponsors. If PDP wants to make edgelord jokes, he should get used to an edgelord type audience or -- as Vinny said -- apologize without some lame explanation.

As for the press' takedown of him -- which was pretty obscene claiming he's an actual anti-Semite -- the gang said before on previous podcasts that they don't feel comfortable talking about other press writers or outlets so they understandably avoided that side of the topic.

I don't blame the West coast podcast for skipping the subject entirely. I think the key takeaway is know your audience. Maybe the GB crew said something offensive in the past, but they'd apologize and avoid it. PDP is on the opposite side of the spectrum, where he WANTS to be edgy and denying that would just be denying who he is, so he should just try to rebrand himself and let people know he's PDP the Edgelord now -- for whoever, wants that.

That is incredibly ignorant. Context does matter. Part of their "proof" was a clip where he watches 'Jesus Christ' say "Hitler did nothing wrong," (which btw is offensive to Christians more than any other group because it's portraying a literal God-figure of a religion as a Hitler supporter) . PewDiePie didn't make the clip! He found it on the website and someone else paid the Jesus character to say it. I repeat; HE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. The thing that PDP paid Jesus to say was totally irrelevant to this entire matter, but that's not how it was reported. Just because you drive by and see a car wreck doesn't mean you're responsible for the car wreck! That shouldn't have to be explained... The clip where he was wearing a Make America Great Again hat taking a light-footed jab at Trump and Conservatives, or at least the perception of them, is not even anti-semitism. That's anti-conservatism. Another clip they used as "proof of his anti-semitism" was from the video specifically about how context matters, and at the end of the video he dresses in a (British uniform wrongly reported, SURPRISE SURPRISE... as a) SS uniform and watches a Hitler video because at the end of 11 minutes it's clear he's mocking them for clickbait journalism and making hitpieces. The entire videos is about the slander taking things out of context. Watch the video:

Now tell me that this is proof that he's a Nazi. If you're telling me that context doesn't make a difference then you're.. well, you're clearly why these stupid character assassinations work and why honest journalism is mostly dead. And before anybody tries to make any connotations to that statement and Gamer Gate, STOP. I am in no way referencing that.

Now if the Wall Street Journal was to report on my post, they would say "Gamer Gate Truther Defends Anti-Semitic Youtuber."

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@changingshade "It's a shame people are complaining about the Pewdiepie segment of the podcast without actually quoting any of it (or at least not in context)..." Wow, you totally sound like that racist anti-semite PewDiePie. See what I'm getting at? Misrepresenting and attacking with disregard for the facts is terrible. Now if you're looking at the Beastcast segment, imagine being PewDiePie, where essentially MSM has turned the entire world against you so that they had some clickbait.

With that said, I am incredibly disappointed with the Beastcast and their mention of it. That wasn't a half-sincere apology in that video. It becomes clear they drank the koolaid before watching the response video seen here:

I get it, Vinny's a bleeding heart and immediately turns in horror at anything taboo, but his persecution of PewDiePie for his response video was completely unwarranted and was garbage. Vinny believes that Wall Street Journal is the voice of God and is completely virtuous. They're not. It's disheartening to hear Vinny sit there and approve WSJ for using a picture of PDP raising his arm as proof that he's a Nazi/anti-semitic, etc. when the picture they used had nothing to do with anything or any offensive jokes. PDP is never allowed to raise his above chest level and point at something because WSJ might swoop in and take it out of context as proof he's a Nazi? And that's his fault? Are you serious, Vinny?

No victim has ever been without sin so for Vinny to get "really fucking annoyed" by PDP for pointing out just how slanderous and intentionally wrong those articles are is asinine. PewDiePie is the victim of slander. If they were honest they would just link to or show the entire videos and not use pieces out of context to prove their point. If their story was true the whole clips would stand on their own.

And then to even mention his clickbait thing of shutting down his alt channel at 50M subscribers. That's more evidence that he's a racist? Which btw, at this point Vinny is spitballing because now he's using that as proof that PDP cries wolf at the media. That's pure fiction from Vinny.

Also, they say "we see just how little Disney and Youtube are actually willing to put up with." No, that's pure nonsense from the crew. Disney and YT were willing and happy to put up with his "anti-semitic" jokes for months even after it hit small news outlets and they saw it. It was only when pressured with this big hitpiece by WSJ where the mainstream media was going to pick it up and run with it did they actually care. They didn't care about the jokes; they only cared about their image. They are large corporations without a moral center to care about racism, anti-semitism, etc. Which btw, back when Disney corporation actually did have a moral center, Walt Disney, that moral center was the biggest anti-semite. Disney hated Jewish people. That's the hilarious poetry to (I believe) Alex's wrongful statement about these businesses and further proof they truthfully don't care what actually happens only their image.

Disney and YT are justified cutting PDP. Not because of what he did when it gets taken out of context, but they can do whatever they want because they are businesses and they can do whatever they want. It's their prerogative.

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Were some of PewDiePie's jokes a bit much? Yeah, probably. The "Kill All The Jews" sign as if it were Keemstar saying it was in poor taste by most standards. Does that make him a bigot? No. Is WSJ right in their article? Absolutely not and I hope he sues and wins against them for defamation. Slander and misreporting of facts is terribly destructive. You want to know why everybody is angsty and it seems like we're on the edge of WW3 or the apocalypse and everybody is acting like everything is always on fire? Because of BS like WSJ and clickbait, hitpiece journalism.

I can not say this enough: it's important to get both sides to any argument and then decide for yourself where the truth lies because all sources have a bias.

If anybody wants to respond with rational thought please feel free, but if it's going to be a blatant dismissal of the points I bring up then don't bother. There's enough blind hatred out there already.

All y'all getting triggered over them saying Pewdiepie is a fuckwit missed the whole conversation about Dan checking multiple stock apps everyday. I'm closer than Dan to Vinnie in my portfolio and that makes me truly scared. P.S. A Disney employee making vaguely antisemitic jokes shouldn't be a martyr about getting dropped from his very conservative employer ffs, and should maybe realise you make business with the most blue-chip company and they might drop you for being a fuckwit.

@combiner: You know 'policing' requires the ability to enforce it, right?

It's not about him losing his contract with Disney. It's about taking things out of context and creating a lie for clickbait purposes. Guess you missed the point, huh?

Man, I am convinced I listened to a different podcast at this point. Am I in a different timeline? Apparently some of you listened to a podcast where Vinny has persecuted PDP, called him an anti-semite and bigot, and praised the WSJ as the voice on high. Can you provide me with this particular podcast? You know, for the sake of context. I just find comments like these to be bordering on hilarious given that they are wrapped in a "BUT YOU ARE MISREPRESENTING HIM!" coating.

I find it really weird how Vinny has to thank all American military personnel for their 'service' twice

Well if there's any group to be doubly thankful for, it's the people in uniform. They protect the freedoms we enjoy even if they are of differing opinions.

agree wholeheartedly.

Wow - as someone who also suffers from depression and somewhat OCD/addictive personality I would agree with everything said here. I would be careful also with the "lean into things that make you feel good" exercise and meditating are two wonderful things and I am glad you found them Dan. I have had to limit a good bit the amount I play video games because those made me feel good - but I could do them for 13 hours and so end up not doing my job and end up destroying my life. Also glad they spoke about how good talk therapy was. It really has made an amazing difference in my life.

Good luck to all with these issues it can be hard but it can be done!

They were off about PewDiePie and it was ridiculous to hear. Alex always comes off like he wants to lead a witch hunt.

PewDiePie is the victim, he was taken completely out of context and if you watch the original video it's clear he had no idea they would actually have created and held up that sign.

So by this logic, are you saying Chris Rock is racist against his own race?

Your attitude is scary. I hope you understand the gravity of accusing someone of racism as that can stick against people very easily.

I didn't think many people cared about him being dropped by Disney, the media though were disgusting in the way they handled the news. WSJ straight up called him a white supremacist and then stealth edited it when they got called out.

The guy was asking for trouble with the likes of Disney by making such a joke but the media engaged in a smear campaign.

PewDiePie, given his gigantic audience, should expect his content to be scrutinized. Having a highly supportive fanbase can be insulating to other avenues of critique, leading to content that outside viewers find questionable.

There was no "hit-job". His content was covered and people found that without complete context it was offensive. With context, his jokes are poor attempts at satire and still deserve critique on both the content and how he used his position to make them.

Two articles I found enlightening on the subject from both a perspective of law and entertainment:

http://www.polygon.com/2017/2/20/14675914/freedom-of-speech-censorship-pewdiepie

http://www.polygon.com/2017/2/17/14637642/pewdiepie-south-park-anti-semitic-jokes

@finalcut: People are calling it a "hit-job" because it appeared to be done in bad faith, firstly by going directly to Pewd's corporate parents and sponsors instead of the man himself for comment. Second, by taking the remarks out of context. Thirdly, by propping up neo-nazi forum trolls as an accurate barometer for anything. Those mouth-breathers see coded signals of support in cartoons and Nickelodeon shows, why the hell does the Wall Street Journal suddenly cares what they think?

Because this time they weren't speculating about messages in Dora the Explorer, they were speculating about the biggest name on Youtube which is coincidentally a surefire magnet for clicks. Lots of people on tumblr also like to make silly speculations about PewDiePie's sexuality or interpersonal relationships, but when those people throw speculative darts at the celebrity board, it ain't news. The alt-right is what makes you sit up in your seat, isn't it?

Rule about articles in the digital age: if you're reading it, then it's for you. Remember that.

Ahhh, yes, the self-righteous anger of Giant Bomb. This time they attack PewDiePie.

Really, these were jokes, you can make jokes about anything. If you don't like it, don't listen. PewDiePie apologized to people that were offended, because he didn't have anything real to apologize for.

Maybe this will clear things out: https://youtu.be/fHMoDt3nSHs?t=201

I love all those key words: natzi, racist, alt-right, bigot, sexist. If you call someone one of those words, it invalidates everything they say and you don't have to debate them or listen to them. Great tool of censorship for "alt-left".

@vinny the end of the segment is great, "I'm offended, so PewDiePie has to to grovel". Grow up! And stop trying to censor other people. Lol.

I'm of the mind that PewDiePie was targeted by a hit piece meant to take his content out of context. I'm also of the mind that Maker/YouTube has every right to pull away from his content - because PewDiePie does, in fact, have a humour style most would say is 'adult', or perhaps 'immature'. It's a hard line to define.

Hell, In the past, he used to make rape jokes non-stop until the fine folks at SomethingAwful.com made videos about him being a crass asshole who can't add nuance to his humour style.

I think it's unfair to willfully ignore other segments of the comedy scene that do make shock humour jokes, if you're going to act offended at PewDiePie's content - Louis CK and his disgusting rape jokes, and the countless other comedians who make light of sombre things like the Holocaust, murder, etc. But because they are 'professional comedians', it makes it okay, apparently. So long as you are able to laugh at it, it's cool! Don't think about it!

It's the inconsistency that annoys me about all this. Or rather, people unwilling to recognise that they're inconsistent. I don't like PDP's content, I haven't watched his stuff in years. But I watched some of the videos recently, notably the ones referenced in the WSJ hit piece.. and they got a snort of laughter out of me, on occasion.

@vinny@alex@danryckert

The guy who wrote about PewDiePie has a history of racist remarks towards Jews and Blacks.

Nobody reports on this though, nobody acknowledges the hypocrisy in journalism which is IMO way more dangerous (or dangerous, at all).

Truth is stranger than fiction.

I ate some bread yesterday, and then today noticed the loaf had some mold starting to grow on it. So I'm pretty grossed out.