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5 Shocking Consequences Of When PewDiePie Said The N-Word On Stream (And How He Survived)

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The incident of PewDiePie using a racial slur during a live stream in September 2017 remains one of the most significant and defining controversies in the history of YouTube and online streaming culture. This deep-dive article, updated for December 19, 2025, explores the precise moment the word was spoken, the furious immediate backlash from the gaming industry, and the long-term, surprisingly resilient career consequences for the world’s most famous independent content creator, Felix Kjellberg. It was a moment that forced a reckoning on accountability, content monetization, and the ethical boundaries of 'edgy' humor for all digital creators. The controversy was not an isolated event but the second major public relations crisis for Kjellberg that year, following earlier accusations of anti-Semitism in his content. The use of the N-word on stream served as a flashpoint, instantly reigniting the debate over his responsibility as the platform’s biggest star and the true meaning of his repeated apologies.

Felix Kjellberg: Biography and Profile

Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg, known worldwide as PewDiePie, is a Swedish YouTuber, comedian, and philanthropist who rose to fame primarily through his "Let's Play" video game commentaries.
  • Real Name: Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg
  • Date of Birth: October 24, 1989
  • Place of Birth: Gothenburg, Sweden
  • Nationality: Swedish
  • YouTube Channel Creation: April 29, 2010
  • Career Milestone: Held the title of the most-subscribed channel on YouTube for over five years (2013–2019).
  • Content Focus: Initially horror and action video game commentaries ("Let's Plays"), evolving into vlogs, comedy shorts, and meme reviews.
  • Current Status (2025): Maintains a massive subscriber count, though his content focus has shifted, particularly following his move to Japan with his wife, Marzia Kjellberg, embracing a more lifestyle and vlogging format.

The Moment of the Slur: Context and Immediate Fallout

The controversial moment occurred on Sunday, September 10, 2017, while Kjellberg was live-streaming a session of the popular battle royale game, *PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds* (*PUBG*).

The 'Heat of the Moment' Defense

While playing the game, Kjellberg became frustrated with another player and, in a moment of anger, uttered the racial slur. He immediately retracted the word, muttering, "I didn't mean that in a bad way." The clip instantly went viral, circulating across social media platforms like Twitter and Reddit, sparking a swift and intense wave of criticism. Fans and critics alike argued that regardless of his intent, the use of such a loaded and offensive word was inexcusable, especially given his massive global platform and influence over a young audience.

The Campo Santo DMCA Takedown Threat

Perhaps the most significant and *unprecedented* immediate consequence came from the video game industry itself. Sean Vanaman, co-founder of the game studio Campo Santo (creators of the popular game *Firewatch*), publicly announced that his studio would be filing DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) takedown notices against all of PewDiePie’s videos that featured their game. Vanaman stated that Kjellberg was "making money off of our content" and that he was "a propagator of hate speech." This move was seen as a radical step by a developer to directly penalize a creator for their conduct, setting a new precedent for content creator accountability in the gaming space.

The Apology: 'I’m Just an Idiot'

Within days, Kjellberg uploaded a video titled "my response" where he offered an apology. He described the use of the slur as "in the heat of the moment, I said the worst word I could possibly think of," and admitted, "I’m just an idiot." He acknowledged that he had learned nothing from his previous controversies and that there were "no excuses" for his actions. While some fans accepted his remorse, many critics viewed the apology as insufficient, arguing that the pattern of offensive behavior suggested a deeper issue than just a momentary lapse in judgment.

The 5 Long-Term Consequences and Career Evolution

While the incident did not end PewDiePie's career—he remains one of the most-subscribed individuals on YouTube—it undeniably accelerated a change in his content and public image, leading to several long-term consequences that shaped the modern creator economy.

1. Loss of Major Corporate Partnerships (The Financial Hit)

The 2017 controversies, including the N-word incident, solidified the irreparable damage to his relationship with corporate partners. Earlier that year, Disney's Maker Studios and Google had already severed ties with him following the anti-Semitic remarks. The slur controversy reinforced the decision, ensuring that major, mainstream brand deals and partnerships would remain off-limits for Kjellberg for the foreseeable future. He also called the shutdown of his network, Revelmode, the "worst" consequence.

2. The Permanent Shift in Content Focus

The repeated controversies forced a definitive evolution in Kjellberg's content strategy. His channel moved away from the highly controversial, often boundary-pushing "edgy" humor and toward more structured, less inflammatory formats. This shift included his highly successful return to *Minecraft* content in 2019, which brought a new, younger audience and a more positive, less controversial tone to his channel. This change helped him regain momentum and distance himself from his 'scandal-prone' reputation, demonstrating a survival strategy often adopted by major creators.

3. Elevated Scrutiny on Streamer Ethics and Platform Policy

The incident became a case study in streamer accountability. It directly contributed to platforms like Twitch and YouTube tightening their Community Guidelines regarding hate speech and racial slurs. For example, Twitch's policy now explicitly bans the use of the "N-word with a 'hard R'," demonstrating a clear, zero-tolerance approach that was still developing when Kjellberg made his comment. The controversy helped draw a clear line in the sand, establishing that even the biggest stars are not immune to platform rules.

4. The Rise of the 'Controversy-Proof' Creator Archetype

PewDiePie's ability to not only survive but thrive after multiple career-threatening scandals created a new archetype: the "controversy-proof" creator. His loyal fanbase, known as the "Bro Army," consistently defended him, arguing that the controversies were either taken out of context or were a result of media sensationalism. This unwavering support proved that for a creator with a deep, established connection to their audience, fan loyalty can outweigh corporate disapproval and mainstream media backlash.

5. The Normalization of the DMCA as a Moral Weapon

Campo Santo's use of the DMCA takedown notice against Kjellberg's content was a landmark moment. It signaled that intellectual property rights could be leveraged not just for copyright infringement, but as a moral statement against a creator’s behavior. While controversial—as some viewed it as censorship—it provided a new, powerful tool for developers and rights-holders to enforce ethical standards on content creators who profit from their work.

Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of an Unscripted Moment

The moment PewDiePie uttered the racial slur on his live stream in 2017 was more than just a personal mistake; it was a pivotal event that forced the entire content creation ecosystem to confront its ethical responsibilities. While Felix Kjellberg has since shifted his content, married, moved to Japan, and largely avoided such high-profile scandals, the incident remains a permanent part of his digital legacy. It serves as a constant reminder that in the unscripted, high-stakes environment of live streaming, a single word can trigger a chain reaction with long-term consequences for content creators, platform policies, and the relationship between developers and streamers globally.
pewdiepie said the n word
pewdiepie said the n word

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