PewDiePie Responds to Christchurch Shooter Using His Name: “Absolutely Sickened”

John F. Trent |

Mar 15, 2019

One of the the most popular YouTubers, PewDiePie responded to the fact that the shooter in the Christchuch, New Zealand mosque attack used the popular phrase “Subscribe to PewDiePie” while carrying out the attack.

PewDiePie, whose real name is Felix Kjellberg, took to Twitter to issue a response writing, “Just heard news of the devastating reports from New Zealand Christchurch. I feel absolutely sickened having my name uttered by this person.” He would add, “My heart and thoughts go out to the victims, families and everyone affected by this tragedy.”

Just heard news of the devastating reports from New Zealand Christchurch.
I feel absolutely sickened having my name uttered by this person.
My heart and thoughts go out to the victims, families and everyone affected by this tragedy.

— ƿ૯ωძɿ૯ƿɿ૯ (@pewdiepie) March 15, 2019

Following news of the shooter uttering PewDiePie’s name, many attempted to place blame on PewDiePie for the horrendous attack.

Crunchyroll and Anime News Network writer Evan Minto condemned PewDiePie and the GamerGate movement.

Absolutely sickened by the news out of NZ, especially when I think about how online nerd communities specifically have enabled the spread and the glorification of this violence.

— Evan Minto (@VamptVo) March 15, 2019

I mean we all knew it since at least GamerGate, but this just puts such a fine point on it. Now it’s not just GamerGaters aligning with or turning into fascists, it’s a YouTube video of a shooting that’s also a promo for fucking PewDiePie.

— Evan Minto (@VamptVo) March 15, 2019

I always knew it in an abstract way, but it’s so much more chilling to truly understand that some shithead nerd friend of a friend complaining about “the SJWs” at a party is carrying water for an ideology that murders people and streams it like it’s a goddamn Let’s Play.

— Evan Minto (@VamptVo) March 15, 2019

Nathan Bernard who claims to be a free speech activist insinuated PewDiePie was at fault because he had conservative pundit Ben Shapiro on his YouTube channel.

The Christchurch mosque shooter live-streamed himself shouting, "subscribe to PewDiePie" before opening fire. PewDiePie is the world's largest Youtber who has platformed Islamophobic pundits like Ben Shapiro. This is how radicalization happens on the internet. pic.twitter.com/9NYZOojcOA

— Nathan Bernard (@nathanTbernard) March 15, 2019

Erica Windisch, the founder of IO Pipes, also placed blame on gamergate.

Christchurch is an export of American Terrorism. This was the result of 8chan, social media, gamergate, right wing American media, and right wing American politicians that have protected their own and dealt in dogwhistles.

Shooter arrived at the scene playing US civil war songs.

— Erica Windisch (@ewindisch) March 15, 2019

The Senior Vice President at Solita Oy Lassi Kurkijärvi also placed blame on PewDiePie as well as Jordan Peterson.

Recommended: this whole thread! It is an excellent analysis of the new online right-wing male extremism that shows its different facets via #gamergate, 8chan and the followers of its enablers like @jordanbpeterson and @pewdiepie https://t.co/OCqFTcGYYF

— Lassi Kurkijärvi (@lassi) March 15, 2019

Others chimed in blaming PewDiePie and some even the internet at large.

The Christchurch shooter posted a manifesto on 8chan and shouted "subscribe to PewDiePie" before opening fire on the mosque, livestreaming the whole thing. The internet is 1000% a vehicle for right-wing radicalisation.

— Andrew Todd (@mistertodd) March 15, 2019

What a sick fuck is @pewdiepie
Radicalizing youths with his racist rants just to earn money.
Directly responsible for #Christchurch shooting.
Feels shameful to think once I was a fan🤢

— Hari (@Harry1795s) March 15, 2019

PewDiePie would get support from many of his followers defending him from these absurd accusations that he is somehow responsible for the shooting.

Dude. I am so sorry to see your name in all of this. I cant imagine the pain you are feeling.

Know that you are well loved by many, including me.

— Boogie2988 (@Boogie2988) March 15, 2019

You had nothing to do with the tragedy that has unfolded, nor did you ask for your name to be invoked by a crazy, violent person.

Every individual is responsible for his or her own actions.

Be well.

— Colin Moriarty (@notaxation) March 15, 2019

I'm sorry your name was involved in all of this when you had nothing to do with it. The shooter just wanted to create more division. Very saddened by what happened, my heart goes out to all the innocent victims and their loved ones.

— Dr Grandayy (@grandayy) March 15, 2019

this is a completely fucked situation.

take as much time as you need to process this.

this is not your fault.

the shooter was clearly deeply disturbed. he could have used any meme in that moment. it wasn’t anything inspired by you at all.

he was a disgusting monster, Felix.

— ♡♪!? (@SkyWilliams) March 15, 2019

You had nothing to do with this. Full stop.

The shooter, who should be forgotten to the ass-end of history, is only trying to create division. Anyone that believes or spreads the message that you were associated with this in any way is doing exactly what the shooter wants.

— Markiplier (@markiplier) March 15, 2019

I saw some news outlets trying to pin part of the blame on you – the whole situation is absolutely horrific, and trying to simplify deeper societal problems and use you as a scapegoat will only lead us further from addressing the real problems

— Roomie (@roomieofficial) March 15, 2019

Who’s not responsible for the New Zealand Shooting:

– Trump
– Pewdiepie
– Candace Owens

Who is responsible:

-The Shooter!

— Millie Weaver (@Millie__Weaver) March 15, 2019

You have to be a pretty damn shameless and sadistic person to point the finger at @pewdiepie, casting blame as if he’s somehow even remotely responsible for the atrocious shooting at #Christchurch in New Zealand.

— Brittany Pettibone (@BrittPettibone) March 15, 2019

Horrific attack and a shame New Zealand doesn’t have the death penalty.

But if you’re blaming PewDiePie you’re;

A) Doing precisely what the terrorist wanted.

B) Exploiting the tragedy for your own selfish narrative.

Stop.

— Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) March 15, 2019

What do you think of PewDiePie’s response?