Felix Arvid, better known by his online alias PewDiePie, is a Swedish web-based comedian and video producer, best known for his Let's Play commentaries and vlogs on YouTube. (Photo : Twitter/PewDiePie)
PewDiePie or Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg in real life has threatened to delete his YouTube channel, which currently commands over 49 million subscribers, following claims that the Google-owned video-sharing site is deliberately preventing his further rise in popularity. This as Forbes revealed that Kjellberg's paycheck for 2016 reached $15 million before taxes and other possible deductions.
As YouTube's most followed personality, PewDiePie mas managed to boost his earnings by 20 percent from the amount he pocketed in 2015, added the Forbes report. Apart from YouTube, the popular video game reviewer and vlogger earned his keep thanks to the volume "This Book Loves You", which the same report said has so far cleared 112,000 copies.
But the influential YouTube star, loved and hated for his lively and oftentimes over-the-top video game reviews, is likely to end his successful run with the Google division. According to Venture Beat, PewDiePie is accusing YouTube of deliberately sabotaging his video channel, which is nearing the 50-millioon mark.
The YouTuber said in his last two video uploads that the number of his followers have been dropping significantly, and he blamed conspiracy. One reason for the supposed popularity dip is his skin color, PewDiePie said.
"I'm white ... I do think that's a problem ... YouTube is trying to kill my channel. It is clear. It is happening if you watch my analytics. It is all going down" the YouTube star was reported as saying.
And the only logical response that the YT sensation can think of is abandoning YouTube. Kjellberg said he plans to delete his account when reaches 50 million subscribers. "I've decided the only way to stop my channel from dying - I know you are going to think I am joking - but I am going to delete my channel," PewDiePie declared.
But the threat issued by the vlogger was met with mixed reactions. The two clips have been viewed around 14 million times but critics of the YouTube star, according to News.com.au, are now campaigning to increase his channel's subscription numbers that now stands at 49.5 million. The move, apparently, is to accelerate PewDiePie's promised departure.
Yet the same report indicated that quitting is far from Kjellberg's mind. What he intends to do is start a new YouTube channel once the old has been retired upon reaching 50 million subscribers, News.com.au reported.
In a statement provided to Venture Beat, YouTube said that following an extensive review it found that "there have been no decreases in creators' subscriber numbers beyond what normally happens when viewers either unsubscribe from a creator's channel or when YouTube removes spammed subscribers. We do the latter to ensure that all creator subscriber numbers are accurate."
