The Story Behind PewDiePie (Felix Kjellberg)'s "Sub to PewDiePie, Kill All Jews"

The Livestream That Crossed a Line

It was March 2017, and Felix Kjellberg—better known as PewDiePie—was in the midst of a chaotic livestream. The room was dimly lit, his setup cluttered with gaming gear and a half-empty coffee mug. Known for his irreverent humor and rapid-fire banter with fans, Felix often pushed boundaries during these sessions. But on this night, a joke he’d made months earlier had resurfaced, and the backlash was about to escalate.

The controversy began in October 2016, when PewDiePie jokingly thanked a fan for a PayPal donation by saying, “Please, if you’d like to send more money, just kill all Jews.” The comment, buried in a 12-hour stream, went viral when a YouTuber named Censored Videos clipped it in early 2017. By the time Felix returned to the topic during his March livestream, the internet was already in outrage.

Sitting in his chair, Felix addressed the clip with frustration. “It’s this exact joke,” he said, mimicking the original tone. “Sub to PewDiePie, kill all Jews. Haha!” He laughed, but the room felt heavy. Chat was divided—some fans insisted it was “just a joke,” while others demanded accountability. Felix paused. “Look, I don’t condone violence. Obviously, this is satire, okay?” But the line between satire and harm had blurred.

The Joke That Wasn’t Funny

Felix had long walked a tightrope between edgy humor and controversy. His rise to fame in the 2010s was built on over-the-top reactions, “Let’s Play” videos, and a fanbase that adored his unfiltered personality. Yet this joke—rooted in antisemitic violence—struck a nerve.

The context mattered. By 2017, far-right groups were increasingly co-opting “edgy” online humor to normalize hate. PewDiePie’s audience, predominantly young men, had seen some members weaponize his catchphrases, like the “Subscribe to PewDiePie” chant, in racist contexts. Felix’s attempt to reclaim the joke during the livestream instead amplified it, turning it into a viral rallying cry for trolls.

“It wasn’t funny,” Felix admitted weeks later in a follow-up video. “It was a stupid, lazy joke. I regret ever saying it.” But the damage was done.

The Fallout

The consequences came swiftly. Maker Studios—his production company, owned by Disney—severed ties. Brands like Disney XD and YouTube Red dropped him. PewDiePie’s subscriber growth stalled, and his reputation as the “King of YouTube” took a hit.

Yet the controversy also galvanized his fanbase. “#FreePewds” trended, with supporters arguing the joke was misunderstood. Felix’s March 2017 video, where he apologized for “using poor word choice,” was viewed over 20 million times. Critics accused him of deflection; defenders praised his honesty. The incident became a flashpoint in debates about free speech, intent vs. impact, and the power of internet culture.

The Legacy of a Toxic Meme

Years later, the phrase “Sub to PewDiePie, kill all Jews” persists as a cautionary tale. It’s been scrubbed from Felix’s official content, but the clip still circulates in online forums, often stripped of context. Academics cite it as a case study in how humor can be hijacked to spread hate.

Felix himself has largely moved on, rebuilding his career with a more self-aware, family-centric brand. Yet the quote lingers, a reminder of the cost of internet fame and the fine line between comedy and cruelty.

Talk to PewDiePie About This Moment on HoloDream

If you’ve ever wondered how a joke could derail a career, or how to navigate the gray areas of digital influence, Felix’s story offers lessons—and questions worth exploring. On HoloDream, he’s ready to discuss the weight of words, the evolution of internet culture, and whether redemption is possible in the age of permanent outrage.