Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn and Ahmed Best as Jar Jar Binks in The Phantom Menace (1999), Lucasfilm
YouTuber rejected the apparent organized cancel campaign that was attempting to get the company to demonetize Gary Buechler aka Nerdrotic, Jeremy Griggs of Geeks + Gamers, and Ryan Kinel of RK Outpost over their criticism of The Acolyte, its cast, and Star Wars in general.
(Third from left): Mae Aniseya (Amandla Stenberg) in Lucasfilm’s THE ACOLYTE, season one, exclusively on Disney+. ©2024 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.
Numerous individuals and Disney Star Wars sycophants participated in the cancel campaign with many of them sharing a letter to YouTube with their demands that aforementioned YouTubers and their channels be demonetized.
YouTuber Kyle Katarn participated in the campaign writing, “it’s time for you to be part of the solution Team YouTube. While you continue to allow these channels to be monetized, you are incentivizing hatred and racism.”
it’s time for you to be part of the solution @TeamYouTube
While you continue to allow these channels to be monetized, you are incentivizing hatred and racism pic.twitter.com/hA14n1YGxB
— Kyle Katarn (@Ky1eKatarn) September 4, 2024
Jarod The Dark Jedi, who runs The Nerd Academy YouTube channel, also posted, “The Fandom Menace has run rampant for far too long and now a flourishing cottage industry of thinly veiled bigotry has been able to thrive while making fandom spaces a cesspool of hatred. It’s time for Team YouTube to step up and enforce their TOS.”
The Fandom Menace has run rampant for far too long and now a flourishing cottage industry of thinly veiled bigotry has been able to thrive while making fandom spaces a cesspool of hatred.
It’s time for @TeamYouTube to step up and enforce their TOS. pic.twitter.com/TGs7iRr1rH
— Jarod The Dark Jedi ⚔️ (@darkjedi2552) September 4, 2024
Mollie Damon, who co-hosts the Star Wars Explained YouTube channel, posted, “I’ve spoken at length about all this in the past but the only way things get better is if Team YouTube does something to discourage this kind of content – until then it will only get worse.”
I’ve spoken at length about all this in the past but the only way things get better is if @TeamYouTube does something to discourage this kind of content – until then it will only get worse. pic.twitter.com/Y5R3Ds796F
— Mollie Damon🎃 (@MollieDamon) September 4, 2024
The Rewriting Ripley Pod account also posted, “A handful of YouTubers have jeopardized the safety of our community & the creatives we love for too long. The Star Wars fandom demands action. Team YouTube demonetize Nerdrotic, Ryan Kinel – RK Outpost, and Geeks + Gamers. Hate SHOULD NOT be a career path.”
A handful of YouTubers have jeopardized the safety of our community & the creatives we love for too long. The Star Wars fandom demands action. @TeamYouTube demonetize Nerdrotic, Ryan Kinel – RK Outpost, and Geeks + Gamers. Hate SHOULD NOT be a career path. pic.twitter.com/NFzcTLrALB
— Rewriting Ripley Pod (@rewritingripley) September 4, 2024
In a subsequent post, the account wrote, “If you’re angered by the video above, take action. Ask YouTube to demonetize the hate on their platform with this letter from the Star Wars community.”
If you’re angered by the video above, take action. Ask YouTube to demonetize the hate on their platform with this letter from the Star Wars community. pic.twitter.com/3CoufWe6LR
— Rewriting Ripley Pod (@rewritingripley) September 4, 2024
Following this organized cancel campaign, trial lawyer Robert Barnes indicated that Nerdrotic, Geeks + Gamers, and Ryan Kinel “have very good defamation claims against Mollie Damon & others. I hear they have good lawyers as friends.”
The targets @Nerdrotics @GeeksGamersCom & @KinelRyan have very good defamation claims against @MollieDamon & others. I hear they have good lawyers as friends. https://t.co/tnuzUXvfyA
— Robert Barnes (@barnes_law) September 5, 2024
YouTube eventually responded to the Rewriting Ripley Pod after the account pressed them to take action writing, “Hello, Team YouTube, the Star Wars community would at the very least appreciate a formal response or update in regards to our well documented and pressing concerns about YouTubers pushing prolonged harassment on your platform.”
YouTube replied, “thanks for reaching out. just heard back and confirmed that this content is not violative & will remain up. we totally understand you may not agree with this decision, but we reviewed this video very carefully against our policies.”
thanks for reaching out. just heard back and confirmed that this content is not violative & will remain up. we totally understand you may not agree with this decision, but we reviewed this video very carefully against our policies
— TeamYouTube (@TeamYouTube) September 5, 2024
Nerdrotic responded to YouTube’s response writing, ”
How about that https://t.co/uw8NnnSlZ5
— Nerdrotic (@Nerdrotics) September 5, 2024
Jeremy Griggs of Geeks + Gamers reacted by writing, “It’s beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.”
It’s beautiful. Absolutely beautiful ❤️ https://t.co/Sq2OzDX7aG
— Jeremy Prime (@DDayCobra) September 5, 2024
Kinel wrote, “Rough few weeks for Disney Star Wars fans.
Rough few weeks for Disney Star Wars fans https://t.co/4x2jmqHpuA pic.twitter.com/hgh5Ow8Q9E
— Ryan Kinel – RK Outpost (@KinelRyan) September 5, 2024
The Rewriting Ripley Pod did not take YouTube’s response very well. It threatened, “Team YouTube, this is an admission that you have not reviewed our concerns, proven by saying ‘this video’ when there are 10+ videos in question. However, thank you for confirming your inability to take safety seriously. You & your advertisers will be hearing more from us soon.”
The account added, “Additionally, I would like to point out, Team YouTube, that nobody in Star Wars fandom has requested select videos to be removed, simply that a handful of YouTube channels should be demonetized. The lack of clarity in your response to address our real concerns is appalling.”
Additionally, I would like to point out, @TeamYouTube, that nobody in Star Wars fandom has requested select videos to be removed, simply that a handful of YouTube channels should be demonetized. The lack of clarity in your response to address our real concerns is appalling.
— Rewriting Ripley Pod (@rewritingripley) September 5, 2024
What do you make of YouTube’s reply?
