After answering the recent controversy with his Spotify playlist, PewDiePie promised to donate $100,000 to Red Cross Lebanon to extend help after the catastrophic blast that killed at least 157 and injured more than 5,000 people.
As Tech Times reported earlier this week, the deadly explosion is blamed to about 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate that has been unsafely stored in a warehouse since 2014. Red Cross Lebanon has immediately asked for blood donations as numerous victims of the blast were brought in hospitals.
In a YouTube video entitled "I Got Cancelled Again..." published on Tuesday, August 6, Felix Kjellberg said this month's collection will be given to Red Cross Lebanon while he promised to donate again to water campaign Blue Ocean in September.
On March 5, Business Insider reported that PewDiePie vowed to donate $50,000 to the Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish anti-hate group, when the Gothenburg, Southwest Sweden native became the first individual YouTuber to hit the 100-million subscriptions in late August 2019.
However, fans criticized Kjellberg's decision to donate to a group that spoke against him, so he retracted his pledge and said he would donate it instead to a crusade he was "personally passionate about."
PewDiePie Snap Back on Spotify Artist Gupi
PewDiePie got in a recent controversy when his leaked Spotify playlist did not suit his fans' music preference. The leaked images of Kjellberg's recent playlist like SOPHIE, Kero Kero Bonito, Slayyyter, Gupi.
Kjellberg already deleted his Twitter account in December 2019, but his music preference caused heated arguments on the social media app with artists refuting him. Meanwhile, YouTuber responded to one specific tweet from Gupi that said: "Just woke up, found out pewdiepie listens to me and others, pewdiepie please don't listen to my music. Ok, back to bed."
In his recent video, Kjellberg made jokes and mocked Gupi for getting upset that the YouTuber listens to his music. "B*itch, who the fuck are you?! I don't know who you are," he said adding that it is unusual for a musician" to try and gatekeep your music" that was put on a public platform. He then continued saying that it was like him preventing people from watching his YouTube videos.
Towards the end of the video, Kjellberg said he would continue listening to music that heavily influenced him in the past, even if the artist publicly disavowed him.
Read also: From Felix Arvid to PewDiePie: Is He Going to Leave Youtube for Good?
How PewDiePie began his career?
Kjellberg's passion for video games began when he was younger, although his parents urged him to reduce his playtime. In 2010, while he was studying industrial economics and technology management degree at Chalmers University of Technology, he created a YouTube account. He dropped out in school and decided to pursue a career as a YouTuber when it was not yet seen as a sustainable career.
From streaming and commentary, he also ventured to content and quickly gained 60,000 subscribers by December 2011. His following quickly rose and he got his first million subscribers by July 2012, which also led him to sign with a YouTube network called Maker Studios.
The following year, Kjellberg became the most-subscribed-to channel on YouTube, snatching the title from the Smosh Brothers. He ended 2013 with almost 19 million subscribers, earning about $4 million.
In 2014, he earned about $7.4 million as a YouTuber. He also ventured into creating mobile apps for iOS and Android as well as a self-help book. While his career is filled with controversies, Kjellberg's earnings reached $13 million in 2019.
Meanwhile, Tech Times also reported that PewDiePie will take a break from YouTube this year because he is already tired. However, he came back in February.
Read also: PewDiePie Briefly Lost Top Spot On YouTube
