PewDiePie Apologizes After Mocking Deaf TikToker: ‘Had No Clue She Was Deaf’

etcanada.com:

PewDiePie is answering the latest backlash against him. On Tuesday, the popular YouTuber, whose real name is Felix Kjellberg, posted a video of reactions to viral videos, in which he appeared to mock a deaf TikTok user. READ MORE: PewDiePie Responds After ‘Genuinely Good’ Jenna Marbles Announces YouTube Departure The clip in question featured TikToker Scarlet May, who has an audience of about 6.2 million on the platform, outlining an encounter at a fast food drive-thru, in which she signs the story while displaying her long painted nails.

In his video, which has since been removed and reposted, PewDiePie, with his dog Maya in his lap, joked, “Look, she has your crazy nails, Maya!” He then began to move Maya’s paws around, as though signing, while appearing to make fun of Scarlet May’s voice, saying, “Sorry, are my nails distracting you guys?” After being widely condemned for the insensitive mockery across social media, PewDiePie responded in the comments of the video. “Hey, just to clear a few things up: I edited out the clip with the girl that has the long nails. “Had no clue she was deaf, but kinda dumb of me to not realize.

Still, watching through the clip I only poked fun of her long nails.” The YouTuber added, “The voice I did for my dog is the same voice I’ve given her for years. (edit: ..and making my dog’s paws move was poking at people always dancing or doing some move on TikTok, which is an ongoing theme in the whole video).” Finally, PewDiePie apologized by saying, “Anyway, honest mistake, my bad.” READ MORE: New Study Finds PewDiePie More Influential Than LeBron James To Gen Z After PewDiePie began to face backlash for his video, Scarlet May posted another update on her own TikTok feed responding