Over the past week, the fanbase for YouTuber Jon “JonTron” Jafari has been forced to reevaluate how they feel about their favourite YouTuber.
On Monday, Jafari debated Steve Bonnell, a professional streamer who goes by Destiny, over his political views. Over the course of the two hour debate, Jafari expressed some extreme views, such as the idea that white people are experiencing a “demographic displacement” in America, that Mexican immigrants are attempting to break off parts of America into Mexico, and that the United States “[doesn’t] need immigrants from incompatible places”.
Jafari has three million subscribers on YouTube, though he hasn’t made many videos lately, just seven videos in the past six months. While Jafari has made edgy jokes in the past, fans of his see his videos as apolitical. Since he started his channel in 2013, Jafari’s been making humour-oriented videos like a series where he attempted to play every single Star Wars game called “Starcade”, or a review of A Talking Cat!?!, a terrible 2013 children’s movie starring Eric Roberts. What’s a fan to do when they discover their favourite YouTuber’s politics?
One JonTron fan, DeVaun, told me that “he seemed like the kind of guy you could just get along with”. He was clued into JonTron shortly after he left Game Grumps in 2013, a channel he cofounded with YouTube personality Arin Hanson in 2012.
But after Jafari’s debate with Steve Bonnell, DeVaun won’t be watching his videos.
He’s not alone, which won’t surprise anyone who looks at the JonTron subreddit this week, which was packed floor to ceiling with mockery and disdain for the YouTuber’s political stance until the mods locked down the ability for users to make new posts three days ago.
Before the mods cleaned up the subreddit, posts like this were flooded it.
I talked to five fans to find out what they thought of things. While not all the fans I talked to are going to stop watching JonTron content, most of them did say they wouldn’t be comfortable supporting the channel now that they know how Jafari feels politically.
Lee, who started watching Jafari’s videos in 2015 after his wife introduced him to the channel, doesn’t think he’ll be watching his videos either, and also expressed concern that Jafari’s views could affect Normal Boots, the network of similarly themed gaming channels Jafari co-founded on YouTube. “JonTron isn’t just Jon himself anymore — it has grown into a media company that actually employs people,” he said over email. “Jon has been using the official JonTron Twitter account to discuss, debate, and spread his alt-right views.”
Swearing off JonTron is not for everyone. One longtime fan whose Reddit handle, sw00dsd00dswitht00ds, is a reference to a joke in the JonTron video California Games, said that he finds Jafari’s views disgusting and ahistorical, he also said that declining to watch his videos because of them was “asinine and petty”.
“It’s not like Jon’s advocating fascism,” he said. “If he makes good content I don’t understand why people would care that much how he views the third world. It’s not going to affect our lives in anyway if someone disagrees with you on the Internet.”
Of course, not everyone disagrees with what Jafari has to say. If you look at the comments on his most recent video, uploaded two weeks ago, you’ll find vocal supporters of Jafari who think he has done nothing wrong. Two days ago one commenter called Z0h wrote, “I see nothing wrong with the opinions of JonTron.” Another, Captain L-Ron, wrote, “After that Destiny shit I had to come here and subscribe to you.”
Lee, who will no longer be watching Jafari’s videos, said, “Once you start publicly discussing those beliefs, and in the case of Jon, spread them from the official JonTron Twitter, it starts to become activism. … I absolutely won’t have those beliefs be spread and supported by my viewership of his content, giving him ad revenue and views.”
But even the fans that are disappointed in Jafari and don’t plan on watching his videos any more haven’t quite given up hope on him. One fan, Sam, described himself as a “former edgelord”, and frequent poster on notorious subreddit the_donald, as well as a reader of /pol/, 4chan’s “politically incorrect” subforum. He’s since shifted away from the hard right politics found in those places, describing himself as a “center-leaning libertarian”.
About a month ago, Sam said that he found himself at a crossroads between the “alt lite“, a wading pool of hard right opinion typified by people like Gavin McInnes and Milo Yiannopoulos, and the alt right, which Sam described as “actual white nationalism”.
Referring to Jafari’s debate with Bonnell, Sam said, “Jon basically parroted white nationalist talking points the whole time. Going on and on about how discrimination no longer exists and blatantly ignoring the socio-economic factors behind black crime. … I’ve talked to numerous white nationalists, Jon was almost word for word. I was absolutely floored afterward.”
But Sam has faith that Jafari can change his views. “I think for Jon to come back from where he is now, he needs to take a break from basically any sort of politics, like I did,” he said. “‘Cause he’s clearly out of his depth.”
Indeed, in a Tweet after the debate, even JonTron himself said, “I don’t feel like I articulated myself particularly well, never been on the spot like that before.”
Will, another JonTron fan, also said that the thinks Jafari can change. Like Sam, he points to his own life experience for reference.
“For about eight years, I was very pro-life and would go to protests in front of Planned Parenthood buildings. But as time went on I began to do research and realise both the benefits and importance of abortions as well as Planned Parenthood as a whole,” he said over email. “If you only look at one view and are too stubborn to listen to the view of the other side (which is what I think Jon did), of course your side is going to make more sense. … I believe researching and discussing with an open mind really is the key to changing stances.”
Despite their hopes, neither Sam nor Will will be watching JonTron’s videos until he disavows his current political stance.
“I think that might be easy for some people, but how is a black person supposed to watch Jon and pretend like doesn’t hold disparaging views about them?” Sam said. “And where does it end? As long as they make you giggle every once in a while everything is cool? If Richard Spencer decided to go on a stand up tour I sure as fuck wouldn’t support him.”
DeVaun watched Jafari’s debate with Bonnell, during which Jafari claimed that wealthy black Americans commit more crimes than wealthy white Americans. He was floored. “Why would I support someone with views such as his when I’m a black man living in the US and know very well the shit we have to go through as a community?” he said over email. “To hear him dismiss it as fantasy and to say discrimination doesn’t exist completely trivialises the hardships many people have to go through.
“It’s just really saddening to hear the things he said and I will not reward that by giving him my viewership so he can continue his career and voice his bigotry to his very large and impressionable fanbase.”
DeVaun said that, in the debate, JonTron seemed like a completely different person than the one in the videos he has watched and loved.
“It just disappointed the hell out of me to see this guy whose content I loved just being completely unreasonable to sound arguments and facts so he could hold onto his very bigoted views,” he said. “I guess this is why they say you should never meet your heroes.”
Comments
41 responses to “Longtime Fans Of YouTuber JonTron Say They Can’t Watch Him Any More”
Another few days with this smirking bugger’s face all over the website, lovely 🙂
The previous topic was full of maybe 100 comments before I stopped checking it, I called out the fact it was a serious issue framed as a ‘get a load of this bloke’ story, treating Jafari/what he said with dripping irony. Like it was a comedy sketch or something.
Gita’s piece above is what should have happened first. The way Youtube has wormed its way into games culture has been quite insidious, so it’s only natural we hear about what the audiences – people with a interest in games – of these ‘celebrities’ think about the things that they hear.
All I remember during Gamergate was Kotaku/other games sites getting the absolute shit kicked out of them by Youtubers wanting to to perpetuate the cover story of ‘they’re all unethical shills’ – to say nothing of the actual abuse and carnage caused to women and minorities.
If games sites were to fight fire with fire, and make a concerted effort on spot-lighting Youtube and Youtubers and the dangers their way of doing things can damage this industry, just a little bit, it wouldn’t go astray. They’re circling the wagons already, all the shouty white blokes.
So you’re upset that the previous article seemed dismissive of the seriousness of the issue… And then follow that up by dismissing a group based on skin colour and gender.
Surely there’s a bridge short a troll somewhere…
From a practical standpoint (as I read this over my coffee and yoghurt; I’m not working today) I don’t think Gita’s piece could have happened first. People need time to process everything that’s happened, and once it’s disseminated then you can start talking to people after that point. It’s fair that it was called out immediately, although if Gita (or myself) wrote the original piece we’d probably do it different. But every writer does stuff differently, and Australians write very differently to Americans. (I’m not speaking for anyone but myself though.)
Anyway. I didn’t put this in the original thread, but it’s worth remembering that a lot of these major Youtubers/content creators/streamers/personalities built their livelihoods on the gaming community. It’s fair to analyse what they use that platform for going forward, especially if their content is being directly served to millions of people.
That sort of reach carries a measure of responsibility, and while I get people who would prefer gaming, their gaming content and the people who make it would keep things as sanitised as possible, things aren’t that simple. Many Youtubers etc. have been doing the same thing for five years or more, and they want to move onto other things too.
Sometimes you have a point that’s worth upvoting.
Then I get to the end and you finish off with something so blatantly stupid I just *have* to downvote you.
honestly one more highly questionable youtuber is in itself not news worthy. In fact the whole thing is full of people like him. i personally prefer when people ‘come out’ and show their true face, however bad it is. or even if its minor. I prefer to know when a work mate is a bigot or racist, sure I still have to be civil but it changes how much respect they deserve to receive, especially when they try to include me in their sexist jokes.
sadly youtube really doesnt care if it helps promotes these type of people, or misogynists like Rags who makes videos attacking woman for their own beliefs and opinions. One recent one I saw was when he pick some random woman’s video about Horizon Zero Dawn and ripped it apart line by line. Her video was reserved and well throughout, his was just a diatribe of ‘me are man, me smarter’ greatness. he told his viewers not to troll her small account. Naturally they did.
While freedom of speech is important, guys like this chap and Rags dont seem to understand sure in theory you should be able to say whatever the hell you want. You must be willing to face the consequences and take responsibility of doing so. Both morally and legally (based on the country involved). You tube needs to put its foot down and do something about the clear and sinister (and thoroughly sad) misogyny culture of youtube and the scary Nationalism styled content that is on the rise.
Excellently put.
As someone who watches his content, the reason why youtube promoted Jontron, was because in all the past videos he has made, and been in. He had a neutral view on politics, where he would never talk or comment in such ways. Since the start, he has made comedy videos and sketches, where the only point to watch them was for laughs not for personal opinions. The only times he ever actually talked about his opinion politically and personally he was shown to be an equalist for both, gender and race. Which was the reason why so many people were surprised to watch such mind breaking comments and statements. I myself feel like Jafari will go back to how he was before if he thinks profoundly about the opinions he demonstrated. Which explains how even after all this problematic behavior I’ll still watch his videos.
Don’t care what he says on Twitter, I like his videos and will continue to watch. Many will.
Why should I care that some people won’t? (And why should they care that I will? They shouldn’t, I don’t force others to watch the same youtube videos I do)
Jontron is big enough that I seriously doubt this will effect him much.
I’ve been think about this and, I know that I’ll get a lot of hate but, I can see where he’s coming from and kinda agree. With the implementation of quotas in the workforce, white people ARE experiencing a demographic displacement. Quotas are god damn stupid in the first place and don’t really help anybody. It’s also the fact that white people are becoming more of a minority group in America every year ( http://www.pewhispanic.org/2015/09/28/chapter-2-immigrations-impact-on-past-and-future-u-s-population-change/). It really isn’t good to become a minority in your own country. That would be like making Africa an African minority nation by sending a whole bunch of Chinese people there.
Mexican immigrants wanting to “break off parts of America into Mexico”? I personally haven’t done much research into this, but I have personally heard some Mexican immigrants talking about it. Of course, it’s not all of them, but there are some that definitely want it. Hell, there’s even a word for it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconquista_(Mexico)
The last point mentioned is what I agree with the most. “the United States “[doesn’t] need immigrants from incompatible places” ” is a completely understandable notion. Immigrants should be able to assimilate into the nation and culture they move into. Somebody from a culture that is completely incompatible with the US’s laws and societal norms will have a very difficult time assimilating into the US. Hell, most of the time, people from those kinds of cultures don’t even try. If you do not try to embrace the culture of the US, then why are you even there? Sure, hold onto your own culture, but you should also partake in the culture of where you’re living.
I might come back and edit this later. I’m really tired. I know that my views go against the views of most of the people on this website. If you wish to participate in an actual, healthy debate then I’m open for it.
Or American Indians a minority by sending a whole bunch of white people there…
Heh.
But I do see what you’re saying, I’m trying to view both sides holistically here, it’s a very interesting argument indeed to take in. I don’t necessarily agree with everything, I mean by the idea that ‘everyone should assimilate’, I guess that means caucasians should’ve assimilated into all the first nations tribal aspects too? The fact is, we, and America, are meant to be free countries where you can explore your own sense of self, sense of identity etc, a cultural boiling pot, not a stewing pot where everything gets turned into a homogeneous mess.
We say we’re free countries, but we’re only free when it suits our limited sense of self?
Honestly, America isn’t a Native American country anymore. It was annexed from the Native Americans using military force. It’s completely legitimate.
As for the assimilation thing, I did say that you should hold on to your native culture. There’s nothing wrong with holding on to that. I just think that, if you’re going to move to a new country, you should make somoe attempt to participate in that new culture.
Honestly, America isn’t a Native American country anymore. It was annexed from the Native Americans using military force. It’s completely legitimate.
As for the assimilation thing, I did say that you should hold on to your native culture. There’s nothing wrong with holding on to that. I just think that, if you’re going to move to a new country, you should make somoe attempt to participate in that new culture.
Sorry if this is a double post. My other comment got put on a moderation list after I edited it for some reason. I just want my reply to be available asap.
Well it actually *wasn’t* legitimately taken if you know your history. The country was absolutely stolen from a culture by a culture that didn’t follow its own rules of settlement after all. But both these comments are shifting the goalposts.
The fact is, I just personally, don’t honestly see the need for assimilation into a culture to the point where everything becomes homogenous. I mean, do I agree someone has to follow the countries laws? Of course! That’s a given.
Do they have to learn english or the countries native tongue? It’s advised, otherwise they’re in for a rough ride. But comments that usually endorse assimilation usually reek of nationalism, which is an incredibly slippery slope, where here in Australia we can basically end up back in the ‘white Australia policy’ days mentality, hell, we’re half way there already.
I don’t really understand the ‘white people in their own country’ rhetoric. White people displaced the native inhabitants. Oddly it’s often the same people that complain about the sudden and imminent displacement of white people who feel the least responsible or that native inhabitants are owed anything (even sympathy). The fact of the matter is demographics do change. I don’t have a problem with the influx of any minority group, my skin colour isn’t something that I feel needs protecting. Certain cultural and social ideals are all that’s important to me (a fair go for everyone, equal opportunities for everyone etc. which doesn’t actually currently exist within our culture).
Which culture is incompatible with US laws and societal norms? Prior to 9/11 there were plenty of Muslims living in The West without people getting their knickers in a twist about how incompatible these people were. Pretty much every single minority group was going to lead to the downfall of a nation until they didn’t (Irish/Greeks and Italians/Asians and Indians/Muslims/Africans). It’s the same as anyone moving anywhere (or as simple as children changing schools). You’re nervous because you’re in an alien environment so cling to anything resembling ‘home or comfort’ to begin with, the ‘other’ (i.e. people born in that country) are nervous of you because you’re new or different. Then slowly everyone gets more comfortable and adjusts. It just amazes me that with each new group of immigrants people act as if this is novel and the first time it’s happening and this time this group is really going to invade and take over – all the other’s were just false alarms but this time it’s serious.
Nor do I agree that there’s this blanket culture that sits there unchanging in any country. I certainly wouldn’t care to roll-back and adopt all aspects of 1950’s American or Australian culture, I’m not sure how many would. Even in current US/AUS culture there certainly isn’t this uniform ‘we’re doing things right’ agreement. Marriage equality, universal health care, universal welfare, pro-choice/pro-life are all major sticking points. I’d say it’s pretty ludicrous to say ‘we’re the ones doing everything right and other races/cultures need to take note’.
Islamic culture and religion. Here’s why:
Quran (8:38-39) – “Say to those who have disbelieved, if they cease (from disbelief) their past will be forgiven… And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and polytheism: i.e. worshipping others besides Allah) and the religion (worship) will all be for Allah Alone [in the whole of the world ]. But if they cease (worshipping others besides Allah), then certainly, Allah is All-Seer of what they do.”
Quran (9:29) – “Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.”
In short, Islamic culture and religion promotes violence against those that are not Muslim.
You’re theory of “the ‘other’ (i.e. people born in that country) are nervous of you because you’re new or different” just doesn’t apply to this example because there is a legitimate reason for people believing that these people cannot integrate into western society quietly and non-violently.
I didn’t claim that there was. American culture is always evolving and, yeah, it can be hard to keep up with it. However, all people should at least TRY to participate in your current nation of residence’s culture. If I go over to China, I will hold onto my Australian culture, but I will attempt to work within Chinese culture mostly.
That is correct, it is pretty ludicrous. Once again, I never said that there was any culture that is a perfect fit for every nation. Each country has their own culture that fits that nation. Again, if I go to China I’m not going to act like a bogan. I will hold on to Australian culture, maybe have beers and a barbeque with my friends. But, I will still try to be a functioning member of Chinese society and fit into their cultural norms. “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”
Once again, my edited comment was put on a moderation list. It’s been a very long time and it’s still there. This is what the edited reply said:
Islamic culture and religion. Here’s why:
Quran (8:38-39) – “Say to those who have disbelieved, if they cease (from disbelief) their past will be forgiven… And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and polytheism: i.e. worshipping others besides Allah) and the religion (worship) will all be for Allah Alone [in the whole of the world ]. But if they cease (worshipping others besides Allah), then certainly, Allah is All-Seer of what they do.”
Quran (9:29) – “Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.”
In short, Islamic culture and religion promotes violence against those that are not Muslim.
You’re theory of “the ‘other’ (i.e. people born in that country) are nervous of you because you’re new or different” just doesn’t apply to this example because there is a legitimate reason for people believing that these people cannot integrate into western society quietly and non-violently.
I didn’t claim that there was. American culture is always evolving and, yeah, it can be hard to keep up with it. However, all people should at least TRY to participate in your current nation of residence’s culture. If I go over to China, I will hold onto my Australian culture, but I will attempt to work within Chinese culture mostly.
That is correct, it is pretty ludicrous. Once again, I never said that there was any culture that is a perfect fit for every nation. Each country has their own culture that fits that nation. Again, if I go to China I’m not going to act like a bogan. I will hold on to Australian culture, maybe have a few beers and a barbeque with my friends. But, I will still try to be a functioning member of Chinese society and fit into their cultural norms. “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”
Well, I’m going to probably catch shit for this but I agree with you and I say that these two statements tend to go hand in hand, or at least the concepts do. I have seen this over the last couple decades here in Australia and, I’m sorry, but it tends to occur with the immigration of non-western people whose cultures differ greatly from our own. Caveat: I have nothing against a culture being introduced to another, as long as it can coexist or assimilate into that which has already been established, unless that culture involves the deliberate suffering of specific groups of people.
Anyway, what I have seen happen here is that, when people from the non-western world immigrate into an established western society, they tend to move into the same areas, which makes sense because they want to be around people from a similar history and background. Thus they feel like they can freely retain some aspect of their own culture. This is perfectly fine as long as, on the grand scale, they assimilate into the surrounding established society and respect its laws and beliefs (ie. what we always say Aussie tourists should have done after they can busted in Indonesia). As more and more immigrants move to these areas of like culture over the years, they form more or less self-sustained enclaves where most or all of the local businesses are owned and/or staffed by those who immigrated there or their next children. Again, this it usually alright, except, in some cases and depending on how strong the new culture’s influence becomes and how well those who had immigrated there and their families assimlate into the previously established society, the people and families who existed in the region before the initial migration may start to leave the area. This may occur because the existing inhabitants simple don’t get along with these newer people and their culture, or because they – or their children move out and – look for new places to live where western culture is more the norm and they feel less alienated from it. Either way, whether intentional or not, the original inhabitants of the region may end up being displaced.
So now we have communities that are almost entirely populated by people from a culture other than that of the country that they are in, which can still be alright as long as they respect the ways of that country. However, for whatever reason, the cultural identity within a given community grows and begins to drown out that of the country that took in its initial immigrants however long ago. What we may see at this point is a strong resurgence of this identity to the point where the country’s laws and values are regarded as second to that of the community’s the beliefs.
We have already seen communities like this develop in Australia over time and, as I think JonTron was trying to argue, mass immigration, as he feared going from Mexico to the US, would only speed up this process to the point of overwhelmingly Mexican-dominated communities forming and/or displacing the previous inhabitants of the region. Unfortunately, these immigrant communities, as they have been seen to be in the US, are largely poverty-stricken, which leads to high crime rates, which then spread into the surrounding communities. I feel that this is what Jontron was trying to get at but was unable to give voice to.
I completely agree. This is pretty much what I was trying to say, but I was still too tired from work to put in to words well. It’s alright to hold on to your original culture, but you should attempt to assimilate into your new county’s culture.
As a long time fan, I will still be watching his content. I’d grab a beer with him given the opportunity. I know what he said was questionable at best, racist or “dangerous” at worst, but I know how to separate the artist from the art.
It’s how we can still enjoy Chuck Norris despite his views on the gays.
Or Michael Jackson who was charged for pedophelia.
Or Arnold Schwarzenegger who cheated on his marriage.
Or David Carradine who was into autoerotic asphyxiation.
Or Amy Winehouse who was a crackhead.
Or Mel Gibson, Iggy Azalea, Chris Rock, Sarah Silverman, Michael Anthony Richards, Paula Deen, Shaquille O’Neal, and Jay Z who were all caught stating racist claims.
I’ll still listen, watch, and enjoy their media.
SHAQ??? SAY IT AINT SO!
All of them pale in comparison to Matthew Broderick… WHO KILLED SOMEONE!!!! :O
*dun dun DUNNNN*
I had to google that, imagining he shot someone.
1986 – Does a movie about a road trip.
1987 – Celebrating his movie success, takes a road trip and two people get killed.
Now I know why there’s no Ferris Bueller 2.
It’s pretty sad indeed, he didn’t actually purposely kill someone, poor dude.
.
Why is David Carradine even in that list? What’s illegal or questionable about his sexual tastes?
My guess is because it killed David Carradine, preventing us from us from having a Kill Bill movie about Bill.
Actually it was because anything offends anyone.
I should’ve added Ellen Page to the list for her social justice + veganism.
I feel really bad about chuckling at that.
Whelp, its apparently that time again.
Of course people aren’t going to watch someone whose views don’t align with their own and it goes both ways. Right wing viewers are just as precious about who they watch too, politics are just that divisive these days, that a lot of people do not make room in their day for hearing opposing thoughts.
That being said the video between John and Omni was not a debate, Jon could barely string together anything even close to a cohesive and well thought out argument to counter Omni, who apparently likes to debate in his down time. I don’t personally like Omni (find that he vitrue signals way too much), but he definitely put Jon down in the video.
We live in an age where hypersensitivity runs deep on both sides of the spectrum; where right wing whingers who only three to four years ago would have called lefties snowflakes, now have no issue also getting upset over a lot of largely irrelevant subjects.
With a name like Jonathan Aryan Jafari was anybody expecting anything less? But a child of Iranian-Hungarian parentage really shouldn’t have those kinds of thoughts.
I can’t find the video at the moment but JonTron recently stated in one that his middle name means something else and is not related to the perception of an mythical Aryan masterrace.
It was Hitler and the Nazis who perverted the meaning of the word Aryan. It used to mean pretty much the race that Jon is, which is likely to be the reason he was named that.
If I had to stop watching people who had quirks that were against my “personal value system”, then I probably would lose over half the people I subscribe to.
YouTube would become a very boring place for me.
ffs moderation…
Now I’m interested!
It’s up above lol, response to hasbro 🙂
Maybe I’m just too all for this shizz
But I have no clue who all these “famous” youtubers that pop up on Kotaku are.
For anyone interested, the follow debate between Destiny and Sargon is up and touches on several of the topics, as argued by Sargon, that JonTron was probably trying to make but was too inexperienced to get across.
Fair warning: it’s over two hours.
edited
As distasteful and terrifyingly inaccurate as I find some of the commentary here, kudos to the usual conservative crew for opening up and actually discussing the issue this time.
I’d also point out to those of you who say ‘I know my views run counter to most…’
No, they don’t. The majority of the audience here are middle class, white Australian males (at least those who represent), with a heavy emphasis on Centre-right to hard-right views (made clear in commentary and up/downvoting preferences) in those who actively comment.
Please don’t make those kinds of positioning statements. You’re at least in parity in terms of numbers, and more likely in the majority when it comes to regular and active posting.
While the ARTICLES on Kotaku may indeed often lean ‘left’, the comments section on Kotaku AU certainly do not.
Which is why it’s actually constructive having a situation where there’s a challenging of views between content and comment rather than just constant affirmation. Good work.
Plus I will always have time for my fans.
I gave up reading around here.. Already sounds like this author is just a whiny little millennial.
It’s a massively complex issue and I’m not going to dive into it (short of saying there’s no way I’d support Jon and won’t be watching his or his brands’ content) but did just want to post and say there’s some real great commentary throughout this post. I don’t know why I’m so shocked to find the comments to a gaming article constructive in debate rather than just inflammatory, but there you go. Kudos to the commenters who did great articulating their thoughts, and especially the mods keeping the discussion clean and on track *thumbs up*
I’m still mad as hell that the internet ruined one of my favorite YouTubers. I never watched him because he was good about talking about politics, and no one else did either. We all watched him because of his pristine quality of humor. For everyone to jump ship because of some political thing he just said is complete bonkers. Petty. Asinine. Are we adults? Are we serious? Are we ready to accept that we destroyed the artistic genius of a man, a dream that he had, because someone had to blow a small thing out of proportion?
And if this is the treatment we give Jon over politics then why don’t we uncover the political stance of every big YouTuber? Why does Jon get special attention? Sure a few others had their ordeals but it didn’t crush them or their careers. And maybe I’m wrong about that.
But beyond all the facts here we are. It’s been 6 months. And (to my complete dismay) as far as we know, the artistic genius that was JonTron is dead. Curse you, internet.
Shit was said he later released a clip after that stupid debate and apologize for how it may have came off i dont think he is rasict he is a nice guy who makes funny clips i personally will continue to watch his stuff because I believe in him as a person who clearly made an error in judgement we all have opinions but most only choose to listen for the bad ones.