YouTube Star PewDiePie Has Promised To Delete His Account When He Reaches 50 Million Subscribers

Influential YouTuber PewDiePie has released a video vowing to delete his account in protest of recent changes made to the video sharing website.

Swedish vlogger and video game commentator, Felix Kjellberg, goes by username PewDiePie on YouTube. He holds the crown for most-subscribed account; a whopping 49 million subscribers regularly watch his videos.

In 2015, Forbes named Felix the biggest earner on YouTube, raking in a conservative estimate of $US12 million that year. Much of his job involves playing video games, screaming, and now (apparently) ranting about the very company that pays him?

On Friday, he released a video revealing his intention to quit YouTube once he hits the 50 million subscriber mark. His reasoning? Apparently, YouTube is deliberately trying to destroy him.

Needless to say it came as a huge shock to his base of devout and loyal followers. It’s understood that Felix is only half a million subscribers short of hitting his target. If he follows through on his word, he might be making an extravagant exit sooner than expected.

PewDiePie is convinced YouTube is up to some sneaky-biz. In the video he claims the company is pushing clickbait content to users, rather than material from channels they’re actually subscribed to.

The star also says (half-jokingly, maybe?) that he’s being targeted because he’s white. Felix reckons YouTube would rather have more diverse stars at the top of their charts.

His epic, crusade-like rant about how YouTube bosses are ruining the website and trying to kill his channel has elicited a mixed-bag of reactions. Thousands of people have flooded the comments section of his video; the most popular ones don’t seem very empathetic, like, at all.

In the fallout of his announcement, Felix tweeted out a few updates to the situation.

Talking to YouTube about what the issue is with their site lately.
Some progress being made.
Holding pitch forks and tourches off for now.

— pewdiepie (@pewdiepie) December 2, 2016

YouTube has responded and are digging into the issues.
🐸👏💯

— pewdiepie (@pewdiepie) December 5, 2016

Some commentators are labeling the fiasco a “strategic tantrum” aimed at putting pressure on the YouTube management team.

I guess only time will tell how this story ends?

Photo: YouTube (@PewDiePie)