Shane Dawson’s YouTube channels will not be able to earn advertising revenue for an indefinite period. This followed after some old videos on Dawson’s channels fell under scrutinization for featuring racist, anti-Semitic, and other offensive content.
Particularly in one video, Dawson made sexual comments about a then-11-year-old Willow Smith. This led to Jada Pinkett Smith and Jaden Smith publicly calling out Dawson on Twitter.
Dawson’s monetization suspension is indefinite but not permanent. Dawson’s past behavior, which garnered much attention over the last few days, was enough for YouTube to take action. That happened even though the videos are years old, reports say.
The channels included are Shane (22.5M subscribers), Shane Dawson TV (8.4M subscribers), and Shane Glossin (3.7M subscribers).
In damaging situations like this one, YouTube has a responsibility to protect its creator community and advertisers. When old videos are brought to the company’s attention, it has a responsibility to take action. That remains true even if a creator’s current content doesn’t violate the company’s guidelines.
According to YouTube, the impact of Dawson’s videos, as well as on and off-platform behavior, warranted that action.
His use of blackface in past videos has been brought up before. The creator faces new criticism after making a video last week addressing his past behavior.
He said in the video that he used to use blackface a lot. He noted that while he tried to excuse the behavior a few years ago, he’s trying to take accountability for it now.
YouTube Makes an Example out of Dawson’s Past
In the new video, he said he doesn’t even fully know how to apologize. Because it seems like something which is irredeemable. He said it’s something he shouldn’t be able to get out of and that he should lose everything for that.
Although YouTube is taking action, it’s not permanent. He is one of the platform’s most popular creators. But YouTube seems to be making an example out of his past while protecting the creator community and the company.
Many of these videos were put on YouTube years ago already. This is prompting questions about why YouTube didn’t take action before if they still have a responsibility to do so.
In fact, those videos were brought up multiple times over the years by fans on social media. Target has also confirmed that they’re removing Dawson’s books from their shelves.
Dawson Said He has Put so Much Hate on the Internet
YouTube confirmed on Tuesday that it disallowed Shane Dawson to make money from ads on his three channels.
Also, on the same day, YouTuber Tati Westbrook published a 40-minute-video in which she makes accusations against Dawson and YouTuber Jeffree Star. She accused them of manipulating her and creating tension between her and YouTuber James Charles.
All this came as part of the aftermath of a video Dawson posted on Friday titled Taking Accountability.
Throughout the video’s more than 20-minute run time, he apologizes for a career of offensive content. This included but was not limited to wearing blackface, using racial slurs, and insulting people living with disabilities. He had also joked about pedophilia and spoke hypothetically about murdering a woman.
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