YouTube Remonetizes Steven Crowder

[Aureumterra]

YouTube restores Steven Crowder's ability to make cash from videos, a year after the conservative star was accused of homophobic harassment

Conservative YouTuber Steven Crowder can again make cash from ads running against his videos, a year after having monetization suspended.

Crowder's ability to enable paid ads was suspended on June 5 2019, after progressive journalist Carlos Maza called him out for homophobic harassment.

A YouTube spokeswoman confirmed to Business Insider on Thursday that Crowder's monetization had been restored, adding that: "If there are further violations on this channel we will take appropriate action."

Crowder is a former Fox News contributor, and a high-profile conservative figure. He bills his YouTube channel as "the number one conservative late night comedy show" and has more than 4 million subscribers.

Carlos Maza is a former journalist with Vox and popular for his commentary on media and progressive policy. He is Latino and openly gay.

In videos through 2019, Steven Crowder described Carlos Maza as a "lispy queer" and a "gay Latino", provoking outrage from Maza and his supporters, who described the language as homophobic and racist. At the time, Maza was still working at Vox.

Crowder claimed the language was comedic, and initially, You Tube said Crowder's videos didn't violate its policies — but a day later, the video platform appeared to change tack. It said Crowder's channel had been demonetized "due to continued egregious actions that have harmed the broader community."

YouTube added that Crowder's monetization had also been suspended over an offensive shirt being sold on his site that featured a homophobic slur.

Maza, who has since left Vox to post solo videos on YouTube, on Wednesday criticized the site's decision to restore Crowder's ability to make money from video ads.

He wrote on Twitter: "YouTube has reinstated Steven Crowder into its Partner Program, meaning they'll once again allow him to monetize his videos. Demonetizing was already insufficient, but this decision proves that YouTube has no real interest in enforcing it's anti-hate policies."

He added that YouTube "has a tremendous profit incentive to keep hate speech on the platform."

Maza pointed to a recent video on Crowder's channel that calls the Black Lives Matter movement a "domestic terrorist organization," and another video titled "When Transgenders Attack! Change My Mind Edition."

"These are all in violation of YouTube's policies. Not a single one has been removed," Maza said.

YouTube's spokeswoman wouldn't comment on the specific videos highlighted by Maza, but noted that not all videos on a monetized channel would qualify to have paid ads running against them. In other words, some videos may remain de-monetized if they don't meet YouTube's "ad-friendly" guidance.

YouTube also said the videos that resulted in Crowder's suspension, including those targeting Maza, had been removed. The spokeswoman added that Crowder had also stopped selling the offensive shirt and committed not to selling it again in future.

Here's YouTube's full statement:

"Over a year ago, Steven Crowder was suspended from the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) for harassing a fellow creator and harming the YouTube community. This incident exposed gaps in our Community Guidelines, so last December we updated our policies to better address patterns of harassing behavior and our work here is ongoing. Separately, Mr. Crowder has also taken steps to address the behavior that led to his suspension and has demonstrated a track record of policy-compliant behavior. Creators who are suspended from YPP can reapply for access, and after careful consideration, we will be reinstating him into the program today. If there are further violations on this channel we will take appropriate action."

So yeah… not much to add there, what do you think?

I think this shows that YouTube only cared about advertising revenue when they demonetized Crowder in the first place. If you remember, a YouTube community manager said that Crowder had not broken any terms of service or guidelines, but after Maza went on a rant and threatened to get advertisers to take notice, they demonetized him. Now that Maza isn’t part of Vox anymore, he doesn’t have any corporate power and YouTube has assumed it safe to remonetize Crowder.

That’s my take at least

[Major-Tom]

I fucking hate Steven Crowder, but I also think demonetizing him was a fruitless endeavor. I mean, demonetizing him just gave him more of an excuse to whine about liberal biases and likely expanded his fan base.

If he wants to make money off being an asshole, he can, unfortunately that's just the way it goes.

[Cordel One]

After everything Crowder's done he should really be banned from the site altogether.

[Ifreann]

Crowder should have just been banned, but YouTube was never going to do that while his channel was still bringing in that sweet, sweet engagement.

[Trollgaard]

Good. Shouldn't have been demonetized in the first place.

[Kowani]

Crowder should have just been banned, but YouTube was never going to do that while his channel was still bringing in that sweet, sweet engagement.

No, no. If he’d been banned, he would’ve gotten a talk show somewhere.

[Cordel One]

Crowder should have just been banned, but YouTube was never going to do that while his channel was still bringing in that sweet, sweet engagement.

No, no. If he’d been banned, he would’ve gotten a talk show somewhere.

Unless it was FOX news he'd have less of an audience that way.

[Ifreann]

Crowder should have just been banned, but YouTube was never going to do that while his channel was still bringing in that sweet, sweet engagement.

No, no. If he’d been banned, he would’ve gotten a talk show somewhere.

He has a talk show, on Blaze Media. It's called Louder With Crowder, and is also published on YouTube.

[The Greater Ohio Valley]

His trash should've never been monetized to begin with.

Crowder should have just been banned, but YouTube was never going to do that while his channel was still bringing in that sweet, sweet engagement.

No, no. If he’d been banned, he would’ve gotten a talk show somewhere.

I mean, isn't he already doing a talk show somewhere?

[Nuroblav]

Heard of him - from what I gather he's one of these Ben Shapiro-types creating poorly constructed arguments to 'own the libs'. Would that be right?

Not really much to say on the matter otherwise.

[The Black Forrest]

Who?

[Bear Stearns]

Owen Benjamin has the real redpill on Steven "Sodomite" Crowder.

[Cordel One]

Heard of him - from what I gather he's one of these Ben Shapiro-types creating poorly constructed arguments to 'own the libs'. Would that be right?

Not really much to say on the matter otherwise.

He's worse than Ben Shapiro, which is really saying something.

[Kowani]

No, no. If he’d been banned, he would’ve gotten a talk show somewhere.

He has a talk show, on Blaze Media. It's called Louder With Crowder, and is also published on YouTube.

Ah, damnit. And here I thought he only had the YouTube channel.

Heard of him - from what I gather he's one of these Ben Shapiro-types creating poorly constructed arguments to 'own the libs'. Would that be right?

Not really much to say on the matter otherwise.

He's worse than Ben Shapiro, which is really saying something.

He’s Ben Shapiro but loud and crude.

[The New California Republic]

Who?

Ditto. I've not heard of him either. Mind you, there are a lot of "big names" on YouTube nowadays that I really pay no mind.

[Saiwania]

Honestly, I don't think he should've been sanctioned to begin with. If advertisers want to break with Youtube over minor nonsense like this, I'd tell them to pound sand were it my website. There are other advertisers who'd look the other way. They really going to deny themselves the biggest video platform on the internet? Probably not. If called out on allowing neo-Nazi videos, I'd point to Communist videos being allowed and insist that I can't ban one without banning the other.

[Dresderstan]

Cool, anyway.

[Cordel One]

Honestly, I don't think he should've been sanctioned to begin with. If advertisers want to break with Youtube over minor nonsense like this, I'd tell them to pound sand were it my website. There are other advertisers who'd look the other way. They really going to deny themselves the biggest video platform on the internet? Probably not. If called out on allowing neo-Nazi videos, I'd point to Communist videos being allowed and insist that I can't ban one without banning the other.

I see what you're trying to say but you've missed out on just one simple fact:
Nazism ≠ communism
Communism is stateless and worker-run whereas Nazism is totalitarian and focused on genocide.

[Necroghastia]

Who?

Ditto. I've not heard of him either. Mind you, there are a lot of "big names" on YouTube nowadays that I really pay no mind.

Who?

I believe he's the guy from the "change my mind" meme, which was originally the "There are only two genders" shit.

He's done other stuff, obviously, but that's probably the one where Joe Average is likely to know him.

[Nuroblav]

Honestly, I don't think he should've been sanctioned to begin with. If advertisers want to break with Youtube over minor nonsense like this, I'd tell them to pound sand were it my website. There are other advertisers who'd look the other way. They really going to deny themselves the biggest video platform on the internet? Probably not. If called out on allowing neo-Nazi videos, I'd point to Communist videos being allowed and insist that I can't ban one without banning the other.

I see what you're trying to say but you've missed out on just one simple fact:
Nazism ≠ communism
Communism is stateless and worker-run whereas Nazism is totalitarian and focused on genocide.

I can just imagine Horseshoe Jreg chiming in and saying that there's no difference between those either

Which leads to another point - if we ban both, Jreg would not be pleased at all.

[The New California Republic]

Ditto. I've not heard of him either. Mind you, there are a lot of "big names" on YouTube nowadays that I really pay no mind.

I believe he's the guy from the "change my mind" meme, which was originally the "There are only two genders" shit.

He's done other stuff, obviously, but that's probably the one where Joe Average is likely to know him.

I see, that's why I don't know him by name.

[Saiwania]

I see what you're trying to say but you've missed out on just one simple fact:
Nazism ≠ communism
Communism is stateless and worker-run whereas Nazism is totalitarian and focused on genocide.

I know the two systems aren't the same, but I consider it fair game in that both can be considered polar opposites. The Eastern Front of WWII can be thought of as an ideological battle beyond just a military and political one between Hitler and Stalin. Communism just happened to emerge victorious in that instance.

I'd prefer to allow both types of content but if I were forced to not allow neo Nazism, I'd be inclined to ban Communism as well on that basis. It is historical fact that both political movements were at odds in Berlin and across Germany before Hitler rose to power.

If Steven Crowder isn't allowed, I'd have to censor any left wing equivalents like TYT. People must tolerate possibly being offended or be in a safe space where they're protected but can't access what they want. There is no possible way really, to have it both ways. There is one path or the other.

[Outer Acharet]

I see what you're trying to say but you've missed out on just one simple fact:
Nazism ≠ communism
Communism is stateless and worker-run whereas Nazism is totalitarian and focused on genocide.

I know the two systems aren't the same, but I consider it fair game in that both can be considered polar opposites. The Eastern Front of WWII can be thought of as an ideological battle beyond just a military and political one between Hitler and Stalin. Communism just happened to emerge victorious in that instance.

I'd prefer to allow both types of content but if I were forced to not allow neo Nazism, I'd be inclined to ban Communism as well on that basis. It is historical fact that both political movements were at odds in Berlin and across Germany before Hitler rose to power.

If Steven Crowder isn't allowed, I'd have to censor any left wing equivalents like TYT. People must tolerate possibly being offended or be in a safe space where they're protected but can't access what they want. There is no possible way really, to have it both ways. There is one path or the other.

Crowder wasn't suspended for being right-wing. He was suspended for hate speech. Unless those left-wing channels start spouting hate speech they won't get kicked off their pulpits.

[Saiwania]

Crowder wasn't suspended for being right-wing. He was suspended for hate speech. Unless those left-wing channels start spouting hate speech they won't get kicked off their pulpits.

Hate speech is arguably the point and feature for the far right and not a flaw. Otherwise, they'd be a moderate. There exists a politics of fear and hatred that a sizeable amount of people are into or always have been throughout all of history. On that basis, hate speech isn't a problem from my perspective; if Youtube's limited liability from what other people choose to do is iron clad.

[Borderlands of Rojava]

As if Biden's veep nomination didn't disgust me enough. It's even worse that Steven voiced the Brain in Arthur, thereby ruining my childhood.