YouTube Issues Second Strike against Steven Crowder, Permanent Ban Likely Imminent
Darian Douraghy
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Conservative political comedian and commentator Steven Crowder was recently hit with a two-week ban on his Youtube channel over a video he posted about the fatal shooting of Ma’Khia Bryant, a Columbus teen who had attempted to stab another girl before police intervened.
The video has since been removed from Youtube, but can be found here in the form of an audio-only podcast. Crowder and others on the show made the argument that the shooting was justified.
YouTube claims that Crowder’s video violated their harassment, threats, and cyberbullying policy. Crowder was hit with a second “hard strike,” from Youtube, banning the conservative from posting content to the YouTube channel for two weeks. In accordance with Youtube’s policy, Crowder receiving any additional strikes will result in a permanent ban from the platform.
According to Youtube:
YouTube Creators share their opinions on a wide range of different topics. However, there’s a line between passionate debate and malicious harassment. Content containing targeted harassment including, but not limited to, stalking, threats, bullying, and intimidation is not allowed on YouTube.
Upon being asked by Crowder’s legal team how the alleged violation applied to the video, Youtube gave the following response:
In particular, this video violated the aspect of the policy that prohibits “content reveling in or mocking the death or serious injury of an identifiable individual.” Accordingly, the video has been removed and a strike has been applied to the Steven Crowder channel. This constitutes the second active strike on the Steven Crowder channel and, as a result, uploads are now suspended for two weeks.
Crowder’s team stood their ground:
The video they’re referring to didn’t revel in the death or serious injury of an identifiable individual. It seems YouTube is unhappy the studio crew agreed the shooting of a teenager trying to stab another was justified. White, black, hispanic, or identifying as a transgender alien, if you’re trying to stab someone else and get shot by an officer, sorry, but that’s the way the cookie crumbles.
Crowder took to Twitter to argue his case, pointing out that Youtube’s policies of harassment have been applied inconsistently, especially in the case of left-wing Youtubers.
“Why no live show today, you ask? Ah. Well YouTube hit our channel with a second hard strike, saying we violated their harassment guidelines,” Crowder posted via Twitter. “Which is interesting when you consider all the harassment YouTube allows if it comes from the left…”
Clips in the video include show host Bill Maher making fun of the death of Ashli Babbit, the Trump supporter who was shot and killed by police on Capitol Hill, Young Turks commentator Hassan Piker saying he supports the brutal Antifa terrorist attack on journalist Andy Ngo, and leftist “comedian” Trevor Noah encouraging violence against peaceful Trump supporters.
In spite of the ban, Crowder will still be recording his regular live broadcast.
“We’ve said this for years, YouTube is after us, they don’t seem to like our exercising of free speech,” the site said. “Do you need any more evidence?”
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