Ethan's Comment About Ben Shapiro
Background
- In October 2022, while criticizing Ben Shapiro for excusing Kanye West's antisemitic behavior, Ethan Klein made a sarcastic joke, stating that if another Holocaust occurred, "I hope Ben gets gassed first. Or last."[1]
- YouTube subsequently suspended Ethan for one week and removed the video for violating its policy on harassment and bullying.[1]
- At the time, Ben Shapiro was publicly supportive of Kanye West's move toward conservatism, despite West's antisemitic statements, including a post about going "death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE" and promoting conspiracy theories about Jewish control.[2]
- Candace Owens, a Daily Wire employee at the time, was also vocally supportive of West. Her continued antisemitic remarks later contributed to her removal from the company.[3][4]
Claim
- Former enemy of the show Keemstar tweeted a clip from the podcast claiming "Ethan Klein fantasizing about another holocaust hoping Ben Shapiro gets killed first."[5]
- Some critics have framed Ethan's comment as a credible threat against Ben Shapiro.
Truth
- The context of Ethan's comment was a critique of Ben Shapiro's platforming of Kanye West, which he argued was helping to normalize dangerous antisemitism. The sarcastic joke was meant to highlight the dark irony that Shapiro's own actions were contributing to an environment where such violence could occur.[1]
- Ethan explicitly acknowledged that in such a hypothetical scenario, he himself would also be a victim, stating he would be "getting gassed too." This frames the comment as a grim observation rather than a specific threat.[1]
- Ben Shapiro himself disagreed with YouTube's decision to suspend Ethan, tweeting, "I don't believe that Ethan Klein should be suspended from YouTube for his awful garbage. But I'll shed no tears for a person who has routinely engaged in cancellation of others. World's smallest violin."[6]
Conclusion
Ethan's comment was a sarcastic and hyperbolic criticism of Ben Shapiro's role in platforming antisemites, not a genuine call for violence. While the joke was in poor taste and warranted a temporary suspension under platform rules, it was misrepresented by critics as a literal death threat. The core of Ethan's argument was about the real-world danger of rising antisemitism.
References
- Newsweek - Ethan Klein Banned From YouTube Over Ben Shapiro Holocaust Comment
- The Independent - Kanye West Ben Shapiro Antisemitism
- Forbes - Candace Owens Controversy and Daily Wire Exit
- USA Today - Candace Owens' YouTube Suspended For Antisemitism
- Archive.ph - Keemstar's Tweet About Ethan Klein
- Archive.is - Ben Shapiro's Tweet on Ethan Klein's Suspension
- Times of Israel - YouTube Personality Suspended For Holocaust Joke