PewDiePie, real name Felix Kjellberg, is a controversial Swedish YouTuber. His channel, which started as people watching him play video games, has been around since 2010. It notably became the first one to reach 100 million subscribers. He popularized the gamer channel format as we know it today and built out his brand to include video games, books, and fashion. Successful content creators like MrBeast have credited him as an influence.

PewDiePie and his wife, Marzia, moved to Japan in May 2022. Their son Bjorn was born in July 2023. In honor of their big move, they began doing video blogs to document their experience adapting to a new country. Since then, the channel has shifted away from gaming culture. It now mainly features lifestyle and commentary videos of the family’s adventures in Japan. Well, the channel is about to undergo another content overhaul. PewDiePie announced recently that he and Marzia are ending the family vlogs in September in order to protect Bjorn’s privacy. Here’s more on the announcement from Dexerto:

YouTube star PewDiePie has confirmed he and his wife Marzia will end their family vlogs later this year, saying they want to protect their son Björn’s privacy as he gets older.

In his latest video titled “Ending the vlogs,” uploaded on May 23, PewDiePie explained that the couple had decided to stop uploading regular vlogs in September after nearly four years documenting their life in Japan.

The creator said the decision was partly tied to their son becoming “too much part” of his online content as he grows older.

“Now he’s 3 years old and we feel like it’s a good time to end the vlogs,” PewDiePie said. “If he wants to be part of it, that should be his choice later.”

PewDiePie explained that while they will still occasionally share photos or clips of Björn online, they no longer want the pressure of regularly uploading vlogs centered on family life.

He added, “We just feel like the vlogs puts too much pressure on his appearance online.”

The YouTuber said the vlog series originally started shortly before the couple moved to Japan, with the intention of sharing their experience adapting to a new country.

“The outpouring love and support made us really, really want to continue doing the vlogs,” he said.

Later, he thanked viewers for supporting the series over the years, saying the audience helped make the move to Japan feel less isolating. But, now, he says, the life vlogs are “coming to an end.”

PewDiePie remains one of YouTube’s biggest creators, with over 110 million subscribers.

[From Dexerto]

PewDiePie’s net worth is estimated to be eight figures. He and Marzia also have other business ventures, so he’s not losing out on his only source of income. Even so, money and adoration tend to make people lose touch with reality, so I respect that they chose Bjorn’s privacy over profit. Those videos get millions of views. It would have been easy to continue doing them and become a traditional family vlog channel. I wonder if they’re continuing the videos through September because they’re planning on wrapping things up in a meaningful way or whether they have brand sponsorship deals until then. I suspect it’s the latter.