Rumble, the online video platform, is refusing to cave after British politicians pressured the company to demonetize Russell Brand.
After YouTube demonetized Brand over allegations of sexual assault, Rumble CEO Chris Pavlovski received a letter from the British House of Commons’ Culture, Media, and Sport Committee.
What does the letter say?
In that letter, chairwoman Caroline Dinenage problematized the fact that Brand issued a “preemptive response” to the allegations on Rumble, explaining her committee is concerned that Brand may be able to profit from Rumble, where his account boasts more than 1.4 million subscribers.
“We would be grateful if you could confirm whether Mr. Brand is able to monetise his content, including his videos relating to the serious accusations against him,” the letter states.
“If so, we would like to know whether Rumble intends to join YouTube in suspending Mr. Brand’s ability to earn money on the platform,” Dinenage added. “We would also like to know what Rumble is doing to ensure that creators are not able to use the platform to undermine the welfare of victims of inappropriate and potentially illegal behavior.”
How did Pavlovski respond?
In response, the CEO called Dinenage’s letter “extremely disturbing” and made clear Rumble will not follow YouTube.
After noting that YouTube penalized Brand “based solely” on “media accusations,” Pavlovski declared that Rumble “stands for very different values.”
“We have devoted ourselves to the vital cause of defending a free internet — meaning an internet where no one arbitrarily dictates which ideas can or cannot be heard, or which citizens may or may not be entitled to a platform,” he said.
Pavlovski continued:
We regard it as deeply inappropriate and dangerous that the UK Parliament would attempt to control who is allowed to speak on our platform or to earn a living from doing so. Singling out an individual and demanding his ban is even more disturbing given the absence of any connection between the allegations and his content on Rumble. We don’t agree with the behavior of many Rumble creators, but we refuse to penalize them for actions that have nothing to do with our platform.
The CEO concluded his response by noting that it may be easier to “join a cancel culture mob,” but said Rumble will never do so.
While the Metropolitan Police in London confirmed they received a report alleging a sexual assault in 2003, the agency has not officially begun a criminal investigation, the BBC reported.
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