Keemstar
Keem in 2020
Born
Daniel M. Keem

1982 (age 41–42)
Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Occupation
Children1
YouTube information
Also known as
  • Killer Keemstar
  • DJ Keemstar[1]
Channel
Years active2009–present
Genres
Subscribers5.46 million[2]
Total views1.26 billion[2]
100,000 subscribers2014
1,000,000 subscribers2016
Last updated: October 29, 2023
Websitedramaalert.com

Daniel M. Keem (born 1982), known online as Keemstar, is an American YouTuber, podcaster, and streamer[3] who is mainly known for being the host of the Internet popular culture news show DramaAlert.

Early life

Keem was born in 1982, in Buffalo, New York. He has one brother and one sister.[1] He is of predominantly Italian and Greek descent.[4]

Career

History

Keem's first appearance on YouTube was in a Halo 3 YouTube video from January 2009, where he was recorded trash talking through the online multiplayer voice chat. In September 2012, Keem began using the hashtag #DramaAlert on Twitter.[lower-alpha 1][5] In June 2014, after numerous terminations, he registered his current channel DramaAlert.[6] Keem often offers his own opinions on subjects he reports on.[7][8][9]

In July 2010, Keem became the most subscribed person on blogTV.[10]

In November 2010, Keem was swatted, the caller claimed to be a deaf person being held hostage at his address.[11]

In February 2011, Keem promoted FortressCraft, a game coming to Xbox Live. Keem contacted the Indie developer and made a deal with them, taking part-ownership of the game. It went on to sell 2 million copies.[12]

In July 2011, Keem held a tournament alongside Alki David called the 'Billionaire's Challenge' in which contestants competed for prizes.[13] During production of a second Billionaire’s Challenge, David stated an assisted suicide would be shown, which caused controversy and led to some YouTubers cancelling their participation. David later clarified it was a joke, while the second show went ahead.[14]

In June 2012, Keem and Call of Duty YouTuber ONLYUSEmeBLADE created the Bad Kid Show podcast.[10]

In July 2012, Keem started the campaign #Dildos4Africa. His intention was to buy $75,000 worth of dildos to send them to Africa in an attempt to reduce overpopulation.[15]

In 2018, Keem founded "Fortnite Friday", an online Fortnite tournament that featured various content creators, streamers, and professional players competing against each other every week.[16] In 2019, Keem created a spinoff to "Fortnite Friday" called "Minecraft Monday".[17][18]

Planned retirement

On October 25, 2021, Keem announced on Twitter his plan to retire from YouTube on March 8, 2022, the day of his 40th birthday and after 14 years of content creation. In his announcement video released one day later titled "Retired," he expressed his dissatisfaction with making videos on the platform, citing the effects of cancel culture along with changes to YouTube's algorithm and the website's community as factors for his decision.[19][20][21] On November 12, 2021, Keem hired a new host, Willy Mac, and also rehired a former host, TyBlue.[22] However, on February 12, 2022, Keem announced that he had changed his mind and would not retire from DramaAlert, citing a lack of confidence in any permanent replacement and a new 3 year sponsorship deal struck with sports betting company MyBookie.[23]

Conflicts and controversies

Usage of racial slurs

In 2010, during an argument with a moderator named Alex on the website BattleCam.com, Keem encouraged his viewers to type "Alex is a stupid nigger" in the stream's chat; he later apologized for saying the word.[6] Keem also referred to Alex as a, "all fucking righteous fucking nigger" and continued disparaging Alex by using the slur and claiming, "Alex, is doing this shit, you fucking nigger" in reference to Alex supposedly "starting" Keem's video when viewers would have thought that Keem was starting his own video.

Cancer patient tweet

In January 2016, Keem posted a tweet directed at TotalBiscuit, a YouTuber who was diagnosed with terminal cancer, saying that he could not wait to report on his death. Keem later apologized for the tweet.[6] TotalBiscuit died in May 2018.[24]

Feud with iDubbbz

In May 2016, YouTuber iDubbbz released a video exposé on YouTube about Keem. In the video, he accused Keem of threatening big YouTubers with negative coverage and promoting small channels or accusing them of hiding something. iDubbbz called Keem a "very rash decision maker" and showed clips of Keem saying what iDubbbz deemed to be regrettable. In response, Keem called the video "entertaining" and denied wanting to attack other YouTubers, saying he has "no problem booking guests or landing exclusive interviews". He also apologized for the comments and incidents he caused, but sarcastically justified saying "nigger" by using a genealogical DNA test to prove he was nine percent black.[6]

Unfounded pedophilia accusations

In 2016, Keem falsely accused Runescape Twitch streamer Tony Winchester—known as RSGloryandGold—of being a pedophile, confusing him with John Phillips, a convicted sex offender who used Runescape to attract children for sex. Keemstar was later proven to be incorrect as Winchester proved his innocence, causing Keem to apologize, fire one of his editors, offer Winchester $1000 (which was refused), and delete his videos related to the matter. Winchester later forgave Keem.[25]

Body shaming

In January 2019, YouTuber Jake Paul accused Keem of body shaming Paul's then-girlfriend, Erika Costell, after Keem made a tweet comparing her body to Eugenia Cooney, a YouTuber with an eating disorder.[26]

In April 2021, in response to Jake Paul facing sexual assault allegations from TikTok user Justine Paradise, Keem posted on Twitter that there is no way to sexually assault someone orally, stating the victim had to choose to "open her mouth" as well as quoting "Is there really no way to get away? I just really don't believe this story at all."[27][28]

Etika controversy

In April 2019, Keem uploaded a DramaAlert interview featuring YouTuber Etika, who had exhibited unstable behavior in the weeks leading up to the interview.[29][30] During the interview, Etika made several statements predominantly centered around death and his perspectives on the world. At one point, he referred to himself as the "antichrist" and expressed a desire to "purge all life".[29][30] Keem questioned Etika on whether his actions leading up to the interview were publicity stunts or if he had genuinely experienced a mental breakdown.[29] Etika denied using his actions for publicity and later claimed that life was a "video game" and that "death means nothing";[29] Keem then inquired that if life were a simulation, "then why live?... Just jump off a cliff? If it's just a simulation, who cares?"[31][30]

Two months following the interview, Etika uploaded a video in the form of a suicide note titled "I'm sorry". Keem was among the people Etika spoke about, saying "Keemstar, I wish you the best, my nigga".[32] Etika's body was found in the East River four days after the video was uploaded, with the Office of Chief Medical Examiner determining that he had drowned after jumping from the Manhattan Bridge. Keem faced criticism following Etika's suicide, as he was held responsible for his death due to the DramaAlert interview and statements made on Twitter before and after the interview. Keem argued that he was not to blame for Etika's death because he seemed fine privately and doctors believed he was stable.[33] Keem later posted a screenshot of several texts allegedly sent by Etika's mother, which stated that he was not to blame for her son's suicide and that he loved Keem and his show.[33]

In May 2020, YouTuber Ethan Klein released a video exposé about Keem, with one of his claims being that he exploited Etika, who later died by suicide. This resulted in G Fuel ending their sponsorship with Keem.[34]

Discography

Singles

List of singles, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
"Dollar in the Woods!"[lower-alpha 2][36] 2017 Non-album singles
"Keem Pop"[37] 2020

Podcasts

Year Title Role
2012–2014 BadKidCast Himself (co-host)
2015–2016 #Triggered Himself (co-host)
2016–2019 Baited! Himself (co-host)
2020–2022 Mom's Basement Himself (host)

References

  1. 1 2 "Keemstar Net Worth, Height, & Daughter". G Fuel Blog. June 29, 2018. Archived from the original on September 2, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  2. 1 2 "About DramaAlert". YouTube.
  3. ↑ "Keemstar Mixer account creation hints at him leaving Twitch". GameRevolution. August 12, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  4. ↑ "I got receipts bitch ass". Twitter. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  5. ↑ Lorenz, Taylor (January 18, 2018). "How DramaAlert Became the TMZ of YouTube". The Daily Beast. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Lorenz, Taylor (January 18, 2018). "How DramaAlert Became the TMZ of YouTube". The Daily Beast. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  7. ↑ "A Popular Gamer Threw Her Cat Live On Twitch, Sparking A Very Messy Drama". BuzzFeed News. July 24, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  8. ↑ Alexander, Julia (February 20, 2019). "YouTubers fear looming 'adpocalypse' after child exploitation controversy". The Verge. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  9. ↑ Asarch, Steven (February 20, 2019). "As waves of advertisers leave YouTube, content creators worry about a second Adpocalypse". Newsweek. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  10. 1 2 "Keemstar, The Bogeyman of YouTube". The Berkeley Beacon. October 21, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Deaf person's call turns out to be hoax". WIVB-TV. Archived from the original on November 23, 2010. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  12. ↑ "YouTuber Keemstar on Being 'Half-Loved and Half-Hated' and What's Coming Next". Newsweek. March 26, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Billionaire Alki David bruisin' for a fight". The Daily Dot. July 14, 2011.
  14. ↑ "Alki Did It Again! – First Assisted Suicide Broadcast Live Over the Internet was a Promotion". Greek Reporter. July 30, 2011.
  15. ↑ "Popular Internet Personalities Vie for the Title "King of the Web"". PR Newswire (Press release).
  16. ↑ McIntyre, Isaac. "KEEMSTAR explains why Friday Fortnite & Minecraft Monday are canceled for now". dexerto.com. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  17. ↑ Çakır, Gökhan (December 12, 2020). "What is the Minecraft Championship (MCC)?". Dot Esports. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  18. ↑ Stella, Marloes Valentina (June 25, 2021). "Minecraft's esports revival: Is there a future for Minecraft esports?". Esports Insider. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Retiring …." Twitter. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  20. ↑ Irwin, Kate (October 25, 2021). "Keemstar announces YouTube retirement". Dot Esports. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  21. ↑ Irwin, Kate (October 26, 2021). "Keemstar reveals why he is retiring from YouTube". Dot Esports. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  22. ↑ FIRED FROM DRAMAALERT (the truth), retrieved December 25, 2021
  23. ↑ Retirement: I can't do this anymore!, retrieved February 19, 2022
  24. ↑ "YouTube star John 'TotalBiscuit' Bain dies aged 33". BBC News. May 25, 2018. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  25. ↑ "Keemstar and "Sir" Tony Ray: Internet Mob Mentality". January 13, 2016.
  26. ↑ "Jake Paul calls YouTuber Keemstar a 'piece of trash' for 'body-shaming' Erika Costell". The Daily Dot. January 16, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  27. ↑ "Keemstar, The Bogeyman of YouTube". The Berkley Beacon. October 21, 2021.
  28. ↑ "TikTok star Justine Paradise responds on Instagram to Jake Paul sexual assault denial". Monster & Critics. April 15, 2021.
  29. 1 2 3 4 Bonfiglio, Nahila (May 1, 2019). "Twitch star Etika says he wants to 'purge all life' in bonkers interview". The Daily Dot. Archived from the original on May 1, 2019. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  30. 1 2 3 Selk, Avi (June 25, 2019). "YouTuber Etika found dead in East River, following a series of erratic videos and police confrontations". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on June 26, 2019. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  31. ↑ Murphy, Margi (June 29, 2019). "Burnout, bullies and blurring the lines of reality: What the tragic death of Etika tells us about YouTube obsession". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on April 13, 2020. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  32. ↑ Selk, Avi (June 25, 2019). "YouTuber Etika found dead in East River, following a series of erratic videos and police confrontations". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on June 26, 2019. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  33. 1 2 Katzowitz, Josh (July 1, 2019). "Etika's mom defends Keemstar, says YouTuber isn't to blame for suicide". The Daily Dot. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  34. ↑ Tenbarge, Kat (May 20, 2020). "Energy drink company G Fuel no longer sponsors internet drama reporter Keemstar after claims that he exploited a YouTuber who died by suicide". Business Insider. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  35. ↑ "Stream DOLLAR in the WOODS by Dan Keem". SoundCloud. November 3, 2012. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  36. ↑ "Dollar in the Woods! - Single by Keemstar". Apple Music. October 5, 2017. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  37. ↑ "Keem Pop – Single by Keemstar". Apple Music. January 25, 2020. Retrieved November 30, 2020.

Notes

  1. ↑ On his Suspended Twitter.
  2. ↑ Remix. Original song from 2012.[35]
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