Jimmy Kimmel, E! Face Brutal Backlash After Poking Fun at Leading YouTube Creators #TeamInternet is not amused.

By Geoff Weiss

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

zamzawawi isa | Shutterstock.com

Are we past the point, culturally speaking, of undermining a new class of digital celebrities who have risen to fame amid wholly novel content formats?

As family vlogs, shopping hauls, reaction videos and "Let's Play' gaming videos have riveted today's YouTube generation, members of the mainstream media have probed the value and legitimacy of such content in recent weeks. And the backlash from so-called #TeamInternet has been brutal.

Jimmy Kimmel, for instance, has found himself besieged by death threats after a segment on his show last week poked fun at YouTube Gaming -- a just-launched platform dedicated to the popular category. "To me, watching another person play video games is like going to a restaurant and having someone eat your food for you," Kimmel joked.

Related: Long Considered an Eyesore, Vertical Video Is Now Being Embraced by Mobile Marketers

However, such commentary may have sounded unexpected and a little out of touch coming from Kimmel, who himself boasts a massive digital footprint. With 6 million YouTube subscribers, Kimmel should ostensibly appreciate the power of the inane, including zeitgeisty viral hits like "I Told My Kids I Ate All Their Halloween Candy' and "Worst Twerk Fail EVER.'

It should also be noted that, for many, gaming content has become less a futile pastime than a booming $3.8 billion industry. The gamer PewDiePie, for instance, earned $7.4 million last year thanks in part to his gaming channel, and the most popular search query on all of YouTube last year was "Minecraft,' according to the company.

Nevertheless, the seething response by gaming fans proved that the community is indeed prone to a bizarre hypersensitivity of sorts. While some of the more measured commenters explained that watching video games was akin to watching sports, others wished AIDS, brain cancer and other violent death scenarios (of questionable grammatical formulation) upon the host.

Related: How YouTube Sensation Casey Neistat Succeeded in Making Ads for People Who Hate Ads

"If you were on life support," one wrote, "I would plug it out and charge my phone."

Ever the diplomat, after dedicating two consecutive monologues to the controversy, Kimmel is now extending an olive branch. "I have been approached, and I'm gonna sit down with people who care very much about this topic and I'm gonna be open-minded," he said last night. "I will give these gamers an opportunity to show me what is fun about watching other people play video games."

The back-and-forth smacks of another controversy in recent weeks, when E! Online published a tongue-in-cheek listicle expressing bewilderment in the face of rising YouTube stars. The story ignited a firestorm among top creators and their legions of fans, illustrating that, even as old media mainstays may chuckle at a new wave of digital influencers, their budding economic and cultural clout has become no laughing matter.

Related: The Big Risk that Built the Blogilates Brand

Geoff Weiss

Former Staff Writer

Geoff Weiss is a former staff writer at Entrepreneur.com.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Innovation

4 Ways Market Leaders Use Innovation to Foster Business Growth

Forward-thinkers constantly strive to diversify and streamline their products and services, turning novelties into commodities desired by many.

Business News

JPMorgan Shuts Down Internal Message Board Comments After Employees React to Return-to-Office Mandate

Employees were given the option to leave comments about the RTO mandate with their first and last names on display — and they did not hold back.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Leadership

From Elite Athletes to Tech Titans — Discover the Surprising $100-Million Habit That Leads to Extraordinary Success

Success comes from mastering focus, eliminating distractions and prioritizing what truly matters.

Business Process

The Best Times, Days and Months To Post on YouTube (2023)

When is the best time to post YouTube videos to maximize their effect? Discover the best time to post on YouTube in this detailed guide.

Business News

Your Old Apple AirPods Can Soon Act as an Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid, According to the FDA

The new software is compatible with the Apple AirPods Pro and accessible through iOS — for free and now FDA-authorized.