From YouTube Censors Steven Crowder After He Exposed Nashville School Shooter Manifesto

by Catherine Salgado

Louder with Crowder host Steven Crowder says YouTube censored his video exposing parts of the Nashville transgender shooter’s alleged manifesto.

Crowder obtained several pages of the alleged manifesto of Audrey Hale, a biological woman who identified as a man and killed six—including children—at a Christian elementary school in March. Screenshots indicate that YouTube removed Crowder’s podcast episode breaking the story and accused him of “glorif[ying] violent criminal organizations.” It seems, however, the purpose of releasing the alleged manifesto was to expose Hale’s disturbing philosophy, not glorify it.

Crowder posted a screenshot on X (formerly Twitter) apparently showing a message from Google-owned YouTube. “We…reviewed your content, and we think it violates our violent criminal organizations policy,” YouTube’s message read, according to the screenshot. “We know you may not have realized this was a violation of our policies, so we’re not applying a strike to your channel. However, we have removed the following content from YouTube: Podcast Episode: LWC EXCLUSIVE: Nashville School Shooter Manifesto leaked!” 

A YouTube spokesperson asserted to MRC Free Speech America the censorship was “consistent” with past actions, “Our Community Guidelines prohibit linking to content containing manifestos from individuals who have committed violent attacks, including the tragic event that took place in Nashville Tennessee in February of 2023.” The shooting itself took place in March. A video remains on YouTube from Qatar’s state outlet Al Jazeera, featuring a representative of terrorist organization Hamas discussing his group’s charter. Hamas has killed thousands of Israelis over the years.

YouTube’s message to Crowder added, “Content that glorifies violent criminal organizations or incites violence is not allowed on YouTube.” Crowder revealed what Hale had allegedly written, but not in a laudatory manner. YouTube did not seem to allow an exception for reporting violent material in this case, though its rules provide an exception for violent content if context, including condemnation, is provided.

The link to Crowder’s podcast episode on YouTube now brings up a message, “This video has been removed for violating YouTube’s policy on violent or graphic content.” Meanwhile, multiple graphic videos of Taliban terrorists executing and abusing captives still remain on YouTube.