PewDiePie mocks panic-buying craze amid Coronavirus pandemic
YouTube: PewDiePieYouTube King Felix ‘PewDiePie’ Kjellberg has mocked people panic-buying and stockpiling over Coronavirus, in a trademark meme review video with a slight twist.
PewDiePie’s audience will be more than familiar with his affinity for memes, with the Swede regularly asking fans to submit their best for him to review. While his hair and Minecraft series were also targeted, the 30-year-old’s March 14 YouTube video had a strong focus on the ongoing coronavirus situation.
Officially declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization, the emergent respiratory disease continues to worsen in much of the western world.
WHOThe video, satirically titled “It’s Panic Time”, sees PewDiePie mock many people’s responses to the ongoing health situation.
Many people have been ‘panic buying’ in response to potential lockdowns – seeing them buy far more groceries, and essentials like toilet paper, than they normally would, to ensure they are well supplied in the coming weeks.
In response to a meme video about a “random chimp event”, PewDiePie mocked people panicking and hoarding groceries: “Guys, you need to stock up. Immediately. Stock up on all the food. This is it. It’s over big time. If the random chimp event has begun there’s not even a point in preparing.”
“Cannibalism is gonna have to come back,” he joked. “There’s no hope for humanity. If you haven’t stocked up with at least 500 toilet paper rolls, don’t even think you’re gonna survive the random chimp event.”
While he was talking about a ‘random chimp event’, it’s hard not to think his jokes relate to the ongoing coronavirus panic. He then takes the hyperbole even further, finishing: “If you don’t have at least 20 different assault rifles ready to defend yourself, you’re done, you’re gone.”
Other coronavirus memes the Swede was sent used Shrek and singer Rick Astley to poke fun at the ongoing pandemic.
It’s a nice change from the news coverage surrounding the situation, which many have criticized as failing to contextualize the disease sufficiently. However, to echo Pewds’ message – buy your normal amount of groceries, and wash your hands.