YouTube has dropped its 2019 YouTube Rewind after the 2018 video caused widespread outrage.
And they’ve definitely played it safe this time.
Kicking things off by mocking 2018’s Everyone Controls Rewind after it became the most disliked video in YouTube history, the platform went back to its roots, going for a simple run-through of the most liked videos, YouTubers, and breakout creators of the year.
‘In 2018, we made something you didn’t like,’ the video reads. ‘So in 2019, let’s see what you DID like. Because you’re better at this than we are.’
Eugene Lee Yang’s Coming Out video features first in the montage, with Ariana Grande’s 7 Rings as the soundtrack.
Tati Westbrook, Jenna Marbles and the Sidemen also feature, with a countdown of the top 10 most liked videos, including Shane Dawson’s conspiracy theories and, perhaps controversially, James Charles’ No More Lies video, which was a response to Tati Westbrook’s exposé.
Of course, the platform couldn’t ignore the biggest music videos, with the likes of Lil Nas X’s Old Town Road and Billie Eilish’s Bad Guy featuring, and Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello’s Senorita taking the top spot
Dance, gaming, and beauty are given their own categories, before the video runs through the most popular break-out creators of 2019, including Stranger Things’ Noah Schnapp and Jennelle Eliana.
As for the most viewed creators? Stars like MrBeast, David Dobrik and Felipe Neto are high up on the list with, of course, PewDiePie at the top with a massive four billion views over the year.
‘Thank you for a record-breaking 2019,’ the video reads at the end, before running through some of the most impressive records broken over 2019.
Well, that’s that then.
After 2018’s edition became the most disliked video in YouTube history, overtaking Justin Bieber’s Baby, the platform promised ‘something different’ this time around.
With the 2018 video currently sitting at 16 million dislikes, it’s safe to say people weren’t happy.
Viewers were unimpressed for a multitude of reasons – some were irritated that the video included mainstream celebs like Will Smith at the expense of influential creators like PewDiePie, Shane Dawson, and KSI.
Others were shocked that YouTube failed to mention influential events of the year, like the Logan Paul v KSI boxing match, while some thought it was just a bad video after fan favourites like Turn Down for 2014.
‘I think they just got a little political with it, made it less about YouTube as a platform,’ Logan Paul said in his podcast.
DramaAlert host Keemstar called the video ‘tone-deaf’, claiming: ‘Cliques have ruined rewind. All they have to do is invite youtubers that have had the most growth that year or stuck out.
‘And dont be tone def [sic] on the community. No reference to the @LoganPaul vs @KSIOlajidebt fight is so disrespectful to the core community.’
‘The problem is though, that people are disliking YouTube Rewind because Pewdiepie and Logal Paul aren’t in it, not because it’s a pointless, big budget, s***show of a video with no clear direction, theme or message’ Hazel Hayes tweeted.
‘It’s the Suicide Squad of YouTube.’
However, JaidenAnimations gained plenty of fans with her short section of the video, slipping in Easter eggs which turned out to be references to PewDiePie, KSI and Logan Paul.
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