Alfie Deyes has been criticised in an article published by Vice.
The article was titled “Vain and Inane: The Rise of Britain’s Dickhead Vloggers” and was published on the day Alfie’s book was released.
Vice Writer Joe Bishop described The Pointless Book as having “no identity, no flow and no consistency”.
Bishop also said Youtube vloggers have “no charisma, no talent and no guile”.
Many Youtubers have challenged and discussed his claims on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/emmablackery/status/507533591707136000
Think the main problem with the @joe_bish @VICEUK article is that it's like saying you hate TV as a medium because you dislike Jersey Shore
— Seán of the Dead (@TheSonicScrew) September 4, 2014
It'd be very easy to throw around the word "jealousy". Too easy. Criticism is an art. As @joe_bish proves, journalism is hard.
— Benjamin Cook (@benjamin_cook) September 4, 2014
Funny how @VICEUK are letting people write articles for them who reply to genuine questions on Twitter with "U mad?"… Professional…
— Pumpkin Spice Chai🎃 (@MyNamesChai) September 4, 2014
.@VICEUK Most inordinately vile, misinformed, deliberately antagonistic, manipulative & boring (@joe_bish)article. VICE is behind the times
— Spoopy Sammy 💀 (@SammyAlbon) September 4, 2014
.@VICEUK Well that was incredibly offensive for absolutely no reason
— Evan DEADinger (@EvanEdinger) September 4, 2014
We could all be doing something with our lives instead of fighting with a guy who wrote something on VICE.
— Scream Dobbs (@DeanDobbs) September 4, 2014
The Vice writer also responded to the initial reaction to his post on Twitter.
@emmablackery i don't want to see anything from youtubers, that's the point, it's a medium i have no respect for
— Joe Bish (@joe_bish) September 4, 2014
@emmablackery @KAYLE1GHx yes, i suppose spouting inanities at a camera and uploading them is a real service to the people, ur a true hero
— Joe Bish (@joe_bish) September 4, 2014
i'm currently being cyber bullied by @benjamin_cook. not what i expected from the youtuber community. thought you guys were nice :(
— Joe Bish (@joe_bish) September 4, 2014
the real irony here is that i've gotten about 40 new subscribers from that article
— Joe Bish (@joe_bish) September 4, 2014
Bishop also called the announcement that a number of vloggers, including Zoella, Tyler Oakley and TomSka, will be presenting shows on Radio 1 as “worrying”.
He is a frequent contributor to Vice’s news platform. He has also written an article for The Guardian in which he claims that he inspired Lilly Allen’s song URL Badman.
Bishop also has his own YouTube channel where he has done voice-over commentaries of prominent YouTubers including Zoella, Sam Pepper (the video has since been taken down due to copyright infringement) and Charlie McDonnell. In these videos he mocks the YouTubers’ content, personality and mannerisms.
Alfie Deyes has yet to mention the article on his social media, instead choosing to focus on the release of his new book.
Updated 5 September 2014
Joe Bishop’s video featuring Charlie McDonnell has since been removed due to copyright infringement.
