YouTubers, comedians and partners Dan Howell and Phil Lester say their online content has repeatedly been demonetised after they used words such as “gay”.
The pair, known collectively as Dan and Phil, claim automated systems are restricting the reach and advertising revenue of content containing certain LGBTQ+ terms.
Howell and Lester first met in 2009 and moved in together in 2011. They went on to build successful online careers, regularly appearing in each other’s videos and collaborating on projects.
Both came out publicly as gay in separate announcements in 2019. In 2025, they confirmed they had been in a long-term relationship throughout much of their time online, following years of speculation from fans.
Pair Speak Out About Online Censorship
In an interview with The New Zealand Herald, Howell and Lester discussed how demonetisation had affected the income generated by their work.
When asked how they divided earnings, Howell said the money was split “50-50”.
Lester then added: “Also, we’re getting demonetised a lot.”
Howell said automated moderation systems appeared to treat the word “gay” as inappropriate.
“The problem with the internet these days is you say the G word ‘gay’ and a nasty robot on the internet will go ‘Woah! Inappropriate for the robot algorithm, we’re gonna take the money away’.”
Lester said certain words could also prevent content from being recommended to wider audiences.
“Sometimes if you say a certain keyword, or something the algorithm doesn’t like, it can not promote you anymore,” he said.
Howell added that their comedy and language had also been labelled unsuitable for advertisers.
“Or sometimes you’re just an honest comedian with a male podcast trying to make people laugh, and they say your language is horrific and inappropriate.”
Despite the financial impact, the pair said they were unwilling to limit their self-expression simply to satisfy automated systems.
“Who are we to be censored? We say no, we want to express ourselves, and if that means we’re constantly demonetised, then we’re making that choice.”
LGBTQ+ Creators Have Raised Similar Concerns
Concerns about LGBTQ+ content being restricted or demonetised on social media platforms are not new.
In 2019, a group of LGBTQ+ creators filed a lawsuit against YouTube, alleging that videos containing terms such as “gay” and “trans” were being demonetised or restricted.
The case was ultimately dismissed. YouTube has maintained that it does not have policies prohibiting or automatically demonetising LGBTQ+-related content.
Howell and Lester did not explicitly identify which platforms had affected their content, although fans responding to the interview directed their criticism towards YouTube.
“Dan and Phil talking about how bad demonetisation has impacted them just for saying ‘gay’ ohhh when i catch you [YouTube],” one fan wrote.
YouTube’s hate speech policy prohibits content promoting violence or hatred against people based on protected characteristics, including sex, gender and sexual orientation.
Its advertiser-friendly content rules also restrict some material involving strong language or adult themes. However, the guidelines do not explicitly state that using the word “gay” makes content ineligible for advertising.
The pair’s comments add to long-running concerns that automated moderation and advertising systems may disproportionately affect LGBTQ+ creators, even when their content does not breach a platform’s published rules.
