Vishnu Manchu-led Movie Artists Association cracks down on 23 YouTube channels posting derogatory content

Following Praneeth Hanumanthu’s incarceration for cracking ‘jokes’ about child molestation, the Movie Artists Association, led by Vishnu Manchu, has cracked down on YouTubers.

The Movie Artists Association (MAA), led by Vishnu Manchu as president, has taken action against multiple YouTube channels for spreading insulting content. Recently, YouTuber Praneeth Hanumanthu was arrested for cracking ‘jokes’ regarding child abuse during a live session, which drew attention from a number of Tollywood celebrities. (Also Read: FIR filed against YouTuber for ‘pedophilia joke’ after Sai Dharam Tej’s tweet; Manchu Manoj, Nara Rohith also call him out.)

‘We blocked 23 channels.’
So far, the MAA organization has disabled 23 YouTube channels for disseminating regressive content. Earlier this month, they posted on X (previously Twitter) that “the crackdown has begun.” Five YouTube channels have been removed for making disparaging remarks about performers, their families, and personal attacks. This is only the start. We will update the list as we take further action…

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On Wednesday afternoon, they announced that they had shut 18 more such YouTube channels and provided a list. They added, “As part of our continuous efforts to terminate YouTube channels that publish defamatory content about our artists. We have stopped another 18 channels that distribute hazardous information. Stay tuned for more updates.”

This comes just days after Praneeth was arrested and Vishnu issued a ‘appeal’ to YouTubers to remove nasty content.

What Vishnu Manchu said.
On July 10, Vishnu posted a video to Instagram praising Sai Dharam Tej for bringing the issue to light. He stated, “Some Telugu individuals are behaving horribly online, giving us a bad reputation. A few days earlier, Sai Dharam Tej questioned Hanumantu. The footage was so horrifying that even the CM and officials intervened. “Why would anyone behave that way?”

After calling out the video’s creators, Vishnu disclosed that MAA has received ‘many complaints’ about similar channels. He concluded the video with. “People make derogatory remarks about heroes and stars’ wives under the cover of dark humour. I urge everyone who creates such films to take them down within 48 hours. If they don’t, we’ll report it on YouTube, file a complaint with Cybersecurity, and take legal steps to block your channel. I request that Telangana and Andhra Pradesh government support us in this matter.”

What started it all.
Praneeth and several other YouTubers organized a live session in which they reacted to an Instagram post by making improper ‘jokes’ about a father and his young kid. Actor Sai was the first in Tollywood to take notice and criticize Praneeth for the video. Numerous performers, including Nara Rohith, Sudheer Babu, Karthikeya, and Manchu Manoj, protested and reported the video to police, prompting Praneeth’s detention.