YouTuber Davie504 drops US$75,000 sponsorship over Taiwan sovereignty comment

Italian YouTuber Davide Biale, known online as Davie504, has revealed that he cancelled a major sponsorship agreement with a Chinese mobile game company after being asked to remove a comment asserting Taiwan’s sovereignty.

In a video posted on 10 December 2025, Biale explained that the company had offered him a sponsorship package worth US$75,000—US$60,000 for a 60-second promotional video and an additional US$15,000 to reimburse giveaways of bass guitars.

However, after approving the video and signing the contract, the company reportedly contacted him with an ultimatum: delete the comment “Taiwan IS a country, noobs,” or forfeit the entire deal, including reimbursement for giveaway expenses.

Biale, who stayed in Taiwan during the COVID-19 pandemic and whose wife is Taiwanese, said he refused to remove the comment. “I’m not a political person,” he said in the video, “but this is common knowledge.”

The YouTuber, who has over 13 million subscribers, is known for humorous, skill-based videos centred on bass guitar playing, often featuring music challenges, meme-style edits, and audience interaction.

He ultimately cancelled the sponsorship, released the video without the company's branding, doubled the number of bass guitars given away, and absorbed the US$10,000 he had already spent on the campaign.

He described it as the “biggest sponsorship offer of my life,” adding that the demand felt like an effort to suppress speech.what y

“This company tried to silence me like they were running a covert government operation,” Biale said, referring to the incident that occurred five years ago but which he only recently disclosed.

The video was published in response to recent accusations from viewers calling Biale a “sellout” for accepting sponsorships. In revealing the incident, he aimed to show that he had rejected lucrative deals on principle.

The revelation has prompted an outpouring of support from his YouTube community, particularly from viewers in Taiwan and those concerned with free speech. Dozens of users left public messages and made donations ranging from a few dollars to hundreds.

“This is my first donation on YouTube. I’m just a salaried office worker, so I can’t give much, but I want to express my gratitude,” one supporter commented. “Being asked to stay silent—no matter how large the amount—may feel like a transaction, yet it’s truly a pact with the devil.”

Another user wrote: “Yes, Taiwan is a country. 歡迎你來台灣玩 [Welcome to Taiwan].”

Others praised his transparency and courage, especially in a digital ecosystem where creators often face pressure to avoid political controversy to secure income. “It’s not hard to imagine how many YouTubers chose to accept that US$60,000. I sincerely admire your choice to stay true to yourself.”

Some commenters reflected on their own experiences under similar pressures. One viewer from Hong Kong noted: “Having lived in Hong Kong and faced the wrath of China in the streets and at my job, I salute you. Not easy to stand up to these [pressures], especially when your livelihood is at stake.”

Although Biale did not name the game company involved, his description of the incident and its demands have reignited broader concerns about censorship pressure from companies operating in or tied to the Chinese market.

The case adds to a growing list of high-profile individuals and companies facing repercussions or ethical dilemmas related to the status of Taiwan, a self-governed democracy that China claims as its territory.

For Biale, the long-term impact may include both financial loss and reputational gain. He concluded the video by reaffirming his position: “This is something I will never regret. I did what I felt was right.”