Not suited for advertisers, Kunal Kamra moves most YouTube videos behind paywall

New Delhi: Stand-up comedian and satirist Kunal Kamra has shifted most of his YouTube content to a members-only paywall priced at Rs 299 per month.

Announcing the move on Instagram, Kamra said much of his material is not suitable for advertisers and that paid support would help sustain his work. “Most of my YouTube content is not suitable for advertisers. To keep continuing the work I do, I’ve made all that content available to members only,” he wrote.

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Many brands may avoid associating with Kamra’s channel on brand-safety grounds because the content leans on sharp political satire, live commentary and themes that often trigger platform “limited or no ads” flags.

The tone can be confrontational, references public figures and ongoing cases, and risks sudden spikes in controversy, coordinated backlash or boycotts.

Advertisers typically seek context they can control; here, adjacency to polarising topics, profanity, or legal disputes can create reputational and compliance exposure. 

Kamra positions the channel as a home for “indie satire, documentaries, insightful conversations, and news coverage,” signalling unfiltered commentary on social and political issues.

The switch follows a string of flashpoints earlier this year, including a copyright strike from music label T-Series, vandalism at a Mumbai venue after a joke about Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and police summons over alleged defamatory remarks.

Supporters on X (formerly Twitter) said they joined to back creators like Kamra even if not for exclusive content, with one user writing that they wanted to support those who “stand up to fascist leaders.”