YouTube has terminated the official channel of disgraced Nigerian televangelist TB Joshua after he was exposed in a BBC documentary.
TB Joshua’s Emmanuel TV YouTube channel which had at least 500,000 subscribers was taken down after the documentary sparked public outcry.
BBC and openDemocracy uncovered evidence of widespread sexual abuse and torture by the late Nigerian preacher.
As part of the investigation with the BBC, openDemocracy analyzed Emmanuel TV’s online presence, finding at least 50 ‘abusive’ videos on YouTube.
Their team reported the videos to YouTube and the account was suspended on 29 January 2024.
In a comment to the BBC, YouTube said Emmanuel TV had been terminated for violating hate speech policies.
This is the second time in three years that its YouTube channel has been suspended, following previous breaches of the platform’s community guidelines.
Emmanuel TV’s satellite channel was also dropped on 17 January by MultiChoice, a South African company that runs popular satellite services DStv and GOTv.
For many years, the channel was one of the most successful Christian networks in the world, broadcasting to millions all over the world.
Emmanuel TV played a key role in the rise of TB Joshua from local pastor to global star.
Following the publication of the BBC’s investigation into TB Joshua, a number of contributors have been trolled by church and Emmanuel TV affiliated accounts online. These accounts were also reported to YouTube by openDemocracy, but they have not yet been removed.
TB Joshua died in 2021, but his Synagogue Church of All Nations (Scoan) is now run by his wife Evelyn Joshua.
The church has not commented on the removal of Emmanuel TV channel from YouTube, but said previous allegations of wrongdoing by the BBC documentary were ‘unfounded’.
