The rise and fall of a digital provocateur's platform bans
In short: From gaming videos to far-right controversy, Nicolas Kenn De Balinthazy has navigated a turbulent path through the social media landscape. After facing permanent removals from nearly every major platform, his recent return to YouTube raises questions about the shifting boundaries of digital enforcement and content moderation.
Born in New York City in 1998, Nicolas Kenn De Balinthazy—known online as Sneako—began his YouTube career in 2013. His early content was largely apolitical, consisting of gaming videos and man-on-the-street interviews. However, by 2016, his output had shifted toward highly controversial themes, including antisemitic jokes and the praise of Adolf Hitler. This evolution eventually led to a series of high-profile bans across YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, and Instagram. His heritage includes Haitian and Filipino ancestry, and he is capable of conversing in French. He also briefly worked for the prominent creator Jimmy Donaldson, known as MrBeast.
The mechanics of his removal from major platforms were often sudden. In 2022, he was banned from YouTube, followed by a Twitch ban in 2023. His presence on TikTok was also removed in early 2024 due to the promotion of violent, misogynistic content. During these periods of deplatforming, he found a new audience on Rumble, a platform where he gained significant popularity among young male viewers. During his period of deplatforming, he moved to Miami, Florida, in 2023 and converted to Islam. He also launched a series called Project X on X, which features interviews in New York City.
Recent years have seen a complex cycle of reinstatement and further discipline. In October 2024, YouTube reinstated his channel, only to ban him again within 24 hours. However, by October 2025, his primary and secondary YouTube channels were reinstated after nearly three years of suspension. This return was accompanied by a 39-day review period, after which his channel was fully remonetized in November 2025. Sneako asserted that YouTube admitted mistakes regarding its initial penalties, even if that timeframe caused intense career-related pressure. His recent media appearances include a virtual interview with Piers Morgan alongside Kanye West in May 2025. He also notably interviewed New York City Mayor Eric Adams at Gracie Mansion in June 2025.
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