Jewel Mary slams YouTube anchors, says anchoring is no joke

Actor and show presenter Jewel Mary has spoken out against the growing trend of inappropriate and insensitive content by some YouTube anchors, urging them to treat their work with dignity and responsibility. In a video shared on her social media page, Jewel Mary reminded such content creators that anchoring is a craft that holds the power to influence minds, especially among young and impressionable viewers. She also reminded those in the profession that anchoring is not just about asking questions, but about using language responsibly.

“Anchoring is a serious job. Whether you’re a news presenter, channel interviewer, or MC, you must understand that your words, your tone, and even your language carry the power to influence others,” she said. Jewel Mary said she was shocked when she came across a clip where a female anchor asked someone, “Was it keenness or excitement that made you peep into the bathroom?”

“Speaking nonsense is never cute. Never forget—each word you utter in front of the camera holds value. Someone out there is being impacted by what you say.”

She then went on to address a particularly disturbing moment: an anchor happily asking a guest, “Didn’t having your first baby ruin all the joy in life?” Jewel admitted that the question made her angry because it clearly hadn’t been read or understood beforehand. “That’s exactly why it got asked,” she said. “As an anchor, it’s your responsibility to go through the questions before the shoot. Understand what you’re going to ask. Own your space in front of the camera.”

“Let’s not forget another ridiculous one—‘Was it excitement or keenness when you peeped into the bathroom?’ Seriously, what is this? Someone is openly disclosing a questionable act, and you’re treating it like entertainment? How can anyone trivialise something like that and turn it into a joke?”

 “You are not just someone earning a salary. You’re a person with a conscience. Start behaving like one. What you say is influencing people, adults and children alike. The sleaziness, the double meanings, the lack of thought behind your questions... it’s degrading the quality.”

According to Jewel Mary, if you’re an anchor with a good command of language, who reads well, who has a sense of humanity and critical thinking, then you should be able to take a stand. “When a question handed to you feels wrong, show the courage to say, ‘I’m not asking this.’ I’ve been part of many major television and stage shows, and yes, I’ve received questions that made me uncomfortable. I would politely say, ‘brother, I’m not going to ask this.’ Instead, I’d offer alternatives. That’s how you become a creative professional.”

“Don’t drag your hands through the muck just for views or laughs. It’s getting worse out there. Please, maintain the dignity of this job. You’re all capable of it. I genuinely hope sense prevails after hearing this.” “Speaking foolishly is not cute, and trivialising serious matters is never fun,” Jewel Mary said. “People who have even a shred of sense in their heads find no joy in such behaviour.”

 She continued, “Every word you speak in front of the camera carries value. And those words have the power to hurt. When you narrate the story of a mother losing her first baby with casual flippancy, do you realise how many women who've lived through the same pain are wounded all over again by your insensitivity?”

 “When you treat someone’s peeping incident as a matter of ‘cuteness’ or ‘keenness’ and casually promote it, do you realise how many potential offenders you’re giving legitimacy to?. “It’s not too late. Be good human beings first. My words may sound sharp, but this can’t be said in a lighter tone,” she said.