Banned for Being Jewish? (with Max Rotenberg / @lilbuddymax)

Many Jewish creators know the reality: speak about Israel or antisemitism online, and you risk being banned, shadow-banned, or erased.

In this episode of Hot Jewish Energy: The Podcast, Michael sits down with Max Rotenberg, a young Canadian-Jewish creator, who shares what happened after he built a TikTok following of 8,000+ by educating viewers on Jewish history, Zionism, and antisemitism — only to have his platform removed overnight.

We discuss:

- The rise of antisemitism on social media

- How TikTok and Instagram moderate Jewish content

- The research behind his videos (JSTOR, Britannica, verified sources)

- The mental toll of being banned

- Being openly Jewish, Zionist, and queer online

- The tension within LGBTQ spaces

This isn’t about victimhood. It’s about refusing to disappear.

As antisemitism rises and digital platforms shape public opinion, Jewish voices matter more than ever. Max is rebuilding — and speaking louder.

Follow Max:

Twitter/X: @lilbuddymax

Instagram: @maxr.lmao

hosted by Michael Valdes, aka Hot Jewish Energy subscribe to and watch Hot Jewish Energy: The Podcast! YouTube.com/@HotJewishEnergyPodcast LISTEN ON 🎧: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3CeRJJmkPO8gSRbJjOtR0B Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hot-jewish-energy-the-podcast/id1702760124 iHeart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/121152414 Amazon Music/Audible: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3b7499da-a1eb-48e8-a547-8192eada2433 Podbean: https://hotjewishenergy.podbean.com Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/hot-jewish-energy-the-podcast/PC:1001108286 FOLLOW ME: Instagram & Threads: @hotjewishenergypodcast, @hotjewishenergy, @michaeltvaldes TikTok: @hotjewishenergy X (formerly Twitter): @hotjewishenergy YouTube: @michaeltvaldes4 & @michaeltvaldes © 2026 Hot Jewish Media, All Rights Reserved.