Despacito is now the most watched YouTube video of all time, breaking 3bn view barrier
Despacito, Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s Spanish hit currently soundtracking summer 2017 across the globe, has been named the most viewed video in YouTube’s history, overtaking its predecessor – Wiz Khalifa’s See You Again – less than the month after it took the title.
Despacito takes the YouTube crown
Despacito has racked up more than 3.4bn hits just 204 days after it was uploaded to the video sharing platform by Fonsi's Vevo channel, also making it the first ever clip to pass the 3bn view marker. It already held the record for fastest video to 1.5bn, 2bn and 2.5bn views.
It is important to note that the video in question is not the version featuring Justin Bieber.
See You Again by Wiz Khalifa was named as the most watched YouTube video of all time just last month, finally unseating 2012’s viral hit Gangnam Style. At the time, many predicted Despacito would soon climb to the top due the rate at which it was garnering views.
In a statement from YouTube, Fonsi said: “Breaking the record for most viewed video of all time on YouTube is truly incredible, not only for me but for Latin music and our culture. Working with a platform like YouTube has allowed our song to reach audiences all over the world, something that just a decade ago was nearly impossible.”
The record break will come as good news to Google, following a year that so far has been marred by advertiser revolts over ad fraud, viewability and brand safety.