Owen Benjamin Explained

Birth Name:Owen Smith
Birth Place:Oswego, New York, U.S.
Active:2006–present
Medium:Stand-up, television, film, internet
Education:State University of New York, Plattsburgh (BA)
Genre:Observational comedy
Notable Work:Sullivan & Son
The House Bunny

Owen Smith, known professionally as Owen Benjamin, is an American conspiracy theorist and internet personality known for promoting white supremacy, antisemitism, homophobia, and neo-Nazism.[1] [2] [3] He was a stand-up comedian and actor who had roles in mainstream film and television between 2008 and 2015.

In the late 2010s, Benjamin began expressing more extreme political views. In 2019, he was banned from several mainstream social media platforms for violations of their policies, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. These included antisemitic, homophobic, and racist remarks.

Early life

Owen Smith[4] was born to John Kares Smith and Jean Troy-Smith, both professors at Oswego State University.[5] He attended SUNY Plattsburgh, where he worked at the student-run TV station.[6] He is of Irish and Czech-Jewish descent from his father's side.[7]

Career

Acting and stand-up comedy (2004–2018)

Benjamin starred in several web-only video series, including in the role of Owen on C-SPOT's 2008 Gaytown[8] and the role of Chance Stevens on CBS Interactive's 2009 Heckle U.[9] He also hosted Owen Benjamin Presents, a 2008 C-SPOT production.

In 2008, Benjamin had a supporting role in the comedy film The House Bunny.[10] In 2009, he played the lead role in the romantic comedy film All's Faire in Love, co-starring with Christina Ricci. From 2012 to 2014, he portrayed Owen Walsh on the TBS original sitcom Sullivan & Son. He also appeared on the MTV show Punk'd[11] and twice as a correspondent on The Jay Leno Show.[12] Benjamin hosted the annual ADG Excellence in Production Design Awards from 2014 to 2016.[13] He hosted Esquire Network's The Next Great Burger in 2015.[14]

Towards the end of the decade, Benjamin had established himself as what conservative commentator Bethany Mandel described as an "up-and-coming conservative comedian", booking comedy shows at university campuses. He hosted a podcast called Why Didn't They Laugh on Sideshow Network.[15] In October 2017, Benjamin tweeted his opposition to providing transgender children with hormone therapy, repeatedly referring to an NPR host as a "child molester" for raising a transgender child. This led the University of Connecticut to cancel an upcoming show, and Benjamin's talent agency dropped him as a client. In February 2018, Benjamin used a racial slur onstage in a performance in his hometown of Saranac Lake, New York, and more venues cancelled appearances. Mandel described these two events as the "beginning of the end of Benjamin's mainstream career".

Political commentary (2018–present)

Beginning in 2018, Benjamin appeared in two videos for conservative media company PragerU. During various points in his live streams, Benjamin repeated anti-Semitic conspiracy tropes, referred to gay sex as "degeneracy", and called Barack Obama a "nigger".[16] He also was a guest on several shows by The Daily Wire, and podcasts including those of Joe Rogan and Steven Crowder. In September 2018, he appeared on InfoWars show, and in December was a guest on a show by Vox Day.

Views

Benjamin is part of the alt-right and has espoused views rooted in white nationalism that are racist and antisemitic. Bethany Mandel has said that Benjamin, who was once a mainstream conservative comedian, became increasingly radicalized towards the end of the 2010s.

Benjamin has expressed support for various antisemitic conspiracy theories.[17] [18] In October 2018, The Atlantic reported that Benjamin had a history of posting antisemitic memes on Instagram.[19] In 2019, Right Wing Watch reported on Benjamin's statement that Adolf Hitler was trying to "clean Germany, clean it of the parasites, of the fleas", and his claims that Jews control the media.[20] Right Wing Watch also reported on one of Benjamin's livestreams, where he said, "gays and Jews were considered the worst of the worst. Why? Because if they get power, they will destroy your entire civilization."[20] Mandel has said that Benjamin has posted fabricated writing from the Talmud and spread antisemitic conspiracy theories, including Holocaust denial.[21]

Right Wing Watch has reported that Benjamin believes in several other conspiracy theories, such as that the transgender rights movement is part of a eugenics program to reduce the world population, that the Moon landing did not occur, and that the existence of dinosaurs was fabricated by the Smithsonian.[22] [23] In November 2019, he spoke at the Flat Earth International Conference in Dallas, Texas.[24] In July 2023, he claimed that the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as well as test footage of the bombs, were faked.[25] [26]

Social media bans

Twitter banned Benjamin in 2018 after he made disparaging tweets about gun control advocate David Hogg. His account was later reinstated under the X management.[27] In October 2019, Patreon suspended Benjamin's account, saying he violated their terms of service regarding hate speech. His YouTube channel was banned on December 3, 2019, for violations of the site's terms of service.[28] On December 13, he was suspended from Facebook and Instagram for multiple policy violations.[29] He has also been banned by PayPal.[30] [31]

In January 2020, Benjamin and one hundred of his fans announced their intent to sue Patreon for $3.5million for banning him from the platform. Patreon counter-sued 72 of the fans.[32] In July 2020, a judge on the San Francisco County Superior Court denied Patreon's request for a preliminary injunction in the case.[33]

In March 2020, The Daily Dot reported that Benjamin had been attempting to circumvent his social media bans on several platforms to spread disinformation regarding COVID-19. Following the publication of the article, several of Benjamin's new accounts were terminated.[34] After being banned from YouTube, Benjamin began streaming on DLive, a livestreaming service popular with extremists. In October 2020, Benjamin and Nick Fuentes were the two highest earners on the site. Following a November 2020 report by extremism researcher Megan Squire, DLive suspended several accounts including those belonging to Benjamin and Fuentes.[35]

Personal life

In March 2008, he and Christina Ricci announced they were engaged, but they ended their engagement two months later.[36] He later married and had children.[37]

In 2021, after Benjamin began working on a project to create a compound on property he owns in Boundary County, Idaho, county residents filed a complaint with the county commissioners over allegations that he had violated zoning provisions while also expressing concerns that he was forming a "Ruby Ridge style" compound on the property.[38] [39] [40]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: December 26, 2023 . Owen Benjamin: What You Need to Know . February 2, 2024 . Anti Defamation League.
  2. News: Petrizzo . Zachary . Alt-right comedian Owen Benjamin banned from Instagram over anti-Semitic memes . June 27, 2021 . The Daily Dot . December 13, 2019 . June 29, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210629063519/https://www.dailydot.com/debug/owen-benjamin-banned-instagram/ . live .
  3. Web site: Wilson . Jason . Squire . Megan . Revealed: Startup Creates Streaming Platform for Extremists on Big-Tech Infrastructure . Southern Poverty Law Center . September 12, 2022 . en . December 19, 2021 . February 4, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230204051915/https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2021/12/19/revealed-startup-creates-streaming-platform-extremists-big-tech-infrastructure . live .
  4. Web site: Kelly . Griffin . March 7, 2018 . Comedian rants for a week about negative reaction to racial joke . May 7, 2024 . . en-US . May 7, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240507171506/https://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/news/local-news/2018/03/comedian-rants-for-a-week-about-negative-reaction-to-racial-joke/ . live .
  5. Web site: Lioto. Dominick. November 29, 2018. Look at OZ: Stand-up comic Owen Benjamin. live. https://archive.today/20181129025741/https://www.oswegonian.com/2017/09/28/look-at-oz-stand-up-comic-owen-benjamin/. November 29, 2018. July 12, 2018. The Oswegonian.
  6. Oswego native Owen Benjamin to perform at Funny Bone in Syracuse. August 31, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20190710052847/http://www.oswegocountynewsnow.com/news/oswego-native-owen-benjamin-to-perform-at-funny-bone-in/article_6b8db50a-6f04-11e6-b286-b734f0ae402b.html. July 10, 2019. Oswego County News Now.
  7. 1770245721956254176 . OwenBenjamin . "... My dad had developed a severe stutter from the stresses of 1950s working class Chicago with an Irish father and a Czech Jewish mother ..." . Owen . Benjamin . March 19, 2024 . May 13, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240511145936/https://twitter.com/OwenBenjamin/status/1770245721956254176 . May 11, 2024 . live.
  8. Web site: McCarthy. Sean L.. June 19, 2008. C-Spot Season 2 on Crackle. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100509053550/http://thecomicscomic.typepad.com/thecomicscomic/2008/06/c-spot-season-2.html. May 9, 2010. February 25, 2009. The Comic's Comic.
  9. Web site: Frommer. Dan. March 19, 2009. Lindsay Campbell's New Show, 'Heckle U', Launching Today. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20090819094649/http://www.businessinsider.com/lindsay-campbells-new-show-heckle-u-launching-today-2009-3. August 19, 2009. August 23, 2009. Business Insider.
  10. Web site: Schweitzer. Kate. March 17, 2009. Christina Ricci is Engaged!. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090320035941/http://www.usmagazine.com/news/christina-ricci-owen-benjamin-are-engaged-2009163. March 20, 2009. Us Weekly.
  11. News: Joe. Berkowitz. December 3, 2018. Why is Amazon promoting this anti-trans alt right troll's comedy special?. Fast Company. live. December 6, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181206114300/https://www.fastcompany.com/90275862/why-is-amazon-promoting-this-anti-trans-alt-right-trolls-comedy-special. December 6, 2018.
  12. Web site: Levine. Stuart. September 8, 2009. Jay Leno adds to posse. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180308103628/http://variety.com/2009/tv/markets-festivals/jay-leno-adds-to-posse-1118008255/. March 8, 2018. Variety.
  13. Comedian Owen Benjamin Returns As Host Of The Art Directors Guild 20th Annual Excellence In Production Design Awards. Shoot. November 12, 2015. subscription. https://web.archive.org/web/20180307152440/https://www.shootonline.com/spw/comedian-owen-benjamin-returns-host-art-directors-guild-20th-annual-excellence-production-design. live. March 7, 2018.
  14. Web site: The Next Great Burger on Apple TV . Apple TV . July 20, 2015 . February 4, 2021 . February 8, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210208160710/https://tv.apple.com/us/show/the-next-great-burger/umc.cmc.60mhtgdvgf9k1sb5g5ri5zkz3 . live .
  15. Owen Benjamin Uses Fan Suggestions for New Material at CA Improv This Weekend. November 12, 2015. Broadway World. June 27, 2021. June 29, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210629182124/https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/WHY-DIDNT-THEY-LAUGH-Host-Owen-Benjamin-to-Use-Fan-Suggestions-for-New-Material-at-CA-Improv-1112-14-20151111. live.
  16. News: G. Cristina López. February 4, 2019. PragerU YouTube video features bigoted conspiracy theorist Owen Benjamin. en. Media Matters for America. November 19, 2020. November 16, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201116183733/https://www.mediamatters.org/dennis-prager/prageru-youtube-video-features-bigoted-conspiracy-theorist-owen-benjamin. live.
  17. Web site: Einbinder. Nicole. April 11, 2019. White nationalists continue to post on Instagram, despite a new Facebook policy banning such content. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190414154520/https://www.thisisinsider.com/white-nationalists-post-on-instagram-despite-facebook-ban-2019-4. April 14, 2019. April 14, 2019. Insider.
  18. News: Dwoskin . Elizabeth . January 21, 2024 . Growing Oct. 7 'truther' groups say Hamas massacre was a false flag . https://web.archive.org/web/20240409104805/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/01/21/hamas-attack-october-7-conspiracy-israel/ . April 9, 2024 . May 13, 2024 . The Washington Post. live.
  19. Web site: Lorenz. Taylor. Taylor Lorenz. October 30, 2018. Instagram Is Teeming With Anti-Semitism. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190329152758/https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2018/10/instagram-ignored-crazyjewishmom-harassment/574450/. March 29, 2019. June 2, 2019. The Atlantic.
  20. News: Holt. Jared. March 18, 2019. Owen Benjamin's Rhetoric is Growing More Extreme. Right Wing Watch. People for the American Way. live. July 11, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190717000206/http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/owen-benjamins-rhetoric-is-growing-more-extreme/. July 17, 2019.
  21. Web site: Mandel. Bethany. April 8, 2019. How did conservative comedian Owen Benjamin became a darling of the 'alt-right'?. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190416213259/https://www.jta.org/2019/04/08/opinion/how-did-conservative-comedian-owen-benjamin-became-a-darling-of-the-alt-right. April 16, 2019. May 14, 2019. Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
  22. News: Holt. Jared. November 29, 2018. Owen Benjamin: Transgender Rights Movement is a U.N.-Sponsored Eugenics Program. Right Wing Watch. People for the American Way. live. June 2, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190604163310/http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/owen-benjamin-transgender-rights-movement-is-a-u-n-sponsored-eugenics-program/. June 4, 2019.
  23. News: Holt. Jared. February 12, 2019. Owen Benjamin: Another 'Red Pill' Overdose Victim. Right Wing Watch. People for the American Way. live. July 11, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190717022406/http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/owen-benjamin-another-red-pill-overdose-victim/. July 17, 2019.
  24. Web site: Gallagher. Danny. December 10, 2019. Discworld Is Real! Dive into Flat Earth Culture at their Global, Sorry, International Conference. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200805084706/https://www.dallasobserver.com/arts/the-earth-is-flat-nasa-and-the-pope-are-liars-things-learned-at-the-flat-earth-convention-11808074. August 5, 2020. July 17, 2020. Dallas Observer.
  25. News: Thalen . Mikael . Conspiracy theorists now think nuclear bombs are fake . November 7, 2023 . The Daily Dot . July 11, 2023.
  26. Web site: Shuttleworth . Catherine . July 7, 2023 . Conspiracy theorists are trying to claim that nuclear weapons aren't real . May 13, 2024 . . en . July 31, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230731111146/https://www.indy100.com/viral/nuclear-weapons-arent-real-conspiracy . live .
  27. Web site: 2023 . Owen Benjamin: What You Need to Know . February 1, 2024 . . January 22, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240122094801/https://www.adl.org/resources/blog/owen-benjamin-what-you-need-know . live .
  28. News: Petrizzo. Zachary. December 4, 2019. Owen Benjamin, alt-right comedian, banned from YouTube. en. The Daily Dot. live. December 14, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191206223306/https://www.dailydot.com/layer8/owen-benjamin-youtube/. December 6, 2019.
  29. News: Holt. Jared. December 13, 2019. Instagram and Facebook Suspend Right-Wing 'Comedian' Owen Benjamin. Right Wing Watch. People For the American Way. live. December 14, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191213234714/https://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/instagram-and-facebook-suspend-right-wing-comedian-owen-benjamin/. December 13, 2019.
  30. Web site: Goforth. Claire. July 8, 2020. Banned by PayPal and YouTube, this alt-right comedian is back on PayPal and YouTube. live. June 27, 2021. The Daily Dot. en-US. June 3, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210603213953/https://www.dailydot.com/debug/owen-benjamin-violating-internet-bans/.
  31. Web site: August 3, 2020 . Court denies Patreon injunction against fans of 'canceled' comedian . May 13, 2024 . . August 3, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200803181717/https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/americas/1596377657-court-rules-against-patreon-fan-funding-service-in-key-case-over-cancelled-comedian . live .
  32. Web site: Goforth. Claire. July 6, 2020. Alt-right comedian asked his fans to sue Patreon. It backfired. live. https://archive.today/20200706172421/https://www.dailydot.com/debug/patreon-suing-owen-benjamin-fans/. July 6, 2020. July 17, 2020. The Daily Dot.
  33. News: August 2, 2020. Court denies Patreon injunction against fans of 'canceled' comedian. i24NEWS. live. August 4, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200803181717/https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/americas/1596377657-court-rules-against-patreon-fan-funding-service-in-key-case-over-cancelled-comedian. August 3, 2020.
  34. Web site: Goforth. Claire. March 24, 2020. Banned 'alt-right' comedian returns to spread coronavirus misinformation. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200708023912/https://www.dailydot.com/debug/owen-benjamin-youtube-twitter/. July 8, 2020. July 17, 2020. The Daily Dot. en-US.
  35. Web site: Carless. Will. February 5, 2021. Crowdfunding hate: How white supremacists and other extremists raise money from legions of online followers. live. June 27, 2021. USA Today. en-US. June 27, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210627203648/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/02/05/bitcoin-crowdfunding-used-white-supremacists-far-right-extremists/4300688001/.
  36. Web site: Everett. Cristina. September 7, 2012. Christina Ricci calls off her engagement to 'All's Faire in Love' co-star Benjamin Owen. live. June 27, 2021. New York Daily News. June 10, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180610002740/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/christina-ricci-calls-engagement-faire-love-co-star-benjamin-owen-article-1.372566.
  37. Web site: Kelly. Griffin. April 7, 2018. Twitter blocks Owen Benjamin. live. June 29, 2021. Adirondack Daily Enterprise. en-US. June 10, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210610182404/https://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/news/local-news/2018/04/twitter-blocks-owen-benjamin/.
  38. News: Martinez. Victor Corral. May 25, 2021. New compound forming, residents present zoning violations to commissioners. en. Bonners Ferry Herald. May 26, 2021. May 26, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210526195248/https://bonnersferryherald.com/news/2021/may/25/new-compound-forming-residents-present-zoning-viol/. live.
  39. News: Sommer. Will. June 1, 2021. Neighbors Fear Bear-Themed Compound Will Be Next Ruby Ridge. en. The Daily Beast. June 27, 2021. June 3, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210603010105/https://www.thedailybeast.com/neighbors-fear-bear-themed-compound-will-be-next-ruby-ridge. live.
  40. Web site: BONSANT . EMILY . June 30, 2022 . P&Z defers to Commissioners on Owen Benjamin application . January 24, 2024 . Bonners Ferry Herald . en . January 24, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240124230425/https://bonnersferryherald.com/news/2022/jun/30/pz-defers-commissioners-owen-benjamin-application/ . live .

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