cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/19430855

Tim Pool, Dave Rubin and Benny Johnson addressed allegations that a company they were associated with had been paid to publish videos with messages in favour of Russia

A number of high-profile, conservative influencers in the US have said they are “victims” of an alleged Russian disinformation campaign, after the Biden administration accused Moscow of carrying out a sustained campaign to influence the outcome of November’s presidential elections.

Tim Pool, Dave Rubin and Benny Johnson published statements on Wednesday evening addressing allegations that a US content creation company they were associated with had been provided with nearly $10m from Russian state media employees to publish videos with messages in favour of Moscow’s interests and agenda, including over the war in Ukraine.

  • EndOfLine@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    84
    ·
    3 months ago

    Are they trying to hide behind a “I didn’t know what I was saying” defense while expecting people to trust and listen to what they say?

    From the AP News article on the topic

    One unidentified influencer’s contract included a $400,000 monthly fee, a $100,000 signing bonus and an additional performance bonus.

    Such savage victimization. I’m sure that they returned all the money once they learned what it was for and where it came from.

  • radix@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    33
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    3 months ago

    “Well pay you millions of dollars to keep doing your work.”

    Ok, but I’m not changing my message, I’m no sellout.

    “No worries, it’s perfect as is.”


    That’s not a victim, that’s a perpetrator. Whether they knew who was bankrolling the operation or not (they probably did), the fact that their message aligned perfectly with opponents of their country is enough.

  • captainlezbian@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    18
    ·
    3 months ago

    Oh so they don’t like being on the receiving end of disinformation campaigns? It’s hard to care even if it was true after how long they’ve been on the other end of them. But also it isn’t true, they did it

  • atro_city@fedia.io
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    8
    ·
    3 months ago

    Awwww, those poor snowflakes!

    They mock everybody else for playing the victim, but when it’s them, suddenly it’s legitimate.

  • BigMacHole@lemm.ee
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    9
    arrow-down
    5
    ·
    3 months ago

    WHO CARES? All they were doing was Trying to Destroy America from the Inside by Attacking Literally EVERYTHING that Makes America Great and Safe like Democracy and National Security. It’s not like they were saying we shouldn’t be Bombing Palestinian Children. THAT would have been Real Shit!

    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      9
      arrow-down
      2
      ·
      3 months ago

      All they were doing was Trying to Destroy America from the Inside by Attacking Literally EVERYTHING that Makes America Great and Safe like Democracy and National Security.

      Yes, but they were doing it for a profit, unlike those godless liberal communists.