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* [[Observational comedy]] |
* [[Observational comedy]] |
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| notable_work = ''[[Sullivan & Son]]''<br/>''[[The House Bunny]]'' |
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| website = {{official website|http://owenbenjamin.com/}} |
| website = {{official website|http://owenbenjamin.com/}} |
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'''Owen Benjamin Smith''' (born May 24, 1980) is an American |
'''Owen Benjamin Smith''' (born May 24, 1980) is an American comedian, actor, and [[alt-right]] political commentator. |
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==Early life== |
==Early life== |
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|quote = Benjamin’s parents are both professors at Oswego State. |
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</ref> He attended [[State University of New York at Plattsburgh|Plattsburgh State College]], where he worked at the student-run TV station.<ref name="oswegonews">{{cite web|title=Oswego native Owen Benjamin to perform at Funny Bone in Syracuse|publisher=Oswego County News Now|url=http://www.oswegocountynewsnow.com/news/oswego-native-owen-benjamin-to-perform-at-funny-bone-in/article_6b8db50a-6f04-11e6-b286-b734f0ae402b.html|archive-url=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|url-status=dead|archive-date=2019-07-10|date=2016-08-21 |
</ref> He attended [[State University of New York at Plattsburgh|Plattsburgh State College]], where he worked at the student-run TV station.<ref name="oswegonews">{{cite web|title=Oswego native Owen Benjamin to perform at Funny Bone in Syracuse|publisher=Oswego County News Now|url=http://www.oswegocountynewsnow.com/news/oswego-native-owen-benjamin-to-perform-at-funny-bone-in/article_6b8db50a-6f04-11e6-b286-b734f0ae402b.html|archive-url=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|url-status=dead|archive-date=2019-07-10|date=2016-08-21|access-date=2020-01-05}}</ref> |
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==Career== |
==Career== |
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In 2008, Benjamin had a supporting role in ''[[The House Bunny]]''.<ref name="oswegonews" /><ref name="ricciengagement">{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090320035941/http://www.usmagazine.com/news/christina-ricci-owen-benjamin-are-engaged-2009163|url=http://www.usmagazine.com/news/christina-ricci-owen-benjamin-are-engaged-2009163|archivedate=March 20, 2009|url-status=dead|title=Christina Ricci is Engaged!|website=usmagazine.com|date=March 17, 2009 |
In 2008, Benjamin had a supporting role in ''[[The House Bunny]]''.<ref name="oswegonews" /><ref name="ricciengagement">{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090320035941/http://www.usmagazine.com/news/christina-ricci-owen-benjamin-are-engaged-2009163|url=http://www.usmagazine.com/news/christina-ricci-owen-benjamin-are-engaged-2009163|archivedate=March 20, 2009|url-status=dead|title=Christina Ricci is Engaged!|website=usmagazine.com|date=March 17, 2009}}</ref> In 2009, he played the lead role in the romantic comedy ''[[All's Faire in Love]]'', co-starring with [[Christina Ricci]].<ref name="oswegonews" /><ref name="ricciengagement" /> He was on [[Comedy Central Presents]] in 2010. From 2012 to 2014, he portrayed Owen Walsh on the TBS original comedy ''[[Sullivan & Son]]''.<ref name="oswegonews" /> He also appeared twice as a correspondent on ''[[The Jay Leno Show]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Levine|first=Stuart|date=2009-09-08|title=Jay Leno adds to posse|url=https://variety.com/2009/tv/markets-festivals/jay-leno-adds-to-posse-1118008255/|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=Variety|publisher=}}</ref><ref name="oswegonews" /> |
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Benjamin hosted the annual [[ADG Excellence in Production Design Award]]s from 2014 to 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=Comedian Owen Benjamin Returns As Host Of The Art Directors Guild 20th Annual Excellence In Production Design Awards|publisher=shootonline.com|url=https://www.shootonline.com/spw/comedian-owen-benjamin-returns-host-art-directors-guild-20th-annual-excellence-production-design|date=2015-11-12}}</ref> He had a podcast, ''Why Didn't They Laugh'', on Sideshow Network. He hosted [[Esquire Network]]'s ''The Next Great Burger'' in 2015. He played a correspondent to [[Tyson Beckford]] and [[Rev Run]] on their show ''It's Not You It's Men'' (2016) on the [[Oprah Winfrey Network (U.S. TV channel)|OWN]] network. |
Benjamin hosted the annual [[ADG Excellence in Production Design Award]]s from 2014 to 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=Comedian Owen Benjamin Returns As Host Of The Art Directors Guild 20th Annual Excellence In Production Design Awards|publisher=shootonline.com|url=https://www.shootonline.com/spw/comedian-owen-benjamin-returns-host-art-directors-guild-20th-annual-excellence-production-design|date=2015-11-12}}</ref> He had a podcast, ''Why Didn't They Laugh'', on Sideshow Network. He hosted [[Esquire Network]]'s ''The Next Great Burger'' in 2015. He played a correspondent to [[Tyson Beckford]] and [[Rev Run]] on their show ''It's Not You It's Men'' (2016) on the [[Oprah Winfrey Network (U.S. TV channel)|OWN]] network.{{cn}} |
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Benjamin formally produced the late show on ''Saturday Nights'' at [[The Improv]] in [[Hollywood]], [[California]], and has also performed on [[MTV]]'s show ''[[Punk'd]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Owen Benjamin's tweet from February 9, 2018|url=https://twitter.com/OwenBenjamin/status/962017453533421570}}</ref> Benjamin has starred in several web-only video series, including: [[Sony Pictures Television]]'s C-SPOT, the role of Owen on ''Gaytown'', Chance Stevens on ''Heckle U'' for [[CBS Interactive]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Frommer|first=Dan|title=Lindsay Campbell's New Show, 'Heckle U', Launching Today|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/lindsay-campbells-new-show-heckle-u-launching-today-2009-3|accessdate=2009-08-23}}</ref> and as a host of his own series, ''Owen Benjamin Presents''.<ref>{{cite web|title=C-Spot Season 2 on Crackle|publisher=thecomicscomic|url=http://thecomicscomic.typepad.com/thecomicscomic/2008/06/c-spot-season-2.html|date=2008-06-19|accessdate=2009-02-25}}</ref> |
Benjamin formally produced the late show on ''Saturday Nights'' at [[The Improv]] in [[Hollywood]], [[California]], and has also performed on [[MTV]]'s show ''[[Punk'd]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Owen Benjamin's tweet from February 9, 2018|url=https://twitter.com/OwenBenjamin/status/962017453533421570}}</ref> Benjamin has starred in several web-only video series, including: [[Sony Pictures Television]]'s C-SPOT, the role of Owen on ''Gaytown'', Chance Stevens on ''Heckle U'' for [[CBS Interactive]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Frommer|first=Dan|title=Lindsay Campbell's New Show, 'Heckle U', Launching Today|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/lindsay-campbells-new-show-heckle-u-launching-today-2009-3|accessdate=2009-08-23}}</ref> and as a host of his own series, ''Owen Benjamin Presents''.<ref>{{cite web|title=C-Spot Season 2 on Crackle|publisher=thecomicscomic|url=http://thecomicscomic.typepad.com/thecomicscomic/2008/06/c-spot-season-2.html|date=2008-06-19|accessdate=2009-02-25}}</ref> |
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He has cited [[Adam Sandler]] and [[Vince Vaughn]] as being comedy influences.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.laughspin.com/the-laughspin-interview-with-owen-benjamin/|title=The Laughspin Interview with Owen Benjamin|last=Weiser|first=Sonia|date=2013-06-27|publisher=Laughspin.com}}</ref> |
He has cited [[Adam Sandler]] and [[Vince Vaughn]] as being comedy influences.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.laughspin.com/the-laughspin-interview-with-owen-benjamin/|title=The Laughspin Interview with Owen Benjamin|last=Weiser|first=Sonia|date=2013-06-27|publisher=Laughspin.com}}</ref> |
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In October 2019, [[Patreon]] suspended Benjamin's account, saying he violated their terms of service regarding hate speech.<ref name=DD /> |
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Owen Benjamin spoke at the [[Modern flat Earth societies|Flat Earth International Conference]] in Dallas, Texas, on November 14, 2019.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Gallagher|first=Danny|date=2019-12-10|title=Discworld Is Real! Dive into Flat Earth Culture at their Global, Sorry, International Conference|url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/arts/the-earth-is-flat-nasa-and-the-pope-are-liars-things-learned-at-the-flat-earth-convention-11808074|access-date=2020-07-17|website=Dallas Observer}}</ref> |
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⚫ | Benjamin's [[YouTube]] channel was banned on December 3, 2019, for violations of |
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=== Patreon Lawsuit === |
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On January 6, 2020, Benjamin and 100 fans (as leverage to attempt to convince Patreon to settle) announced intent to sue Patreon for $3.5 million for banning him from the platform. By August, Patreon had filed a counter-suit against 72 of the fans. According to ''[[The Daily Dot]]'', "Patreon’s previous terms of service required claims to be submitted to arbitration, like Benjamin’s $3.5 million cause of action. An update to its terms of service that went into effect on Jan. 1 both prohibits users from filing claims based on the platform kicking off someone else and requires any who do so to pay the company’s attorney’s fees and costs, court documents state... Thus, if Patreon wins the suit, Benjamin’s fans could be on the hook for a significant sum..." According to the lawyer representing most of the plaintiffs, Patreon changed these terms after being notified of their intent to file a claim in arbitration. On July 29, 2020, a judge on the Superior Court of California for the County of San Francisco denied Patreon's request for a preliminary injunction in the case.<ref name=DD>{{Cite web|last=Goforth|first=Claire|date=2020-07-06|title=Alt-right comedian asked his fans to sue Patreon. It backfired|url=https://www.dailydot.com/debug/patreon-suing-owen-benjamin-fans/|url-status=live|archive-url=http://archive.vn/Jyxxd|archive-date=2020-07-06|access-date=2020-07-17|website=The Daily Dot|language=}}</ref> |
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Benjamin's suit led to some larger implications for the platform. On January 1, a few days prior to the start of the suit, Patreon announced a change to its terms of service to disallow suits based on bans from the site and to require that The suit opened Patreon to additional lawsuits from other right-leaning personalities it had banned, with YouTubers [[Lauren Southern]] and [[Sargon of Akkad (YouTube)|Sargon of Akkad]] preparing for arbitration in early August.<ref>{{cite news |title=Court denies Patreon injunction against fans of 'canceled' comedian |url=https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/americas/1596377657-court-rules-against-patreon-fan-funding-service-in-key-case-over-cancelled-comedian |work=i24NEWS |date=2 August 2020}}</ref> |
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==Views== |
==Views== |
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His comedy is intentionally offensive and frequently uses slurs. Benjamin describes his comedy as a criticism of [[political correctness]], [[Liberalism in the United States|liberalism]], and the political left.<ref name="politics">{{cite web|title= Local comic Day Bracey clashes online with alt-right comedian Owen Benjamim over canceled Pittsburgh show|url=https://www.pghcitypaper.com/Blogh/archives/2018/04/17/local-comic-day-bracey-clashes-online-with-alt-right-comedian-owen-benjamin-over-canceled-pittsburgh-show|date=2018-04-19|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20180419211208/https://www.pghcitypaper.com/Blogh/archives/2018/04/17/local-comic-day-bracey-clashes-online-with-alt-right-comedian-owen-benjamin-over-canceled-pittsburgh-show|archivedate=2018-04-19|access-date=2018-11-29|url-status=live}}</ref> Benjamin has had scheduled shows canceled and has been suspended from Twitter for this behavior,<ref name="politics" /><ref name="huffpost">{{cite web| title = What Happened To Owen Benjamin Is Further Proof We Are Losing Our Min…|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/what-happened-to-owen-benjamin-is-further-proof-we_us_59cc1e1fe4b0b99ee4a9ca3d| date = 2017-09-29| archiveurl=https://archive.today/20170929044123/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/what-happened-to-owen-benjamin-is-further-proof-we_us_59cc1e1fe4b0b99ee4a9ca3d| archivedate = 2017-09-29| access-date = 2018-11-29| url-status = live}}</ref> which includes advocating for the return of [[Slavery in the United States|slavery]] to enslave [[Shaun King]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Why is Amazon promoting this anti-trans alt right troll’s comedy special?|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90275862/why-is-amazon-promoting-this-anti-trans-alt-right-trolls-comedy-special|last=Joe|first=Berkowitz|date=December 3, 2018|accessdate=December 6, 2018|work=[[Fast Company]]}}</ref> as well as from [[YouTube]], Instagram, and Facebook. |
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Benjamin |
Benjamin describes his comedy as a criticism of [[political correctness]], [[Liberalism in the United States|liberalism]], and the political left.<ref name="politics">{{cite web|title= Local comic Day Bracey clashes online with alt-right comedian Owen Benjamim over canceled Pittsburgh show|url=https://www.pghcitypaper.com/Blogh/archives/2018/04/17/local-comic-day-bracey-clashes-online-with-alt-right-comedian-owen-benjamin-over-canceled-pittsburgh-show|date=2018-04-19|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20180419211208/https://www.pghcitypaper.com/Blogh/archives/2018/04/17/local-comic-day-bracey-clashes-online-with-alt-right-comedian-owen-benjamin-over-canceled-pittsburgh-show|archivedate=2018-04-19|access-date=2018-11-29|url-status=live}}</ref> Benjamin has had scheduled shows canceled and has been banned from social media sites for his statements, including his use of racial and anti-LGBTQ slurs.<ref name="politics" /><ref name="huffpost">{{cite web| title = What Happened To Owen Benjamin Is Further Proof We Are Losing Our Min…|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/what-happened-to-owen-benjamin-is-further-proof-we_us_59cc1e1fe4b0b99ee4a9ca3d| date = 2017-09-29| archiveurl=https://archive.today/20170929044123/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/what-happened-to-owen-benjamin-is-further-proof-we_us_59cc1e1fe4b0b99ee4a9ca3d| archivedate = 2017-09-29| access-date = 2018-11-29| url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Why is Amazon promoting this anti-trans alt right troll’s comedy special?|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90275862/why-is-amazon-promoting-this-anti-trans-alt-right-trolls-comedy-special|last=Joe|first=Berkowitz|date=December 3, 2018|accessdate=December 6, 2018|work=[[Fast Company]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Deto|first=Ryan|title=Local comic Day Bracey clashes online with alt-right comedian Owen Benjamin over canceled Pittsburgh show|url=https://www.pghcitypaper.com/Blogh/archives/2018/04/17/local-comic-day-bracey-clashes-online-with-alt-right-comedian-owen-benjamin-over-canceled-pittsburgh-show|access-date=2019-04-19|website=Pittsburgh City Paper|language=en}}</ref> |
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According to [[Insider Inc]], Benjamin supports [[Antisemitic canard|anti-Semitic conspiracy theories]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Einbinder |first1=Nicole |title=White nationalists continue to post on Instagram, despite a new Facebook policy banning such content |url=https://www.thisisinsider.com/white-nationalists-post-on-instagram-despite-facebook-ban-2019-4 |publisher=Insider Inc |accessdate=14 April 2019}}</ref> In October 2018, ''[[The Daily Beast]]'' reported that Benjamin had a history of posting anti-Semitic memes on Instagram.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lorenz |first1=Taylor |title=Instagram Is Teeming With Anti-Semitism |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2018/10/instagram-ignored-crazyjewishmom-harassment/574450 |website=[[The Atlantic]] |accessdate=June 2, 2019 |date=October 30, 2018}}</ref> [[Right Wing Watch]] has reported on Benjamin's statements that [[Adolf Hitler]] was trying to "clean Germany, clean it of the parasites, of the fleas" and that Jews [[Antisemitic canard#Controlling the media|control the media]].<ref name=rhetoric>{{cite news |last1=Holt |first1=Jared |title=Owen Benjamin's Rhetoric is Growing More Extreme |url=http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/owen-benjamins-rhetoric-is-growing-more-extreme/ |accessdate=July 11, 2019 |work=Right Wing Watch |publisher=[[People for the American Way]] |date=March 18, 2019}}</ref> Right Wing Watch quotes a live-stream where Benjamin says, "gays and Jews were considered the worst of the worst. Why? Because if they get power, they will destroy your entire civilization."<ref name=instagram/><ref name=rhetoric/> Conservative commentator [[Bethany Mandel]] has written about Benjamin posting fabricated verses from the [[Talmud]] and spreading anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, including [[Holocaust denial]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Mandel|first1=Bethany|title=How did conservative comedian Owen Benjamin became a darling of the 'alt-right'?|url=https://www.jta.org/2019/04/08/opinion/how-did-conservative-comedian-owen-benjamin-became-a-darling-of-the-alt-right|website=Jewish Telegraphic Agency|date=2019-04-08|accessdate=2019-05-14}}</ref> |
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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 lower the world population, that the [[Moon landing conspiracy theories|moon landing did not occur]], and that "dinosaurs were a [[Smithsonian Institution|Smithsonian]] lie".<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Holt |first1=Jared |title=Owen Benjamin: Transgender Rights Movement is a U.N.-Sponsored Eugenics Program |url=http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/owen-benjamin-transgender-rights-movement-is-a-u-n-sponsored-eugenics-program/ |accessdate=June 2, 2019 |work=Right Wing Watch |publisher=[[People for the American Way]] |date=November 29, 2018}}</ref><ref name="redpill">{{cite news |last1=Holt |first1=Jared |title=Owen Benjamin: Another 'Red Pill' Overdose Victim |url=http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/owen-benjamin-another-red-pill-overdose-victim/ |accessdate=July 11, 2019 |work=Right Wing Watch |publisher=[[People for the American Way]] |date=February 12, 2019}}</ref> In November 2019, he spoke at the [[Modern flat Earth societies|Flat Earth International Conference]] in Dallas, Texas.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Gallagher|first=Danny|date=2019-12-10|title=Discworld Is Real! Dive into Flat Earth Culture at their Global, Sorry, International Conference|url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/arts/the-earth-is-flat-nasa-and-the-pope-are-liars-things-learned-at-the-flat-earth-convention-11808074|access-date=2020-07-17|website=Dallas Observer}}</ref> |
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===Antisemitism=== |
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=== Social media bans === |
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According to [[Insider Inc]], Benjamin supports [[Antisemitism|anti-Semitic]] [[Antisemitic canard|conspiracy theories]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Einbinder |first1=Nicole |title=White nationalists continue to post on Instagram, despite a new Facebook policy banning such content |url=https://www.thisisinsider.com/white-nationalists-post-on-instagram-despite-facebook-ban-2019-4 |publisher=Insider Inc |accessdate=14 April 2019}}</ref> In October 2018, ''[[The Daily Beast]]'' reported that Benjamin had a history of posting anti-Semitic memes on Instagram.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lorenz |first1=Taylor |title=Instagram Is Teeming With Anti-Semitism |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2018/10/instagram-ignored-crazyjewishmom-harassment/574450 |website=[[The Atlantic]] |accessdate=June 2, 2019 |date=October 30, 2018}}</ref> |
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⚫ | In October 2019, [[Patreon]] suspended Benjamin's account, saying he violated their terms of service regarding hate speech.<ref name=DD /> His [[YouTube]] channel was banned on December 3, 2019, for violations of the site's terms of service.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Petrizzo |first1=Zachary |title=Owen Benjamin, alt-right comedian, banned from YouTube |url=https://www.dailydot.com/layer8/owen-benjamin-youtube/ |accessdate=December 14, 2019 |work=The Daily Dot |date=December 4, 2019 |language=en}}</ref> On December 13, he was suspended from [[Facebook]] and [[Instagram]] for multiple policy violations.<ref name=instagram>{{cite news |last1=Holt |first1=Jared |title=Instagram and Facebook Suspend Right-Wing 'Comedian' Owen Benjamin |url=https://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/instagram-and-facebook-suspend-right-wing-comedian-owen-benjamin/ |accessdate=December 14, 2019 |work=Right Wing Watch|publisher=[[People For the American Way]] |date=December 13, 2019}}</ref> |
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[[Right Wing Watch]] notes that, in a YouTube livestream on March 9, 2019, Benjamin said of [[Adolf Hitler]]: "Really what he was trying to do was clean Germany, clean it of the parasites, of the fleas. He did not hate Jews. He hated filth and he was trying to clean up." In the same YouTube livestream Benjamin yelled "[[Antisemitic canard#Controlling the media|Jews run our entire media]], all of [[Hollywood]], all of [[pornography]]", and "Nobody wants any of it and it's all Jews!" Benjamin also [[Holocaust denial|denied]] that [[gas chambers]] were used in the [[The Holocaust|Holocaust]]. Benjamin said of Jews: "if they get power, they will destroy your entire civilization! Has anyone not seen that happening?"<ref name=rhetoric>{{cite news |last1=Holt |first1=Jared |title=Owen Benjamin’s Rhetoric is Growing More Extreme |url=http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/owen-benjamins-rhetoric-is-growing-more-extreme/ |accessdate=July 11, 2019 |work=Right Wing Watch |publisher=[[People for the American Way]] |date=March 18, 2019}}</ref> [[Right Wing Watch]] quotes a live-stream where Benjamin says "gays and Jews were considered the worst of the worst. Why? Because if they get power, they will destroy your entire civilization."<ref name=instagram/><ref name=rhetoric/> |
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In January 2020, Benjamin and one hundred of his fans announced their intent to sue Patreon for $3.5 million for banning him from the platform. By August, Patreon had filed a counter-suit against 72 of the fans.<ref name=DD>{{Cite web|last=Goforth|first=Claire|date=2020-07-06|title=Alt-right comedian asked his fans to sue Patreon. It backfired|url=https://www.dailydot.com/debug/patreon-suing-owen-benjamin-fans/|url-status=live|archive-url=http://archive.vn/Jyxxd|archive-date=2020-07-06|access-date=2020-07-17|website=The Daily Dot|language=}}</ref> In July, a judge on the Superior Court of California for the County of San Francisco denied Patreon's request for a preliminary injunction in the case.<ref>{{cite news |title=Court denies Patreon injunction against fans of 'canceled' comedian |url=https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/americas/1596377657-court-rules-against-patreon-fan-funding-service-in-key-case-over-cancelled-comedian |work=i24NEWS |date=2 August 2020}}</ref> |
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Benjamin also has appeared on livestreams with prominent white supremacists such as [[Peter Brimelow]], the founder of anti-immigration website [[VDARE]].<ref name=redpill/> |
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⚫ | In March 2020, ''[[The Daily Dot]]'' reported that Benjamin had been attempting to circumvent his social media bans to spread disinformation regarding [[Coronavirus disease 2019|COVID-19]]. Following the publication of the article, several of Benjamin's new accounts were terminated.<ref name=Goforth>{{Cite web|last=Goforth|first=Claire|date=2020-03-24|title=Banned 'alt-right' comedian returns to spread coronavirus misinformation|url=https://www.dailydot.com/debug/owen-benjamin-youtube-twitter/|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-07-17|website=The Daily Dot|language=en-US}}</ref> |
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According to [[Bethany Mandel]], Benjamin has also posted fabricated verses from the [[Talmud]], and frequently spreads anti-Semitic conspiracy theories including blaming Jewish people for every societal ill. Mandel also notes that Benjamin is a holocaust denier and [[Vaccine hesitancy|anti-vaccination]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Mandel|first1=Bethany|title=How did conservative comedian Owen Benjamin became a darling of the 'alt-right'?|url=https://www.jta.org/2019/04/08/opinion/how-did-conservative-comedian-owen-benjamin-became-a-darling-of-the-alt-right|website=Jewish Telegraphic Agency|date=2019-04-08|accessdate=2019-05-14|quote=Every few days, fans of his streams and posts on platforms like Instagram and Facebook can watch Benjamin quote fictitious tractates from the Talmud or mock critics of Holocaust denial.}}</ref> |
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According to [[Rewire News Group]], after the [[Poway synagogue shooting]], Benjamin said “I did not want to kill Jews. But they have given us no other option…the Jew—with his genocidal instincts—is insistent on poking the bear.” <ref>https://rewirenewsgroup.com/religion-dispatches/2019/05/09/the-theology-that-inspired-the-poway-synagogue-shooting-and-new-Zealand-remains-strikingly-commonplace/</ref>. In an article published following the Poway Attack, Evangelical Christian website [[GOD TV]] described Benjamin as a hateful antisemite and warned that his ideas could lead to violence against Jewish people.<ref> https://godtv.com/the-synagogue-shooter-was-no-christian/</ref> |
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'Stopantisemetism.org' named Owen Benjamin as their "Antisemite of the week" in July 2020, citing his extreme anti Jewish views. <ref>https://www.stopantisemitism.org/antisemite-of-the-week-3/antisemite-of-the-week-owen-benjamin-the-grabbler-nazi</ref> |
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==Personal life== |
==Personal life== |
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In March 2008, he and [[Christina Ricci]] announced they were engaged, but they ended their engagement two months later.<ref name="ricciengagement" /><ref>{{cite web|title= Christina Ricci calls off her engagement to 'All's Faire in Love' co- |
In March 2008, he and [[Christina Ricci]] announced they were engaged, but they ended their engagement two months later.<ref name="ricciengagement" /><ref>{{cite web|title= Christina Ricci calls off her engagement to 'All's Faire in Love' co-|url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2009-06-04/gossip/17926336_1_hard-feelings-engagement-mature-decision|date=2012-09-07|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120907084154/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2009-06-04/gossip/17926336_1_hard-feelings-engagement-mature-decision|archivedate=2012-09-07|access-date=2018-11-29|url-status=dead}}</ref> He later married and had two sons.<ref>{{cite web|title= Owen Benjamin Comedy on Twitter: "Both momma and baby are happy and healthy|url=https://twitter.com/owencomedy/status/1020371951808892929?lang=en-US|date=2018-07-20|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701174032/https://twitter.com/owencomedy/status/1020371951808892929?lang=en-US|archivedate=2019-07-01|access-date=2018-11-29|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=November 2019}} |
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Benjamin is a [[creationist]] who does not believe in the theory of evolution, and does not believe that dinosaurs existed, calling them a "[[Smithsonian Institution|Smithsonian]] lie".<ref name=":0" /> |
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==References== |
==References== |
Revision as of 06:52, 31 October 2020
Owen Benjamin | |
---|---|
Birth name | Owen Smith |
Born | Fulton, New York, U.S. | May 24, 1980
Medium | Stand-up, television, film, internet |
Nationality | American |
Education | SUNY Plattsburgh |
Years active | 2006 – present |
Genres | |
Notable works and roles | Sullivan & Son The House Bunny |
Website | Official website |
Owen Benjamin Smith (born May 24, 1980) is an American comedian, actor, and alt-right political commentator.
Early life
Owen Benjamin was born to John Kares Smith and Jean Troy-Smith, both professors at Oswego State University.[1] He attended Plattsburgh State College, where he worked at the student-run TV station.[2]
Career
In 2008, Benjamin had a supporting role in The House Bunny.[2][3] In 2009, he played the lead role in the romantic comedy All's Faire in Love, co-starring with Christina Ricci.[2][3] He was on Comedy Central Presents in 2010. From 2012 to 2014, he portrayed Owen Walsh on the TBS original comedy Sullivan & Son.[2] He also appeared twice as a correspondent on The Jay Leno Show.[4][2]
Benjamin hosted the annual ADG Excellence in Production Design Awards from 2014 to 2016.[5] He had a podcast, Why Didn't They Laugh, on Sideshow Network. He hosted Esquire Network's The Next Great Burger in 2015. He played a correspondent to Tyson Beckford and Rev Run on their show It's Not You It's Men (2016) on the OWN network.[citation needed]
Benjamin formally produced the late show on Saturday Nights at The Improv in Hollywood, California, and has also performed on MTV's show Punk'd.[6] Benjamin has starred in several web-only video series, including: Sony Pictures Television's C-SPOT, the role of Owen on Gaytown, Chance Stevens on Heckle U for CBS Interactive,[7] and as a host of his own series, Owen Benjamin Presents.[8]
Benjamin has used crowdfunded money to rent the venues for his shows.[9]
He has cited Adam Sandler and Vince Vaughn as being comedy influences.[10]
Views
Benjamin describes his comedy as a criticism of political correctness, liberalism, and the political left.[11] Benjamin has had scheduled shows canceled and has been banned from social media sites for his statements, including his use of racial and anti-LGBTQ slurs.[11][12][13][14]
According to Insider Inc, Benjamin supports anti-Semitic conspiracy theories.[15] In October 2018, The Daily Beast reported that Benjamin had a history of posting anti-Semitic memes on Instagram.[16] Right Wing Watch has reported on Benjamin's statements that Adolf Hitler was trying to "clean Germany, clean it of the parasites, of the fleas" and that Jews control the media.[17] Right Wing Watch quotes a live-stream where Benjamin says, "gays and Jews were considered the worst of the worst. Why? Because if they get power, they will destroy your entire civilization."[18][17] Conservative commentator Bethany Mandel has written about Benjamin posting fabricated verses from the Talmud and spreading anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, including Holocaust denial.[19]
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 lower the world population, that the moon landing did not occur, and that "dinosaurs were a Smithsonian lie".[20][21][22] In November 2019, he spoke at the Flat Earth International Conference in Dallas, Texas.[20]
Social media bans
In October 2019, Patreon suspended Benjamin's account, saying he violated their terms of service regarding hate speech.[23] His YouTube channel was banned on December 3, 2019, for violations of the site's terms of service.[24] On December 13, he was suspended from Facebook and Instagram for multiple policy violations.[18]
In January 2020, Benjamin and one hundred of his fans announced their intent to sue Patreon for $3.5 million for banning him from the platform. By August, Patreon had filed a counter-suit against 72 of the fans.[23] In July, a judge on the Superior Court of California for the County of San Francisco denied Patreon's request for a preliminary injunction in the case.[25]
In March 2020, The Daily Dot reported that Benjamin had been attempting to circumvent his social media bans to spread disinformation regarding COVID-19. Following the publication of the article, several of Benjamin's new accounts were terminated.[26]
Personal life
In March 2008, he and Christina Ricci announced they were engaged, but they ended their engagement two months later.[3][27] He later married and had two sons.[28][failed verification]
References
- ^ "Look at OZ: Stand-up comic Owen Benjamin – The Oswegonian". 2018-11-29. Archived from the original on 2018-11-29. Retrieved 2018-07-12.
- ^ a b c d e "Oswego native Owen Benjamin to perform at Funny Bone in Syracuse". Oswego County News Now. 2016-08-21. Archived from the original on 2019-07-10. Retrieved 2020-01-05.
- ^ a b c "Christina Ricci is Engaged!". usmagazine.com. March 17, 2009. Archived from the original on March 20, 2009.
- ^ Levine, Stuart (2009-09-08). "Jay Leno adds to posse". Variety.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Comedian Owen Benjamin Returns As Host Of The Art Directors Guild 20th Annual Excellence In Production Design Awards". shootonline.com. 2015-11-12.
- ^ "Owen Benjamin's tweet from February 9, 2018".
- ^ Frommer, Dan. "Lindsay Campbell's New Show, 'Heckle U', Launching Today". Retrieved 2009-08-23.
- ^ "C-Spot Season 2 on Crackle". thecomicscomic. 2008-06-19. Retrieved 2009-02-25.
- ^ "Conservatives banished from comedy industry". The Washington Times. January 1, 2018. Archived from the original on January 1, 2018. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
- ^ Weiser, Sonia (2013-06-27). "The Laughspin Interview with Owen Benjamin". Laughspin.com.
- ^ a b "Local comic Day Bracey clashes online with alt-right comedian Owen Benjamim over canceled Pittsburgh show". 2018-04-19. Archived from the original on 2018-04-19. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
- ^ "What Happened To Owen Benjamin Is Further Proof We Are Losing Our Min…". 2017-09-29. Archived from the original on 2017-09-29. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
- ^ Joe, Berkowitz (December 3, 2018). "Why is Amazon promoting this anti-trans alt right troll's comedy special?". Fast Company. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
- ^ Deto, Ryan. "Local comic Day Bracey clashes online with alt-right comedian Owen Benjamin over canceled Pittsburgh show". Pittsburgh City Paper. Retrieved 2019-04-19.
- ^ Einbinder, Nicole. "White nationalists continue to post on Instagram, despite a new Facebook policy banning such content". Insider Inc. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
- ^ Lorenz, Taylor (October 30, 2018). "Instagram Is Teeming With Anti-Semitism". The Atlantic. Retrieved June 2, 2019.
- ^ a b Holt, Jared (March 18, 2019). "Owen Benjamin's Rhetoric is Growing More Extreme". Right Wing Watch. People for the American Way. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
- ^ a b Holt, Jared (December 13, 2019). "Instagram and Facebook Suspend Right-Wing 'Comedian' Owen Benjamin". Right Wing Watch. People For the American Way. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
- ^ Mandel, Bethany (2019-04-08). "How did conservative comedian Owen Benjamin became a darling of the 'alt-right'?". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 2019-05-14.
- ^ a b Gallagher, Danny (2019-12-10). "Discworld Is Real! Dive into Flat Earth Culture at their Global, Sorry, International Conference". Dallas Observer. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
- ^ 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. Retrieved June 2, 2019.
- ^ Holt, Jared (February 12, 2019). "Owen Benjamin: Another 'Red Pill' Overdose Victim". Right Wing Watch. People for the American Way. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
- ^ a b Goforth, Claire (2020-07-06). "Alt-right comedian asked his fans to sue Patreon. It backfired". The Daily Dot. Archived from the original on 2020-07-06. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
- ^ Petrizzo, Zachary (December 4, 2019). "Owen Benjamin, alt-right comedian, banned from YouTube". The Daily Dot. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
- ^ "Court denies Patreon injunction against fans of 'canceled' comedian". i24NEWS. 2 August 2020.
- ^ Goforth, Claire (2020-03-24). "Banned 'alt-right' comedian returns to spread coronavirus misinformation". The Daily Dot. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Christina Ricci calls off her engagement to 'All's Faire in Love' co-". 2012-09-07. Archived from the original on 2012-09-07. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
- ^ "Owen Benjamin Comedy on Twitter: "Both momma and baby are happy and healthy". 2018-07-20. Archived from the original on 2019-07-01. Retrieved 2018-11-29.