Paul Joseph Watson
Paul Joseph Watson (born in Sheffield)[1][2] is a YouTube personality based in London, England.[3][4][5][6] He is the editor of Infowars.com.
Political stance
Watson has been referred to as a member of the alt-right,[6] has been called a promoter of the alt-right on the Internet[2], and called conservatism "the new counter-culture".[7] However, in November 2016, he denied that he was a member of the alt-right, posting on Facebook that he instead considers himself a member of the "New Right".[8] He has also been called one of "the right-wing commentators of the digital age".[9]
In the media
In 2016, he became known for being an early proponent of the unsubstantiated conspiracy theory that Hillary Clinton suffers from numerous serious medical conditions. Watson's part in the manufacture and popularization of the rumor was covered in the mainstream media as part of a discussion of the role of rumor and conspiracy theory in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.[10][3][11]
In February 2017, he offered via Twitter to pay any journalist who thinks Sweden is safe to visit the country and stay in the 'crime ridden migrant suburbs' of Malmo.[6][12] Many journalists took him up on the offer,[13][12] and Watson chose New York journalist and videographer Tim Pool, who was already planning a similar investigation.[14] Watson provided $2000 USD to Pool for the trip.[14][12] Tim Pool also ran a fundraiser to fund an investigation into other 'no-go zones' in other areas of Sweden and Europe.[14]
Biography
Watson was born in Sheffield, South Yorkshire,[15][16] where he grew up on a council estate.[2] In a November 2016 interview with the Tab, he described his adolescence as "not particularly conventional", and said that he exercised for three hours each day and did not drink alcohol.[17] As of November 2016, he lives in the London neighborhood of Battersea.[16][18]
References
- ^ "An interview with Paul Joseph Watson". The Tab Sheffield. 2016-11-07. Retrieved 2017-03-07.
- ^ a b c Macbain, Hamish (1 March 2017). "Are these the faces of London's young 'alt-right'?". Evening standard magazine.
- ^ a b Cheadle, Harry (26 August 2016). "How Conspiracy Theories About Hillary Clinton's Health Went Mainstream". Vice.
- ^ "Britain's extremist bloggers helping the 'alt-right' go global, report finds". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
- ^ "The alt-right's take on Clinton's speech: Botched, but legitimizing".
- ^ a b c UGC and Social News team. "Alt-right editor challenges journalists to visit Sweden".
- ^ Walter, Damien (18 February 2017). "There's a very simple reason why the alt-right is not the new counterculture". The Independent.
- ^ Pearce, Matt. "The 'alt-right' splinters as supporters and critics agree it was white supremacy all along".
- ^ "Examining the Right Wing British Blowhards Using YouTube to 'Prove Everybody Wrong' - VICE".
- ^ Jamieson, Amber (26 August 2016). "Conspiracy central: the activists painting Clinton as a sick, terrorist-friendly killer" – via The Guardian.
- ^ Collins, Ben (9 August 2016). "'Is Hillary Dying' Hoax Started by Pal of Alex Jones".
- ^ a b c Roden, Lee (21 February 2017). "Far-right editor's offer to pay travel costs to 'crime-ridden Malmö' backfires as dozens accept". The Local Sweden.
- ^ Bowden, George (20 February 2017). "Paul Joseph Watson's Twitter Offer For Journalist Trip To Sweden Spectacularly Backfires". Huffington Post.
- ^ a b c Bowden, George (21 February 2017). "Paul Joseph Watson Comes Good On Twitter Offer To 'Investigate Malmo, Sweden, Crimes'". Huffington Post.
- ^ "Paul Joseph Watson on Twitter".
- ^ a b "An interview with Paul Joseph Watson". 7 November 2016.
- ^ Worswick, Marie-Elise (7 November 2016). "Meet the pro-Trump YouTuber from Sheffield who's impacting the U.S. Election". The Tab.
- ^ Hyde, Marina (9 February 2017). "The next Celebrity Big Brother? It'll be alt-right on the night". Guardian.