July 30, 2025 • 38 mins
Fitness influencer and TikTok star Joey Swoll is getting brutally cancelled by an angry woke mob on social media for a "racism" scandal that... really isn't that bad. I break it down in this episode of the Brad vs Everyone podcast. Plus, Good Morning America pushes the bizarre panic over Sydney Sweeney's American Eagle commercial, and Matt Walsh defends a "whites only" community.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
I owe my followers, my community, and all of social
media in apology.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
An apology or not. Him using those words told me
everything I need to know about the man.
Speaker 3 (00:08):
We're tired. This is what we're tired of. Want you
guys to know my page is about accountability, but then
you take none. I'd like to know who you voted for.
Speaker 4 (00:17):
A beloved fitness influencer is getting brutally canceled on TikTok
right now over a racism scandal that doesn't really make
any sense. We're going to break this down, plus so
much more on today's episode of The Brad Versus Everyone Podcast,
(00:39):
my daily show where we take on the craziest ideas
from across the Internet, our media, and our politics, all
from an independent perspective. Up first, guys, we're going to
talk about a man named Joey Swoll who is kind
of a beloved influencer, very kind of universal appeal. He
is a fit witness guy, a weightlifting guy, but he
(01:02):
does these call out videos where he calls out people
who engage in bullying, shaming, or inappropriate or illegal behavior
at gyms, like recording people changing without their permission and
making fun of them, recording people making fun of other
people at the gym, this kind of unfortunate and unpleasant behavior.
(01:24):
He calls people's out. He calls people out and holds
them accountable. His content is a mix of heartwarming like
he'll help people who are victimized by these situations he'll
get them free gym memberships, and accountability based content where
he gets people who break laws or break serious rules
banned from Jim. So here's a sample of his kind
(01:45):
of content. A video recently that he posted that got
millions and millions of views and widespread support for him.
Speaker 5 (02:02):
This video really pisses me off. This is disgusting to
do to somebody, The fact that you boys intentionally stay
out of frame so you can film that man. You
go back, you watch the video, you see that he's
actually changing, which I had to cover up, by the way,
and you go and you post the video anyway, and
then you support people that laugh at that man. I mean,
(02:24):
what is wrong with you? How do you not know
better than to treat people this way? Well, you boys
are going to learn a lesson today. I guarantee there's
a sign in that locker room that says no photos,
no videos.
Speaker 6 (02:36):
You know why, because this is illegal, and according to
my lawyer, Shaheen de Mouy, who practices law in Arizona
where you boys are, this is illegal, not only civilly
but also criminally.
Speaker 5 (02:49):
And doing this to somebody in Arizona is a felony.
So I really hope that somebody recognizes this gym and
lets them know so they kick your ass out and
that man press charges you need to do better mind
your own business.
Speaker 4 (03:05):
This kind of content has really made Joey Swoll a
beloved figure in most circles, and he doesn't have a
lot about him that's controversial, but he is now finding
himself at the center of a hate storm, a cancelation
a social media pylon. You know, we talk about how
cancel culture is over and in media and broader life,
(03:28):
it's definitely weaned significantly. But one place where it is
going full steam ahead is on TikTok, and that is
where Joey Swoll is getting pretty brutally canceled right now.
He issued a very strong, some might even say groveling
apology that of course, was not enough for the critics.
(03:48):
They're determined to run him off the internet for really
just relative, relatively minor mistakes. That he made and that,
if you ask me, are not the kind of thing
that should destroy someone's life or career. We're gonna walk
through them. And first, here's a video from somebody critical
(04:08):
of Joey Swall that sums up the controversy.
Speaker 7 (04:12):
Let's talk about the Joey Swoll controversy, because this guy
is losing followers by the second. So a few days ago,
after Hulk Hogan died, Joey reposted a video he made
back in twenty twenty in full Hulk attire, trying to
sort of memorialize him. Mind you, Hulk Hogan was a
notorious racist. If you don't know, back in twenty fifteen,
Hulk Cogan was caught on video using the N word.
He admitted in that same video to being a racist,
(04:32):
and he outwardly expressed discussed that his daughter would date
a black man. Kind of a shitty guy, right. So understandably,
Joey was getting a lot of heat in the comment section.
So then he went on TikTok Live and he said.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
This, Listen, I can post Hulk Hoogan if I want to.
Just because somebody makes a mistake in their life doesn't
mean that they haven't done good things. I don't know
what he did, and he said something twenty years ago
and apologize for it. If you're going to attack me,
you better go after the colored athletes than the people
that are black and minority that went and posted him as.
Speaker 7 (04:59):
Well, Joe colored athletes? Is that the Hulk Comanian side
you running wild? Because we're about the same age. We
did not grow up talking like that in the nineties,
Well I didn't. I suppose if your role model was
Hulk Hogan, someone who repeatedly used racial slurs towards his
fellow wrestlers and was even removed for the Hall of
Fame for it, maybe you might use that term. And
if you're such a big fan, I don't accept that
(05:19):
you didn't know about Hulk's words and actions. He was
just campaigning for Trump, another notorious racist. The biggest problem
I have is this, You built an entire platform calling
people out when they just did something rude at the gym.
You've made a lot of money off that, So it's
weird and a bit hypocritical that you think racism is
just one little mistake we should all forget about. I
(05:40):
don't know if you're a racist, Joey, but if you
don't have a problem with racism, that's just as bad.
Speaker 6 (05:45):
You need to do better.
Speaker 4 (05:46):
So, guys, we should be crystal clear about the fact
that people are quite literally arguing that because he dared
dress up like Hulk Hogan and kind of commemorate the
passing of this wrestling legend who does have this dark
past that I didn't even know about. I don't think
a lot of younger people know about. And because he
said colored athletes instead of athletes of color, a misspeaking
(06:11):
a minor verbal slip of sorts that he then apologized
for in the very same TikTok Live like a moment
later when someone pointed it out to him that he
is like an evil racist and clearly a terrible human being.
I mean, it's a mix of humor and joking about
it and straight up critique. Here's a little compilation of
viral videos. He start getting millions and millions and millions
(06:33):
of views on TikTok slamming this guy as a racist
for these two, if you ask me, pretty minor mistakes.
Take a listen.
Speaker 8 (06:42):
But the most eye opening thing about being black is
like you never know who secretly don't like you. This
whole Joey Slow situation really opened my eyes because it's
so many other like white creators and musicians that I
rock with actors whole time in the dark. They probably
don't even rock with me on my kind of like
what it just be like like man, bro, nobody like us.
(07:02):
They don't, they don't like them.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
I'm telling you, I don't have a single racist bone
in my body.
Speaker 8 (07:06):
No, for sure.
Speaker 7 (07:07):
My friend is colored, so that's obviously not true because
I drive a black car, I'm wearing a black shirt.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
My favorite song is Boom Boom Power with the Black
Eyed Peas.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
I'm gonna keep this brief, but if your favorite fitness
influencer is out here using the phrase colored people in
the Big Year twenty twenty five, then y'all better go
ahead and find a new favorite fitness influencer because colored people, really,
what are we doing? An apologie or not? Him using
those words to me? Everything I need to know about that.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
Man.
Speaker 9 (07:32):
Yeah, I definitely have to unfollow Joey's swoll because what
do you mean colored? What do you mean colored? Also,
racism is not just like a mistake, you know, It's
not just like a little accident, you know, It's not
like when my brother used to go to the grocery
store and would pick up cabbage instead of lettuce. You know,
(07:54):
my mom wanted lettuce and my brother couldn't tell the
difference and picked up cabbage. It's not like a little
racism is just a little mistake. Support who you want
to support, like who you want to like, I guess.
But colored, okay, sir, okay.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
I can excuse racism, but I draw the line at
jim etiquette. Do better. Fuck.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
So we're going to take a look at Joey's apology
video in a moment. But first I just want to
give you my take on this. First things first, the
issue of Hulk Hogan right passing away this wrestling legend, who, again,
I didn't know about this. I don't think a lot
of people knew about this, especially people younger people who
maybe weren't paying attention when it all went down. In
(08:43):
I think twenty fifteen, he had this scandal where a
tape was leaked of him saying very racist things. Now,
Hulk Hogan apologized for it and made amends significantly, to
the point where he was actually reinstated in the WWE
Hall of Fame in twenty eighteen and kind of reintegrated
(09:03):
back into the sport and back into celebrity life. It
was still a cloud hanging over him, but it's like
they moved on in the industry and he was undeniably
a famous wrestler who had a massive impact, as you know,
a celebrity and athlete. So is it really beyond the
pale or so terrible to commemorate him in any way
(09:24):
just because he had this dark stain on his legacy.
I'm not sure I really buy that. And then even
if that was true, I think it's perfectly fair for
someone like Joey Swoll to not have known that, to
not have known about that. And then maybe he just
dressed up as the dude because he thought he was
a really cool wrestlerrit he inspired him as a lifter
and an athlete, and then he didn't know. I mean,
(09:47):
I don't understand how that's the end of the world
or that's a mistake. People want to crucify him or
destroy him for Like, I'll wait, explain to me how
Joey Swoll dressing up like Hulk Hogan meaningfully harmed Anyone.
Explain to me how it affected your life. So profoundly
(10:09):
that you're calling him a racist and want him canceled
and chased off the internet. I just don't get it.
I feel the same way about the colored athletes re mark.
To be clear, saying colored people is absolutely outdated, offensive language,
like you shouldn't say that. But it's not even apparent
to me that he intended to say that. It's very
(10:30):
possible that he simply misspoke. This was on a TikTok live,
this was not a scripted video. And I'm telling you
right now, as somebody who's done hundreds and hundreds and
hundreds of hours of live commentary, it is very possible
to misspeak and say the wrong thing, especially when the
words in mind colored athletes or athletes of color are
(10:53):
so similar in their wording, and especially when you're feeling
anxious or defensive, already already getting pushed back and people
yelling at him over the whole Cogan thing. He's feeling anxious,
he's feeling defensive, he's speaking quickly, and he says the
wrong thing. It's not the end of the fricking world.
People like, seriously, show me on the doll where the
(11:14):
word hurt you. I just feel like society is so
incredibly soft now and so quick to act like words
are destructive weapons that irreparably harm people. He said something
he shouldn't have and immediately apologized, move on with your life.
(11:34):
It really isn't that deep. It is not the end
of the world, and it does not make him some
irredeemably evil human being, some avowed racist, or anything of
this sort. I find this all really bizarre and really
pathetic because you have someone who has used his platform
for good to help people, to stop bullying, to crack
(11:58):
down on crimes that happen in including many times, by
the way, using this content specifically to help people of
color who are mistreated because of their race at gems.
He has done that multiple times in the past. So
the idea that this guy's platform or career or existence
as an influencer is in any way racist or harmful
(12:20):
is a lie. And then, so what you're trying to
do is torpedo somebody who is a massive force for
good because of a couple small mistakes that these people
think are verbal nine to eleven. Apparently, like touch grass,
get a grip, if you are meaningfully affected by someone
saying the phrase colored athletes accidentally instead of athletes of
(12:45):
color on a TikTok live. The problem is you, like
you have thin skin, you lack the emotional resilience of
a functioning adult. That's not on Joey Swoll. That's not
on me, That's on you at some point. Now, Still,
despite how unreasonable and hyperbolic a lot of this backlash was,
(13:06):
Joey apologized pretty profusely, and we're going to take a
look at that apology video. But first, guys, please do
take a second to like the video, comment with your thoughts.
Make sure you're subscribed if you weren't yet, and remember
that you can also listen to the Brad Versus Everyone
podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or wherever you get
your podcasts. Also, remember to send in your voicemails for
(13:29):
my Voicemail Friday episodes, where I react to your world
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and I answer any questions you guys have for me.
The link to send in a voicemail is in the description.
So now, guys, let's watch Joey's apology video, which I
found to be interesting. Take a listen.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
I owe my followers my community and all of social
media and apology. A few days ago, I reposted an
old video of me and the gym wearing a Hulk
Hogan Halloween costume on the day that he passed. Last night,
in my live stream, a lot of people expressed how
upset and frustrated they were with me that I had
posted that. Instead of listening and understanding like I should have,
(14:14):
I became defensive and said that I was posting to
celebrate the wrestling icon, the person that so many of
us looked up to, his kids that we grew up with,
that made us tear our shirts and take our vitamins
and say our prayers. I didn't know to the extent
of all the horrible things that he had done. Since
last night, I have done a lot of research, talked
(14:34):
to a few people, and learned all of the horrible,
horrible things that that man has done, which is way
more than just making a mistake and being human. So
because of that, I have taken the videos down and
I apologize to anybody that I offended. I am sorry. Also,
during last night's live stream, I used the word colored
(14:56):
instead of saying person of color, which is a very outdated,
very effect. A few moments later, somebody educated me and
told me that it wasn't okay to use that, which
I immediately apologized to everyone and said I would never do
that again. So once again, to anybody that I offended,
I am sorry. You know, my whole page, my whole
(15:16):
brand is based on holding people accountable and doing better.
I would be a hypocrite if I didn't hold myself
to the same standards. I am human, I am still growing,
I am still learning, and I promise all of you
I will do better. I have nothing but love and
kindness in my heart. I will continue to try to
make the world a better place. And once again, to everybody,
(15:39):
I apologize.
Speaker 4 (15:40):
So I'm a little bit of two minds on this
apology because on one hand, I mean, he really does,
he apologizes, and you I think it's from the heart,
like he doesn't have any ill will in his heart.
That is so apparent to me, and he's not trying
to rock the boat or offend anyone. On the other hand, though,
by apologizing this profusely, you're kind of seeding to the mob.
(16:06):
You're kind of giving them what they want, and then
they're not going to accept the apology anyway. But you're
almost buying into the false framing that like this verbal
slip on your TikTok live was some kind of significant
event that people are rightfully upset about, when in reality,
people need to get a grip. So I can see
(16:26):
why he would want to apologize if he truly has
no malice in his heart, which I totally understand, and
doesn't want people to be heard. On the other hand,
though you're rewarding the social media mob that tried to
come after you by apologizing. They're never going to accept
your apology, at least not the die hard critics and
the people making this content accusing you of being racist,
(16:48):
and it almost validates their claims that you did something
so terribly wrong when you apologize in such stark terms,
when that's, in my view, not really necessary or warranted.
I can kind of see both sides of it. You guys,
let me know what you think of the comments, but
it will surprise absolutely no one to see that Joey
(17:10):
Swall's apology is not being accepted by many of his critics,
like this lovely woman.
Speaker 3 (17:17):
You guys want to know the real black fatigue.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
This also during last night's live stream, I use the
word colored instead of saying person of color, which is
a very outdated, very offensive term. A few moments later,
somebody educated me and told me that it wasn't okay
to use that, which I immediately apologized to everyone and
said I would never do that again.
Speaker 3 (17:39):
It's exhausting watching you guys constantly apologize and try to
make it seem like you did your homework, you did
your research when you come with your apology, he said
he did his research last night. Be so for real,
you are forty something years old. You don't know what
Hogan said. You may not know everything that came out
(17:59):
of that man, but you knew. You're forty something years old,
you don't know that colored is not the correct term,
and that in the racist past behind it it. We're tired.
This is what we're tired of. Want you guys to
know my page is about accountability, but then you take none.
I'd like to know who you voted for. I'm asking
you directly, who did you vote for? Because the same
(18:22):
things you were listing off about Hulk Hogan and why
you deleted the post and why you're now apologizing, guess
what Trump did the same thing.
Speaker 4 (18:30):
So this whole saga is just really sad to me
because there's a few layers. It's a reminder that cancel
culture is not dead. It is still very much with
us in some pockets of American life, particularly in online
discourse and TikTok. And then two, it's another reminder of
(18:51):
how incredibly soft society is, and how thin skinned and
fragile so many people are, and how they so desperately
want to be victims in the most toxic way, and
they're willing to destroy people's lives and try to end
their careers over relatively minor in the grand scheme of things,
transgressions and mistakes. Not to say he did nothing wrong,
(19:14):
not to say he shouldn't apologize in some form, but
they're acting like this guy did a hate crime or something,
or came out of the closet as a KKK member
because he misspoke on a TikTok live and dared to
honor an athlete who had a problematic past he apparently
didn't know about and lots of people didn't know about.
So to me, the whole thing is kind of ridiculous,
(19:37):
And it also touches on another theme, which is the
sociopathic nature of it all, Like so many of these
people on TikTok. I don't believe they're actually offended. I
don't believe they actually think, oh he said that word
on that TikTok live and it's just going to keep
me up at night.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
No.
Speaker 4 (19:56):
I think they want to hop on a bandwagon for
Internet clout and engagement and money, and they don't really
care if they just destroy an innocent man over it right,
or somebody who made a small mistake but is on
net a massive force for good. No, they get joy
out of seeing someone's downfall. That's what I come back
(20:19):
to with so many of these stories. It is actually sick.
It is actually a sign of mental illness to revel
in the downfall of successful people. To hop on bandwagons
and hate trains is a sign that you are deeply,
deeply insecure and inadequate inside. But you just want to
see people's downe But it's so common on social media
(20:42):
and with these kind of clout farming. Progressive want to
be victims. They really they must have nothing going on
for themselves, so they get a sick joy in tearing
other people down. And that's what I think is happening
to Joey swoll here. But unfortunately it might actually be working,
because in a series of tweets, Joey announced that he
(21:02):
may be quitting social media because no matter what you do,
people want to try to bring you down, and I
hope that he doesn't. I think he's a voice for positivity.
I think he spreads a really good message about fitness
and about treating other people with respect and kindness. And
we're all human, we all make mistakes. Nothing he really
(21:23):
did was that deep, and he shouldn't let the haters win.
I understand he says he's getting threats. People are harassing
his girlfriend, their places of work, their connections. It's really
extreme stuff. But I hope that he is able to
push through it all and keep using his voice to
make the world a little bit better place and not
(21:46):
let the deranged haters and want to be victims on
TikTok successfully scare him off the internet. But what do
you guys think? Have you seen this controversy playing out?
Let me know in the comments, do hit that like
but mixture subscribed if you aren't yet. And now, guys,
we're going to do a follow up on the Sydney
(22:06):
Sweeney drama because this actress paired with American Eagle to
do this campaign selling jeans where they made a play
on words between the fact that she's stunning and has
good jeens and is wearing their good jeans. Get it right, Well,
some people literally think this is like fascism or eugenics,
(22:28):
a word that none of them knew until like two
days ago, and they still don't really understand what it
is and what it isn't. I covered this on the
show yesterday or the day before. However, there's a new
angle to this, which is mainstream media parroting the absurdity
of it all uncritically. Here's a clip from Good Morning
(22:50):
America that I just found to be absolutely diabolical.
Speaker 10 (22:57):
Time to check the poll we be backlash of our
new ad campaign featuring actress Sidney Sweeney.
Speaker 11 (23:03):
Yeah, the ads are for American Eagle and the tagline
is Sidney Sweeney has great genes Now. In one ad,
the blonde hair, blue eyed actress talks about genes as
in DNA, being passed down from her parents.
Speaker 10 (23:14):
The play on words is being compared to Nazi propaganda
with racial undertones.
Speaker 12 (23:22):
The pun good genes activates a troubling historical associations for
this country, the American eugenics movement, and it's primed between
like nineteen hundred and nineteen forty, weaponized the idea of
good genes just to justify white supremacism.
Speaker 11 (23:42):
Despite that backlash, American eagle stock has been soaring next.
Speaker 4 (23:45):
So I'm so sorry. I'm not sorry at all, but
what the actual heck did I just watch? This is
why people hate the media, by the way, the mainstream media.
This is why people hate y'all because you just took
this viral trending story, portrayed it in the most extreme
(24:06):
and unhinged way possible in terms of the backlash, platformed
and uplifted the most deranged perspective about it only from
some crazed professor, and then asserted that as fact and
then kept it moving. No rebuttals, no context, no nuance,
no showing both sides of the argument, no clips included
(24:28):
from insightful podcasts like the Brad Versus Everyone podcast where
people push back on this narrative and explain why it
was not in fact nazism or eugenics, just only citing
the most extreme take on it all and then kind
of leaving that unchallenged and then keeping it moving as
if it was some sort of neutral report or truth.
(24:49):
This is why people hate and don't trust the mainstream media.
In reality, I don't even necessarily have a problem with
Good Morning America including this professor's crazy perspective. But you
can't just include that. You have to include the normal
(25:10):
person perspective that a genes commercial is not in fact
literal Nazism by a company owned by Jewish people, by
the way, that it was simply a pun playing on
words and talking about how hot she is and how
she has good genes, which is a normal thing that
people say in real life all the time, and is
(25:30):
not a callback to the Nazis. This is deranged. It
is frivolous in a way that I actually think minimizes
the Holocaust and the suffering of the Jewish people in
a really gross way. And what's more, it is not
eugenics to simply acknowledge the existence of good genes. Genetics
and eugenics are different things. Eugenics is the idea of
(25:54):
creating a perfect human race through selective breeding for desirable
trait and forced sterilization of undesirables. None of that was
anywhere in the ad just because she mentioned she has
good genes because she's dropped dead, gorgeous, and they're trying
to make a plant play on words. Acknowledging the existence
(26:15):
of genetics is not eugenics. And to allow or portray
such an extreme, deranged, alarmist narrative about this viral trend
and then present that as the only real perspective here
and then just keep it moving is journalistic malpractice. It
is a joke, and it is so perfectly emblematic of
(26:37):
why people just totally distrust and dismiss the mainstream media.
Other than that, though you're doing amazing, Good Morning America,
absolutely amazing. Now, speaking of truly deranged perspectives, we're going
to talk about a story reported on by Sky News
and then recirculated by NBC News about a whites only
(26:58):
community in our and saw that's cropping up and it's
a real doozy. Guys, let's watch this reporting and then discuss.
Speaker 13 (27:08):
No Blacks, no Jews, no gays. High up in the
Ozark Hills in the state of Arkansas, dozens of people
have been working hard building houses and a new type
of community. It's called return to the Land, and it
is a town open to white people only. They are
millennials and Gen z and this is a new update
of age old prejudice.
Speaker 14 (27:29):
What we've done here is establish a place where we
have control over who our neighbors are, and that is
just for the sake of preserving, you know, our.
Speaker 13 (27:40):
Culture, and that culture effectively was saying, this is a
white culture, a white's only place.
Speaker 14 (27:46):
White American culture.
Speaker 13 (27:48):
But what this sounds like is bringing back segregation. Is
that a fair assessment.
Speaker 14 (27:54):
It's free association, so we're not trying to keep other
people down. This is a small settlement in the middle
of those works.
Speaker 13 (28:03):
But they are being kept out of well.
Speaker 14 (28:06):
I mean, you don't let everyone into your home.
Speaker 13 (28:09):
Around forty people live here, hundreds more from across the
world have paid to be members, and while the men
do the physical labor, the women take care of the
children who live here full time. It could be a
very loving community if you're part of the community, but
if you're black, or if the jurator of your gay
you can't be part of that community.
Speaker 8 (28:28):
They can have their own communities, and they already do.
Speaker 13 (28:30):
You might be wondering how any of this can be legal.
Return to the Land is structured as a private members association,
which they believe allows them to discriminate on the basis
of ethnicity, along with other factors that has yet to
be tested in the courts and may well fail. The
Arkansas Attorney General has said his office is now reviewing
(28:50):
the matter as a result of our reporting and that
there is no room for racial discrimination in Arkansas or
anywhere in a free society.
Speaker 4 (28:58):
Sortain one, am this story kind of hilarious just because
of how like latent and diabolical it all is, like
the the no Blacks, no Jews, no gays tagline, sir,
what Like? I almost can't believe this is real, but
it is. The comments on Instagram on this video were
(29:21):
kind of funny. Somebody wrote, damn even the dog white.
Another person said what's the local cuisine? Mayonnaise sandwiches? Another
person wrote return to the land, as if they're natives
to the Americas. Another person said folks who pride themselves
on their own race typically have never achieved anything else
in their lives to be proud of. I mean, I
(29:44):
have to agree with the pushback. Everything about this little
community is giving cult to me. It's giving Jim Jones,
It's giving very dark ending. I don't know. I guess
I'm speculating there, but nothing about this seems normal, health
or okay to me. I also think there's a layer
of incoherence to it all. What is white? Who counts
(30:07):
as white? What percentage of non white ethnicity do you
have to have to be disqualified from being white? What
even is white culture? All of this is like a
bizarre version of race essentialism that I think I just
entirely reject. I don't think being white is a really
(30:30):
even a distinct or definable category, like who is and
who isn't white is changing, is fluid. I don't think
there is one white culture that white people all participate
in or adhere to. And I think there's absolutely nothing
about not being white, or about being gay, or about
being Jewish that makes you, you know, a dangerous or
(30:52):
unacceptable person to have as a neighbor. And I think
that's a remarkably closed minded and ignorant worldview that suggests
other wise. Now this community is actually seeking to expand
into the state of Missouri. So we've got the hill here.
White's only community seeks Missouri expansion. A white's only group
(31:13):
called return to the Land derided by critics as racist
and anti Semitic. Are they derided as critics as a
racist and anti semitic or are they literally just racist
in it? I mean, if you say no Blacks, no Jews,
is the racism and anti semitism and allegation at that
point or a fact? But anyway, I continue. A white's
(31:34):
only group called Return to the Land is looking to
expand its reach from its base in northern Arkansas to
an area near Springfield, Missouri. A co founder of the
group said recently, the prospect of a growing white's only
community where members are evaluated based on European ancestry and
where Jews are denied membership is raising concerns among state
(31:55):
and local officials and activist groups. This is wild because
what about white European Jews, So not even all whites
are allowed, only whites who have the right belief aren't
the bad religion? Like this is wild to me. RTTL,
which describes itself as a private member association, began in
development in twenty twenty three on its base in northern Arkansas,
(32:17):
which sits on one hundred and sixty acres of land.
A co founder of the group, Eric Orwell told KOLR
that he hopes to expand soon to an area of
land outside Springfield and eventually all fifty states. We want
to ensure that white Americans who value their ancestry will
have the ability to live among like minded people in
(32:39):
the future if they choose to regards to regardless of
demographic changes. Here is the big problem. This is the
exact same broken and distorted thinking behind progressive identity politics
because it conflates race, which is just an immutable trait,
with your worldview or your perspective. So, for example, when
(33:02):
college woke activists say we need affirmative action because we
need to have people with different perspectives, and a black
person in the room and a white person and they'll
have different perspectives, they're conflating physical characteristics with your world's view.
There is no reason to believe that white Americans are
like minded. That is not true. White people have all
(33:24):
sorts of different political, religious, philosophical, societal worldviews and perspectives.
There is no white perspective. So this idea that you
are aligning with people who share your values because you're white, No,
you're not, and there's no values you can associate or
map on to whiteness. This is incoherent. There are many
(33:45):
people of different races with whom I have much closer
values and overlinement, and I'll overlap with than white people,
certain white people who are the total opposite of my values,
like a Bernie, say someone, this does not make sense.
There's also the legal question to this all that, I
(34:06):
like the reporting says, will have to be litigated in court,
but I don't really understand how this can be legal
under federal civil rights laws that apply to housing. To
exclude people on the basis of religion or race from
your community. I just I'm more prepared though, to comment
on the morality of it all. I just find it disgusting.
And one of the defenses I've heard is, well, they
(34:28):
have black communities and the gay people have community and
other things. Not really not like this, I mean. And
more to the point, if you were to show me
a black only community, I would be saying that's wrong
to exclude white people, and you would be too. But
now you're using this what aboutism to justify this. I
(34:48):
just don't buy that. Too. Wrongs make it right, and
that feels like a stretch to me. Now, of course,
professional contrarian Matt Walsh had to defend this because he
just has to be edgy or whatever he wrote in tweets.
If you don't have the right to build a community
on a private piece of land and live around these
sorts of people you want to live around, then you
(35:10):
don't have any rights at all. This is as basic
and fundamental as rights can possibly get, freedom of association.
No black person is being deprived of anything or harmed
in any way. This is not taking anything away from
anyone or preventing anyone from exercising their own freedom of association.
In a free country, a white's only community shouldn't be
(35:31):
controversial enough to even be worth debating. Of course they
have the right, and if any other race or ethnicity
wants to do the same, and they all have in
one form or another, they have the right to as well.
So on multiple levels, this is just untrue and it
is totally inconsistent with what Matt Walsh and people like
him say otherwise, because they rightly critique DEI and other
(35:55):
left wing ideas about race and things as discrimination against
white people and that is wrong and that that is illegal,
and yet now they're saying, well, it's actually fine in
this case, and you're not really free if you don't
have the right to So are you just saying you
want to repeal the whole Civil Rights Act? I don't,
and I don't accept the idea that you don't live
in a free society unless you're free to have a
(36:15):
white's only community. What are you talking about. You can
absolutely have a free society where people are free to speak,
live how they like, but are not free to racially discriminate.
We do and have for decades. These things aren't remotely incompatible.
And the idea that, oh, it's just a basic fundamental
right to start a community and ban black people Matt
(36:39):
Walsh would never have that same energy when we're talking
about In fact, he has explicitly railed against places that
try to do minority only businesses, minority only communities, minority
only scholarships or programs, and he would absolutely argue that
that takes something away from white people. But now he
just doesn't want to hear. And I truly think it's
(37:01):
just a desire to be contrarian. It's just a desire
to be edgy and defend the indefensible for no other
reason than to bring attention to yourself and stir the pot,
which increasingly seems to be the only thing he stands for.
I mean, it's just totally inconsistent with his beliefs and
worldview and everything he has espoused. When it comes to
DEI and progressive racial discrimination against white people, he rails
(37:25):
against that, but then when white people want to discriminate,
he's like, actually, that's fine. It doesn't make any sense.
The hypocrisy is astounding, and I personally will like to
go on the record against racially segregated communities in twenty
twenty five in all cases across the board. But that's
just me. What do you guys think, who do you
(37:47):
side with? Let me know in the comments and make
sure you hit that like button while you're at it,
and that'll be it for today's episode of The Brad
Versus Everyone Podcast. Guys, thank you all so much for
tuning in. Remember to sending your voicemails for my voicemail
Friday episodes. We'll talk again real soot.
Speaker 2 (38:03):
We have a foul ta
Speaker 3 (38:09):
Mm hm
I owe my followers, my community, and all of social
media in apology.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
An apology or not. Him using those words told me
everything I need to know about the man.
Speaker 3 (00:08):
We're tired. This is what we're tired of. Want you
guys to know my page is about accountability, but then
you take none. I'd like to know who you voted for.
Speaker 4 (00:17):
A beloved fitness influencer is getting brutally canceled on TikTok
right now over a racism scandal that doesn't really make
any sense. We're going to break this down, plus so
much more on today's episode of The Brad Versus Everyone Podcast,
(00:39):
my daily show where we take on the craziest ideas
from across the Internet, our media, and our politics, all
from an independent perspective. Up first, guys, we're going to
talk about a man named Joey Swoll who is kind
of a beloved influencer, very kind of universal appeal. He
is a fit witness guy, a weightlifting guy, but he
(01:02):
does these call out videos where he calls out people
who engage in bullying, shaming, or inappropriate or illegal behavior
at gyms, like recording people changing without their permission and
making fun of them, recording people making fun of other
people at the gym, this kind of unfortunate and unpleasant behavior.
(01:24):
He calls people's out. He calls people out and holds
them accountable. His content is a mix of heartwarming like
he'll help people who are victimized by these situations he'll
get them free gym memberships, and accountability based content where
he gets people who break laws or break serious rules
banned from Jim. So here's a sample of his kind
(01:45):
of content. A video recently that he posted that got
millions and millions of views and widespread support for him.
Speaker 5 (02:02):
This video really pisses me off. This is disgusting to
do to somebody, The fact that you boys intentionally stay
out of frame so you can film that man. You
go back, you watch the video, you see that he's
actually changing, which I had to cover up, by the way,
and you go and you post the video anyway, and
then you support people that laugh at that man. I mean,
(02:24):
what is wrong with you? How do you not know
better than to treat people this way? Well, you boys
are going to learn a lesson today. I guarantee there's
a sign in that locker room that says no photos,
no videos.
Speaker 6 (02:36):
You know why, because this is illegal, and according to
my lawyer, Shaheen de Mouy, who practices law in Arizona
where you boys are, this is illegal, not only civilly
but also criminally.
Speaker 5 (02:49):
And doing this to somebody in Arizona is a felony.
So I really hope that somebody recognizes this gym and
lets them know so they kick your ass out and
that man press charges you need to do better mind
your own business.
Speaker 4 (03:05):
This kind of content has really made Joey Swoll a
beloved figure in most circles, and he doesn't have a
lot about him that's controversial, but he is now finding
himself at the center of a hate storm, a cancelation
a social media pylon. You know, we talk about how
cancel culture is over and in media and broader life,
(03:28):
it's definitely weaned significantly. But one place where it is
going full steam ahead is on TikTok, and that is
where Joey Swoll is getting pretty brutally canceled right now.
He issued a very strong, some might even say groveling
apology that of course, was not enough for the critics.
(03:48):
They're determined to run him off the internet for really
just relative, relatively minor mistakes. That he made and that,
if you ask me, are not the kind of thing
that should destroy someone's life or career. We're gonna walk
through them. And first, here's a video from somebody critical
(04:08):
of Joey Swall that sums up the controversy.
Speaker 7 (04:12):
Let's talk about the Joey Swoll controversy, because this guy
is losing followers by the second. So a few days ago,
after Hulk Hogan died, Joey reposted a video he made
back in twenty twenty in full Hulk attire, trying to
sort of memorialize him. Mind you, Hulk Hogan was a
notorious racist. If you don't know, back in twenty fifteen,
Hulk Cogan was caught on video using the N word.
He admitted in that same video to being a racist,
(04:32):
and he outwardly expressed discussed that his daughter would date
a black man. Kind of a shitty guy, right. So understandably,
Joey was getting a lot of heat in the comment section.
So then he went on TikTok Live and he said.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
This, Listen, I can post Hulk Hoogan if I want to.
Just because somebody makes a mistake in their life doesn't
mean that they haven't done good things. I don't know
what he did, and he said something twenty years ago
and apologize for it. If you're going to attack me,
you better go after the colored athletes than the people
that are black and minority that went and posted him as.
Speaker 7 (04:59):
Well, Joe colored athletes? Is that the Hulk Comanian side
you running wild? Because we're about the same age. We
did not grow up talking like that in the nineties,
Well I didn't. I suppose if your role model was
Hulk Hogan, someone who repeatedly used racial slurs towards his
fellow wrestlers and was even removed for the Hall of
Fame for it, maybe you might use that term. And
if you're such a big fan, I don't accept that
(05:19):
you didn't know about Hulk's words and actions. He was
just campaigning for Trump, another notorious racist. The biggest problem
I have is this, You built an entire platform calling
people out when they just did something rude at the gym.
You've made a lot of money off that, So it's
weird and a bit hypocritical that you think racism is
just one little mistake we should all forget about. I
(05:40):
don't know if you're a racist, Joey, but if you
don't have a problem with racism, that's just as bad.
Speaker 6 (05:45):
You need to do better.
Speaker 4 (05:46):
So, guys, we should be crystal clear about the fact
that people are quite literally arguing that because he dared
dress up like Hulk Hogan and kind of commemorate the
passing of this wrestling legend who does have this dark
past that I didn't even know about. I don't think
a lot of younger people know about. And because he
said colored athletes instead of athletes of color, a misspeaking
(06:11):
a minor verbal slip of sorts that he then apologized
for in the very same TikTok Live like a moment
later when someone pointed it out to him that he
is like an evil racist and clearly a terrible human being.
I mean, it's a mix of humor and joking about
it and straight up critique. Here's a little compilation of
viral videos. He start getting millions and millions and millions
(06:33):
of views on TikTok slamming this guy as a racist
for these two, if you ask me, pretty minor mistakes.
Take a listen.
Speaker 8 (06:42):
But the most eye opening thing about being black is
like you never know who secretly don't like you. This
whole Joey Slow situation really opened my eyes because it's
so many other like white creators and musicians that I
rock with actors whole time in the dark. They probably
don't even rock with me on my kind of like
what it just be like like man, bro, nobody like us.
(07:02):
They don't, they don't like them.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
I'm telling you, I don't have a single racist bone
in my body.
Speaker 8 (07:06):
No, for sure.
Speaker 7 (07:07):
My friend is colored, so that's obviously not true because
I drive a black car, I'm wearing a black shirt.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
My favorite song is Boom Boom Power with the Black
Eyed Peas.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
I'm gonna keep this brief, but if your favorite fitness
influencer is out here using the phrase colored people in
the Big Year twenty twenty five, then y'all better go
ahead and find a new favorite fitness influencer because colored people, really,
what are we doing? An apologie or not? Him using
those words to me? Everything I need to know about that.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
Man.
Speaker 9 (07:32):
Yeah, I definitely have to unfollow Joey's swoll because what
do you mean colored? What do you mean colored? Also,
racism is not just like a mistake, you know, It's
not just like a little accident, you know, It's not
like when my brother used to go to the grocery
store and would pick up cabbage instead of lettuce. You know,
(07:54):
my mom wanted lettuce and my brother couldn't tell the
difference and picked up cabbage. It's not like a little
racism is just a little mistake. Support who you want
to support, like who you want to like, I guess.
But colored, okay, sir, okay.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
I can excuse racism, but I draw the line at
jim etiquette. Do better. Fuck.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
So we're going to take a look at Joey's apology
video in a moment. But first I just want to
give you my take on this. First things first, the
issue of Hulk Hogan right passing away this wrestling legend, who, again,
I didn't know about this. I don't think a lot
of people knew about this, especially people younger people who
maybe weren't paying attention when it all went down. In
(08:43):
I think twenty fifteen, he had this scandal where a
tape was leaked of him saying very racist things. Now,
Hulk Hogan apologized for it and made amends significantly, to
the point where he was actually reinstated in the WWE
Hall of Fame in twenty eighteen and kind of reintegrated
(09:03):
back into the sport and back into celebrity life. It
was still a cloud hanging over him, but it's like
they moved on in the industry and he was undeniably
a famous wrestler who had a massive impact, as you know,
a celebrity and athlete. So is it really beyond the
pale or so terrible to commemorate him in any way
(09:24):
just because he had this dark stain on his legacy.
I'm not sure I really buy that. And then even
if that was true, I think it's perfectly fair for
someone like Joey Swoll to not have known that, to
not have known about that. And then maybe he just
dressed up as the dude because he thought he was
a really cool wrestlerrit he inspired him as a lifter
and an athlete, and then he didn't know. I mean,
(09:47):
I don't understand how that's the end of the world
or that's a mistake. People want to crucify him or
destroy him for Like, I'll wait, explain to me how
Joey Swoll dressing up like Hulk Hogan meaningfully harmed Anyone.
Explain to me how it affected your life. So profoundly
(10:09):
that you're calling him a racist and want him canceled
and chased off the internet. I just don't get it.
I feel the same way about the colored athletes re mark.
To be clear, saying colored people is absolutely outdated, offensive language,
like you shouldn't say that. But it's not even apparent
to me that he intended to say that. It's very
(10:30):
possible that he simply misspoke. This was on a TikTok live,
this was not a scripted video. And I'm telling you
right now, as somebody who's done hundreds and hundreds and
hundreds of hours of live commentary, it is very possible
to misspeak and say the wrong thing, especially when the
words in mind colored athletes or athletes of color are
(10:53):
so similar in their wording, and especially when you're feeling
anxious or defensive, already already getting pushed back and people
yelling at him over the whole Cogan thing. He's feeling anxious,
he's feeling defensive, he's speaking quickly, and he says the
wrong thing. It's not the end of the fricking world.
People like, seriously, show me on the doll where the
(11:14):
word hurt you. I just feel like society is so
incredibly soft now and so quick to act like words
are destructive weapons that irreparably harm people. He said something
he shouldn't have and immediately apologized, move on with your life.
(11:34):
It really isn't that deep. It is not the end
of the world, and it does not make him some
irredeemably evil human being, some avowed racist, or anything of
this sort. I find this all really bizarre and really
pathetic because you have someone who has used his platform
for good to help people, to stop bullying, to crack
(11:58):
down on crimes that happen in including many times, by
the way, using this content specifically to help people of
color who are mistreated because of their race at gems.
He has done that multiple times in the past. So
the idea that this guy's platform or career or existence
as an influencer is in any way racist or harmful
(12:20):
is a lie. And then, so what you're trying to
do is torpedo somebody who is a massive force for
good because of a couple small mistakes that these people
think are verbal nine to eleven. Apparently, like touch grass,
get a grip, if you are meaningfully affected by someone
saying the phrase colored athletes accidentally instead of athletes of
(12:45):
color on a TikTok live. The problem is you, like
you have thin skin, you lack the emotional resilience of
a functioning adult. That's not on Joey Swoll. That's not
on me, That's on you at some point. Now, Still,
despite how unreasonable and hyperbolic a lot of this backlash was,
(13:06):
Joey apologized pretty profusely, and we're going to take a
look at that apology video. But first, guys, please do
take a second to like the video, comment with your thoughts.
Make sure you're subscribed if you weren't yet, and remember
that you can also listen to the Brad Versus Everyone
podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or wherever you get
your podcasts. Also, remember to send in your voicemails for
(13:29):
my Voicemail Friday episodes, where I react to your world
her stories, I give you advice on your personal life scenarios,
and I answer any questions you guys have for me.
The link to send in a voicemail is in the description.
So now, guys, let's watch Joey's apology video, which I
found to be interesting. Take a listen.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
I owe my followers my community and all of social
media and apology. A few days ago, I reposted an
old video of me and the gym wearing a Hulk
Hogan Halloween costume on the day that he passed. Last night,
in my live stream, a lot of people expressed how
upset and frustrated they were with me that I had
posted that. Instead of listening and understanding like I should have,
(14:14):
I became defensive and said that I was posting to
celebrate the wrestling icon, the person that so many of
us looked up to, his kids that we grew up with,
that made us tear our shirts and take our vitamins
and say our prayers. I didn't know to the extent
of all the horrible things that he had done. Since
last night, I have done a lot of research, talked
(14:34):
to a few people, and learned all of the horrible,
horrible things that that man has done, which is way
more than just making a mistake and being human. So
because of that, I have taken the videos down and
I apologize to anybody that I offended. I am sorry. Also,
during last night's live stream, I used the word colored
(14:56):
instead of saying person of color, which is a very outdated,
very effect. A few moments later, somebody educated me and
told me that it wasn't okay to use that, which
I immediately apologized to everyone and said I would never do
that again. So once again, to anybody that I offended,
I am sorry. You know, my whole page, my whole
(15:16):
brand is based on holding people accountable and doing better.
I would be a hypocrite if I didn't hold myself
to the same standards. I am human, I am still growing,
I am still learning, and I promise all of you
I will do better. I have nothing but love and
kindness in my heart. I will continue to try to
make the world a better place. And once again, to everybody,
(15:39):
I apologize.
Speaker 4 (15:40):
So I'm a little bit of two minds on this
apology because on one hand, I mean, he really does,
he apologizes, and you I think it's from the heart,
like he doesn't have any ill will in his heart.
That is so apparent to me, and he's not trying
to rock the boat or offend anyone. On the other hand, though,
by apologizing this profusely, you're kind of seeding to the mob.
(16:06):
You're kind of giving them what they want, and then
they're not going to accept the apology anyway. But you're
almost buying into the false framing that like this verbal
slip on your TikTok live was some kind of significant
event that people are rightfully upset about, when in reality,
people need to get a grip. So I can see
(16:26):
why he would want to apologize if he truly has
no malice in his heart, which I totally understand, and
doesn't want people to be heard. On the other hand,
though you're rewarding the social media mob that tried to
come after you by apologizing. They're never going to accept
your apology, at least not the die hard critics and
the people making this content accusing you of being racist,
(16:48):
and it almost validates their claims that you did something
so terribly wrong when you apologize in such stark terms,
when that's, in my view, not really necessary or warranted.
I can kind of see both sides of it. You guys,
let me know what you think of the comments, but
it will surprise absolutely no one to see that Joey
(17:10):
Swall's apology is not being accepted by many of his critics,
like this lovely woman.
Speaker 3 (17:17):
You guys want to know the real black fatigue.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
This also during last night's live stream, I use the
word colored instead of saying person of color, which is
a very outdated, very offensive term. A few moments later,
somebody educated me and told me that it wasn't okay
to use that, which I immediately apologized to everyone and
said I would never do that again.
Speaker 3 (17:39):
It's exhausting watching you guys constantly apologize and try to
make it seem like you did your homework, you did
your research when you come with your apology, he said
he did his research last night. Be so for real,
you are forty something years old. You don't know what
Hogan said. You may not know everything that came out
(17:59):
of that man, but you knew. You're forty something years old,
you don't know that colored is not the correct term,
and that in the racist past behind it it. We're tired.
This is what we're tired of. Want you guys to
know my page is about accountability, but then you take none.
I'd like to know who you voted for. I'm asking
you directly, who did you vote for? Because the same
(18:22):
things you were listing off about Hulk Hogan and why
you deleted the post and why you're now apologizing, guess
what Trump did the same thing.
Speaker 4 (18:30):
So this whole saga is just really sad to me
because there's a few layers. It's a reminder that cancel
culture is not dead. It is still very much with
us in some pockets of American life, particularly in online
discourse and TikTok. And then two, it's another reminder of
(18:51):
how incredibly soft society is, and how thin skinned and
fragile so many people are, and how they so desperately
want to be victims in the most toxic way, and
they're willing to destroy people's lives and try to end
their careers over relatively minor in the grand scheme of things,
transgressions and mistakes. Not to say he did nothing wrong,
(19:14):
not to say he shouldn't apologize in some form, but
they're acting like this guy did a hate crime or something,
or came out of the closet as a KKK member
because he misspoke on a TikTok live and dared to
honor an athlete who had a problematic past he apparently
didn't know about and lots of people didn't know about.
So to me, the whole thing is kind of ridiculous,
(19:37):
And it also touches on another theme, which is the
sociopathic nature of it all, Like so many of these
people on TikTok. I don't believe they're actually offended. I
don't believe they actually think, oh he said that word
on that TikTok live and it's just going to keep
me up at night.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
No.
Speaker 4 (19:56):
I think they want to hop on a bandwagon for
Internet clout and engagement and money, and they don't really
care if they just destroy an innocent man over it right,
or somebody who made a small mistake but is on
net a massive force for good. No, they get joy
out of seeing someone's downfall. That's what I come back
(20:19):
to with so many of these stories. It is actually sick.
It is actually a sign of mental illness to revel
in the downfall of successful people. To hop on bandwagons
and hate trains is a sign that you are deeply,
deeply insecure and inadequate inside. But you just want to
see people's downe But it's so common on social media
(20:42):
and with these kind of clout farming. Progressive want to
be victims. They really they must have nothing going on
for themselves, so they get a sick joy in tearing
other people down. And that's what I think is happening
to Joey swoll here. But unfortunately it might actually be working,
because in a series of tweets, Joey announced that he
(21:02):
may be quitting social media because no matter what you do,
people want to try to bring you down, and I
hope that he doesn't. I think he's a voice for positivity.
I think he spreads a really good message about fitness
and about treating other people with respect and kindness. And
we're all human, we all make mistakes. Nothing he really
(21:23):
did was that deep, and he shouldn't let the haters win.
I understand he says he's getting threats. People are harassing
his girlfriend, their places of work, their connections. It's really
extreme stuff. But I hope that he is able to
push through it all and keep using his voice to
make the world a little bit better place and not
(21:46):
let the deranged haters and want to be victims on
TikTok successfully scare him off the internet. But what do
you guys think? Have you seen this controversy playing out?
Let me know in the comments, do hit that like
but mixture subscribed if you aren't yet. And now, guys,
we're going to do a follow up on the Sydney
(22:06):
Sweeney drama because this actress paired with American Eagle to
do this campaign selling jeans where they made a play
on words between the fact that she's stunning and has
good jeens and is wearing their good jeans. Get it right, Well,
some people literally think this is like fascism or eugenics,
(22:28):
a word that none of them knew until like two
days ago, and they still don't really understand what it
is and what it isn't. I covered this on the
show yesterday or the day before. However, there's a new
angle to this, which is mainstream media parroting the absurdity
of it all uncritically. Here's a clip from Good Morning
(22:50):
America that I just found to be absolutely diabolical.
Speaker 10 (22:57):
Time to check the poll we be backlash of our
new ad campaign featuring actress Sidney Sweeney.
Speaker 11 (23:03):
Yeah, the ads are for American Eagle and the tagline
is Sidney Sweeney has great genes Now. In one ad,
the blonde hair, blue eyed actress talks about genes as
in DNA, being passed down from her parents.
Speaker 10 (23:14):
The play on words is being compared to Nazi propaganda
with racial undertones.
Speaker 12 (23:22):
The pun good genes activates a troubling historical associations for
this country, the American eugenics movement, and it's primed between
like nineteen hundred and nineteen forty, weaponized the idea of
good genes just to justify white supremacism.
Speaker 11 (23:42):
Despite that backlash, American eagle stock has been soaring next.
Speaker 4 (23:45):
So I'm so sorry. I'm not sorry at all, but
what the actual heck did I just watch? This is
why people hate the media, by the way, the mainstream media.
This is why people hate y'all because you just took
this viral trending story, portrayed it in the most extreme
(24:06):
and unhinged way possible in terms of the backlash, platformed
and uplifted the most deranged perspective about it only from
some crazed professor, and then asserted that as fact and
then kept it moving. No rebuttals, no context, no nuance,
no showing both sides of the argument, no clips included
(24:28):
from insightful podcasts like the Brad Versus Everyone podcast where
people push back on this narrative and explain why it
was not in fact nazism or eugenics, just only citing
the most extreme take on it all and then kind
of leaving that unchallenged and then keeping it moving as
if it was some sort of neutral report or truth.
(24:49):
This is why people hate and don't trust the mainstream media.
In reality, I don't even necessarily have a problem with
Good Morning America including this professor's crazy perspective. But you
can't just include that. You have to include the normal
(25:10):
person perspective that a genes commercial is not in fact
literal Nazism by a company owned by Jewish people, by
the way, that it was simply a pun playing on
words and talking about how hot she is and how
she has good genes, which is a normal thing that
people say in real life all the time, and is
(25:30):
not a callback to the Nazis. This is deranged. It
is frivolous in a way that I actually think minimizes
the Holocaust and the suffering of the Jewish people in
a really gross way. And what's more, it is not
eugenics to simply acknowledge the existence of good genes. Genetics
and eugenics are different things. Eugenics is the idea of
(25:54):
creating a perfect human race through selective breeding for desirable
trait and forced sterilization of undesirables. None of that was
anywhere in the ad just because she mentioned she has
good genes because she's dropped dead, gorgeous, and they're trying
to make a plant play on words. Acknowledging the existence
(26:15):
of genetics is not eugenics. And to allow or portray
such an extreme, deranged, alarmist narrative about this viral trend
and then present that as the only real perspective here
and then just keep it moving is journalistic malpractice. It
is a joke, and it is so perfectly emblematic of
(26:37):
why people just totally distrust and dismiss the mainstream media.
Other than that, though you're doing amazing, Good Morning America,
absolutely amazing. Now, speaking of truly deranged perspectives, we're going
to talk about a story reported on by Sky News
and then recirculated by NBC News about a whites only
(26:58):
community in our and saw that's cropping up and it's
a real doozy. Guys, let's watch this reporting and then discuss.
Speaker 13 (27:08):
No Blacks, no Jews, no gays. High up in the
Ozark Hills in the state of Arkansas, dozens of people
have been working hard building houses and a new type
of community. It's called return to the Land, and it
is a town open to white people only. They are
millennials and Gen z and this is a new update
of age old prejudice.
Speaker 14 (27:29):
What we've done here is establish a place where we
have control over who our neighbors are, and that is
just for the sake of preserving, you know, our.
Speaker 13 (27:40):
Culture, and that culture effectively was saying, this is a
white culture, a white's only place.
Speaker 14 (27:46):
White American culture.
Speaker 13 (27:48):
But what this sounds like is bringing back segregation. Is
that a fair assessment.
Speaker 14 (27:54):
It's free association, so we're not trying to keep other
people down. This is a small settlement in the middle
of those works.
Speaker 13 (28:03):
But they are being kept out of well.
Speaker 14 (28:06):
I mean, you don't let everyone into your home.
Speaker 13 (28:09):
Around forty people live here, hundreds more from across the
world have paid to be members, and while the men
do the physical labor, the women take care of the
children who live here full time. It could be a
very loving community if you're part of the community, but
if you're black, or if the jurator of your gay
you can't be part of that community.
Speaker 8 (28:28):
They can have their own communities, and they already do.
Speaker 13 (28:30):
You might be wondering how any of this can be legal.
Return to the Land is structured as a private members association,
which they believe allows them to discriminate on the basis
of ethnicity, along with other factors that has yet to
be tested in the courts and may well fail. The
Arkansas Attorney General has said his office is now reviewing
(28:50):
the matter as a result of our reporting and that
there is no room for racial discrimination in Arkansas or
anywhere in a free society.
Speaker 4 (28:58):
Sortain one, am this story kind of hilarious just because
of how like latent and diabolical it all is, like
the the no Blacks, no Jews, no gays tagline, sir,
what Like? I almost can't believe this is real, but
it is. The comments on Instagram on this video were
(29:21):
kind of funny. Somebody wrote, damn even the dog white.
Another person said what's the local cuisine? Mayonnaise sandwiches? Another
person wrote return to the land, as if they're natives
to the Americas. Another person said folks who pride themselves
on their own race typically have never achieved anything else
in their lives to be proud of. I mean, I
(29:44):
have to agree with the pushback. Everything about this little
community is giving cult to me. It's giving Jim Jones,
It's giving very dark ending. I don't know. I guess
I'm speculating there, but nothing about this seems normal, health
or okay to me. I also think there's a layer
of incoherence to it all. What is white? Who counts
(30:07):
as white? What percentage of non white ethnicity do you
have to have to be disqualified from being white? What
even is white culture? All of this is like a
bizarre version of race essentialism that I think I just
entirely reject. I don't think being white is a really
(30:30):
even a distinct or definable category, like who is and
who isn't white is changing, is fluid. I don't think
there is one white culture that white people all participate
in or adhere to. And I think there's absolutely nothing
about not being white, or about being gay, or about
being Jewish that makes you, you know, a dangerous or
(30:52):
unacceptable person to have as a neighbor. And I think
that's a remarkably closed minded and ignorant worldview that suggests
other wise. Now this community is actually seeking to expand
into the state of Missouri. So we've got the hill here.
White's only community seeks Missouri expansion. A white's only group
(31:13):
called return to the Land derided by critics as racist
and anti Semitic. Are they derided as critics as a
racist and anti semitic or are they literally just racist
in it? I mean, if you say no Blacks, no Jews,
is the racism and anti semitism and allegation at that
point or a fact? But anyway, I continue. A white's
(31:34):
only group called Return to the Land is looking to
expand its reach from its base in northern Arkansas to
an area near Springfield, Missouri. A co founder of the
group said recently, the prospect of a growing white's only
community where members are evaluated based on European ancestry and
where Jews are denied membership is raising concerns among state
(31:55):
and local officials and activist groups. This is wild because
what about white European Jews, So not even all whites
are allowed, only whites who have the right belief aren't
the bad religion? Like this is wild to me. RTTL,
which describes itself as a private member association, began in
development in twenty twenty three on its base in northern Arkansas,
(32:17):
which sits on one hundred and sixty acres of land.
A co founder of the group, Eric Orwell told KOLR
that he hopes to expand soon to an area of
land outside Springfield and eventually all fifty states. We want
to ensure that white Americans who value their ancestry will
have the ability to live among like minded people in
(32:39):
the future if they choose to regards to regardless of
demographic changes. Here is the big problem. This is the
exact same broken and distorted thinking behind progressive identity politics
because it conflates race, which is just an immutable trait,
with your worldview or your perspective. So, for example, when
(33:02):
college woke activists say we need affirmative action because we
need to have people with different perspectives, and a black
person in the room and a white person and they'll
have different perspectives, they're conflating physical characteristics with your world's view.
There is no reason to believe that white Americans are
like minded. That is not true. White people have all
(33:24):
sorts of different political, religious, philosophical, societal worldviews and perspectives.
There is no white perspective. So this idea that you
are aligning with people who share your values because you're white, No,
you're not, and there's no values you can associate or
map on to whiteness. This is incoherent. There are many
(33:45):
people of different races with whom I have much closer
values and overlinement, and I'll overlap with than white people,
certain white people who are the total opposite of my values,
like a Bernie, say someone, this does not make sense.
There's also the legal question to this all that, I
(34:06):
like the reporting says, will have to be litigated in court,
but I don't really understand how this can be legal
under federal civil rights laws that apply to housing. To
exclude people on the basis of religion or race from
your community. I just I'm more prepared though, to comment
on the morality of it all. I just find it disgusting.
And one of the defenses I've heard is, well, they
(34:28):
have black communities and the gay people have community and
other things. Not really not like this, I mean. And
more to the point, if you were to show me
a black only community, I would be saying that's wrong
to exclude white people, and you would be too. But
now you're using this what aboutism to justify this. I
(34:48):
just don't buy that. Too. Wrongs make it right, and
that feels like a stretch to me. Now, of course,
professional contrarian Matt Walsh had to defend this because he
just has to be edgy or whatever he wrote in tweets.
If you don't have the right to build a community
on a private piece of land and live around these
sorts of people you want to live around, then you
(35:10):
don't have any rights at all. This is as basic
and fundamental as rights can possibly get, freedom of association.
No black person is being deprived of anything or harmed
in any way. This is not taking anything away from
anyone or preventing anyone from exercising their own freedom of association.
In a free country, a white's only community shouldn't be
(35:31):
controversial enough to even be worth debating. Of course they
have the right, and if any other race or ethnicity
wants to do the same, and they all have in
one form or another, they have the right to as well.
So on multiple levels, this is just untrue and it
is totally inconsistent with what Matt Walsh and people like
him say otherwise, because they rightly critique DEI and other
(35:55):
left wing ideas about race and things as discrimination against
white people and that is wrong and that that is illegal,
and yet now they're saying, well, it's actually fine in
this case, and you're not really free if you don't
have the right to So are you just saying you
want to repeal the whole Civil Rights Act? I don't,
and I don't accept the idea that you don't live
in a free society unless you're free to have a
(36:15):
white's only community. What are you talking about. You can
absolutely have a free society where people are free to speak,
live how they like, but are not free to racially discriminate.
We do and have for decades. These things aren't remotely incompatible.
And the idea that, oh, it's just a basic fundamental
right to start a community and ban black people Matt
(36:39):
Walsh would never have that same energy when we're talking
about In fact, he has explicitly railed against places that
try to do minority only businesses, minority only communities, minority
only scholarships or programs, and he would absolutely argue that
that takes something away from white people. But now he
just doesn't want to hear. And I truly think it's
(37:01):
just a desire to be contrarian. It's just a desire
to be edgy and defend the indefensible for no other
reason than to bring attention to yourself and stir the pot,
which increasingly seems to be the only thing he stands for.
I mean, it's just totally inconsistent with his beliefs and
worldview and everything he has espoused. When it comes to
DEI and progressive racial discrimination against white people, he rails
(37:25):
against that, but then when white people want to discriminate,
he's like, actually, that's fine. It doesn't make any sense.
The hypocrisy is astounding, and I personally will like to
go on the record against racially segregated communities in twenty
twenty five in all cases across the board. But that's
just me. What do you guys think, who do you
(37:47):
side with? Let me know in the comments and make
sure you hit that like button while you're at it,
and that'll be it for today's episode of The Brad
Versus Everyone Podcast. Guys, thank you all so much for
tuning in. Remember to sending your voicemails for my voicemail
Friday episodes. We'll talk again real soot.
Speaker 2 (38:03):
We have a foul ta
Speaker 3 (38:09):
Mm hm
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