MTV sparks outrage after allowing Milo Yiannopoulos to attend VMAs
'Milo’s presence undercuts everything the artists said in protest. It is part of the effort to mainstream fascism,' says critic
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.MTV has prompted outrage for allowing far-right provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos to attend its Video Music Awards.
Mr Yiannopoulos, who has disappeared from the public eye since his controversial remarks about paedophilia resurfaced earlier this year, shared a video of himself shaking his head in the audience while a song by YG called “F**k Donald Trump” played.
MTV has refused to explain how Mr Yiannopolous found himself at the show but a spokesperson insisted the network did not invite him.
The disgraced former Breitbart editor, who rose to fame for his inflammatory and xenophobic views, has since launched into a scathing attack about the ceremony.
Mr Yiannopoulos, who was permanently banned from Twitter last summer after claims he helped lead the racist and sexist abuse of Ghostbusters actor Leslie Jones, argued the event had taken aim at a “mythological evil known as ‘white supremacy’”.
“This came ringing through last night when an actual pastor, a descendant of Confederate general Robert E Lee, took to the stage to lecture everyone on ‘America's original sin,’ racism,” he wrote on Instagram.
Robert Lee IV, a direct descendant of Confederate general Robert E Lee, used the ceremony to denounce racism in the wake of the violence which erupted at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville earlier in the month.
Neo-Nazis, KKK members, “alt-right” activists and others assembled in the Virginia city to protest the removal of a statue of Lee. Scores were left injured and Heather Heyer, a counter-protester, was killed after a car ploughed into a crowd of anti-fascist demonstrators who had gathered to show their opposition to the far-right rally.
Speaking on stage, the descendant said: "As a pastor, it is my moral duty to speak out against racism, America's original sin. Today, I call on all of us with privilege and power to answer god's call to confront racism and white supremacy head on."
Mr Yiannopoulos’ appearance at the award ceremony was fiercely criticised on social media, with critics asking how he managed to nab himself a ticket.
Writing in a blog post, Richard S Thomas, assistant professor at the University of Illinois, said: “Milo’s presence undercuts everything the artists said in protest. It is part of the effort to mainstream fascism - peddle it as ‘just another opinion”.
Twitter user, Caroline O, said: “Hey MTV, wasn't 'anti-hate' the theme of the VMAs this year? How exactly does Milo fit into that theme?”
Numerous other critics chimed in to ask MTV why he had attended the event. Mr Yiannopoulos told Mic to “f*** off” when pressed about his attendance.
A representative for MTV said: “Last night was about unity, positivity and inclusion – squarely in line with our audience and MTV’s DNA. Anything other than that is only noise.”
Mr Yiannopoulos has largely dropped out of the headlines since his remarks about underage sex resurfaced in an old podcast in February and he was forced to resign from Breitbart - the far-right publication where he was an editor and built his fanbase.
The posterboy for the so-called “alt-right” movement, who has previously described Islam as a cancer and suggested transgender people are mentally ill, also had his lucrative book deal with prestigious publisher Simon & Schuster pulled in the wake of the controversy.
This year’s VMAs was a politically charged affair, with Ms Heyer’s mother delivering a moving speech about the violence in Charlottesville.
"Only 15 days ago, my daughter Heather was killed as she protested racism," she said on stage. "I miss her, but I know she is here tonight. I have been deeply moved to see people across the world, the whole world, find inspiration in her courage."
She also announced the launch of the Heather Heyer Foundation - a non-profit organisation that will provide scholarships to help more people “join Heather's fight against hatred."
Representatives for Mr Yiannopoulos and MTV did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments