Ben Shapiro Goes On the Warpath After The Economist Falsely Labels Him as Alt-Right: ‘Vile Lie’
Consecrative commentator and author Ben Shapiro did not hold back against The Economist after they labeled him as “alt-right” while reviewing his new book, The Right Side of History: How Reason and Moral Purpose Made the West Great.
In their tweet that has since been deleted, The Economist posted, “Inside the mind of Ben Shapiro, the alt-right sage without the rage”:
I sit to the left of conservative @benshapiro & yet even I see this headline (deleted since his legal threat) was despicably defamatory & beneath a mag as reputable as the @TheEconomist. Tiki torcher alt-righters we’re chanting *against* Jews, yet you victim blamed? Shame on you pic.twitter.com/8Ptdvp3UCf
— Maajid – (Mājid) [maːʤɪd] ماجد (@MaajidNawaz) March 28, 2019
The updated version of the tweet reads, “Inside the mind of Ben Shapiro, a radical conservative.”
“This article has been changed. A previous version mistakenly described Mr Shapiro as an ‘alt-right sage’ and ‘a pop idol of the alt right,'” their editor’s note in the piece stated. “In fact, he has been strongly critical of the alt-right movement. We apologise.”
When the story was initially published, Shapiro called the headline a “vile lie” and how he was the number one target of online alt-right hate in 2016:
You should be ashamed of yourselves for that garbage headline and description. To call yourselves a journalistic outlet and then botch this one so badly is astonishing. Here is me in 2016 in WaPo ripping Trump for flirting with the alt-right, e.g.: https://t.co/ZTbfswFTIT
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) March 28, 2019
Shapiro pointed out the very book he was being interviewed about had strong criticisms of the alt-right movement:
“In late March, the execrable Milo Yiannopoulos penned a story at Breitbart openly praising the alt-right, including odes to racist cretins like Richard Spencer.” (p. xxii-xxiii)
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) March 28, 2019
…penetrated into more visible circles thanks to a reactionary tendency by some on the Right to embrace anyone who supposedly opposes political correctness.” (p. 208)
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) March 28, 2019
In other words, if you label me alt-right, f*** you and f*** the horse you rode in on.
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) March 28, 2019
Despite the many condemnations and criticisms, some of Shapiro critics still insist he is alt-right or at least alt-right lite:
But you are, Blanche
— Beto Glute Truther Li’l ? (@karengeier) March 28, 2019
You’re alt right trash who doesn’t even have enough courage behind his convictions to say fuck, lol
And thank you for the pony (I understand why it’s a horse from your pov)
— A. Grand Party (@grantpa) March 28, 2019
But you’re an alt right piece of shit coward who incites murder tho
— Joe Randazzo (@Randazzoj) March 28, 2019
Image via Joshua Blanchard/Getty
