Sup, you beautiful bastards?
Hope you're having a fantastic Tuesday. Welcome back to the Philip DeFranco show and let's just jump into it. The first thing
I want to talk about today is a story
I really could not have predicted and that is the ACLU is going head-to-head with Taylor Swift.
So what the hell happened? Well, in September, a site called popfront posted an article titled
"Swiftly to the alt-right. Taylor subtly gets the lowercase KKK in formation"
The blog post was written by Megan Hearning the site's executive editor. Hearning's post claimed that Swift had used language and symbolism of the
Alt-right movement in her music and says that her public persona is based on the narrative of white victimhood
They specifically referencing her feud with Kanye West. Hearning also criticized Swift for not endorsing a
candidate in the 2016 election.
She also compares Swift to Adolf Hitler, accuses her of quietly supporting racism, and called her lyrics
"dog whistles to white supremacy."
The post also analyzes the song "Look What You Made Me Do," arguing that the lyrics serve as defense of
white anger, also saying a Swift is becoming a white supremacist icon.
And finally, it suggests that Swift's silence on these topics are calculated - adding if that were not true,
then she "needs to state her beliefs out loud for the world". So after the post was published Swift's lawyer sent a letter demanding
that the website immediately issue a retraction and remove the post calling the post provably false and defamatory
the letter also saying Swift if was prepared to proceed with litigation if the story wasn't retracted, stating:
"The story is replete with demonstrable and offensive falsehoods which bear no relation to reality or the truth
about Ms. Swift. It appears to be a malicious attack against Ms. Swift that goes to great lengths to portray
Ms. Swift as some sort of white supremacist figurehead, which is a baseless fiction masquerading as fact and
completely misrepresents Ms. Swift. PopFront is substantially liable to Ms. Swift for defamation."
Swift's lawyer also writing that Swift
"Unequivocally denounces white supremacy and the alt-right." Swift's lawyers also writing that their letter was not
authorized for publication, but obviously, we are talking about it today,
and that's because the ACLU, which is now representing Herning, published a letter online calling it a
"Completely unsupported attempt to suppress constitutionally protected speech."
The ACLU issuing its own letter to Swift's team defending the post, saying it is:
The ACLU also calling it ironic that Swift's attorneys said that the letter stands is another
unequivocal denouncement by Miss Swift of white supremacy in the alt-right.
But then also forbid anyone making a letter public. They also told the lawyers that criticism is unpleasant
But that celebrities like Swift must learn to "Shake it off"
oh, I love that in 2017, everyone, including the ACLU is
snarky and petty. The ACLU also requesting a response from Swift's team on whether or not they intend to proceed with litigation by November 13.
And here's what I'll say. Do I think that Taylor Swift is an undercover Hitler?
No. Do I think that her song lyrics are geared towards the alt-right and that she's actually talking about white anger? No.
Do I think her career is based on white victimhood? No.
I mean, granted, some victimhood. Breakups, bad boyfriends, the Kanye's stuff
And then we bounce back
Also the idea that Taylor Swift is a bad person because she's not telling people who to vote for in the election.
That's so stupid
You know that mindset that we heard so much of if you don't vote for Hillary than you're part of the problem?
So many people don't realize today is so many people especially Hollywood types, famous types,
saying 'this is who you should vote for' all it did was alienate people's bases and charge up the Trump voters.
For the most part the article just seems like seeing what you want to see out of something and with all of that said I
still think that people should be allowed to have their incredibly stupid opinions. The article makes huge leaps,
no doubt, but I feel like Swift's legal team is going to have a problem here.
Essentially, for Taylor Swift's lawyers to win here it appears that they would have to be able to successfully
argue and prove that the blogger made of statements with actual malice.
And historically, that has been very hard to prove.
and so I, who am NOT a lawyer, I feel like I don't need to say that, but just so there is no confusion,
I think the story will most likely go away soon.
I mean we've seen in the past celebrities and their teams using cease and desist to kind of just suppress negative stories.
And what's kind of funny about that is while the intent might be to suppress a story, if someone that makes that
move public you, take that this story that I had never heard of before, and now it's in font of so many more
people. But with all of that said I do want to pass the question off to you. What is your personal take-away?
Who's right? Who's wrong? Is it a more gray situation?
Who's more right, who's more wrong? love know your thoughts.
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and the first bit of awesome I want to share was
The amazing Rick and Morty remix by Leslie way. It's somehow as a recording this video only has 5,000 that is a travesty
Yeah
we got a fantastic and interesting video from nerdwriter one putting out the video when did time travel come from over watch put out a
fantastic short called honor and glory
I mean you don't even need to play that game to enjoy it also in self promo awesome if you want to snag this shirt
Or you want it on a hoodie or any of these other awesome designs
You can go to shop DeFranco dot-com snag what you want whenever you want. No more limited. Supply blah blah
blah If you want to see the full versions everything I just shared the secret link of the day anything at all
Links as always are in the description down below, and then let's talk about what's happening with SIA. See yeah, of course is a
singer-songwriter wear of
Comically huge bows and she was in the news in the past day because apparently someone was trying to sell her news
We've seen more and more of these photos coming out over the past few years sometimes. It's it's hacked nude sometimes
It's paparazzi stalking famous people with this story. See it did something a little bit different
She walked down a road far less traveled
And she just released her own nudes last night tweeting someone is apparently trying to sell naked photos of me to my fans
Save your money here. It is for free every day is Christmas
I say good for her because what I see here is someone taking the power back
I mean judging by the picture most likely
We're dealing with some creep with an obnoxiously big lens who's invading someone's privacy
In the profit of a photo they took without someone's permission or knowledge and hopefully see as pose D
incentivizes any organization from working with this disgusting paparazzi
I want to end this story just on a small little side note and that is I'm extremely
Bothered by the number of comments I see from people when they say well if you're a famous
Person this is kind of what you signed up for my response to that is no
that's it's that's such a
Disconnected and disgusting mindset because someone is famous because they wanted to star in movies
Or sing songs in front of a crowd that it that excuses their their rights being violated
The right to privacy the right to have a choice if their naked body is shared with the rest of the world
I don't care if we're talking about famous people people are people
It seems like it's common sense but apparently common sense has been dead a long time
Then let's try out a new little segment I call hater of the day and our hater of the day is one by the name
of Jan shed Jan recently went viral and she posted about how she wasn't happy with her local news you posted this photo of Demetria over
Lar with the caption has anyone seen channel eights new morning traffic reporter her name is Demetria velour
And she's a size 1618 woman in a size 6 dress, and she looks ridiculous. I understand that when I watch channel 8
I'm going to get biased reporting and political correctness, but clearly they have taken completely of their senses
I'm not going to watch channel 8 anymore. I imagine as she hit that little blue post button she thought to herself
That's right world
I am a hero I matter and I've made a difference today the thing is this pose did make a big impact
But it was most people saying that Jen's the worse and oddly enough one of those was even chance the rapper yes the main reaction
Where people coming to demetria's defense you also had some people saying that they believed race played a role in
Jan's outburst that Jen later wrote that she was being attacked by the
Racist mafia also writing frankly I didn't even notice that she was black
I was shocked that channel 8 would put someone on the air dress so provocatively really Jen. You didn't notice Dimitri was black
That's one of the things I hate the most and people say things like I don't see color the only time that's not one of
The most obnoxiously stupid things to say is if you are legally
Colorblind don't say you don't notice race or color just say that what you're saying isn't being based on
It's not that hard and including
frankly or honestly before the statement does not make it more true since the post and the big reaction Demetria responds it online the
Controversy it's coming from people who aren't too happy with the way that I look on television saying oh her body
It's too big for that dress or she's too. Curvy or her hair. It's so unprofessional. It's crazy
We don't like it a quick word to those people
This is the way that I'm built. This is the way that I was born
I'm not going anywhere
So if you don't like it you have your options ultimately where I land on this is just don't be a jan the woman-on-woman
Jealous hate here is strong with you Jam Jan when you and other women like you look to Demetria who I mean if we're being
Honest here is drop-dead gorgeous
It makes you feel those negative things about yourself rather than just lashing out on Facebook do something to better yourself and Tilly or physically
Whatever makes tomorrow less painful for you to live that's actually a message
I think that goes way past the specificity of this story if something makes you feel bad
I feel like we could all benefit from not spending energy on trying to tear others down
And focus on ourselves out there should wear something that makes her feel comfortable and confident don't be a hater
Be a creator and then let's talk about an update around the Texas Church shooting
We talked about it yesterday a horrific attack at a church that left 26 dead in Sutherland Springs, Texas
What new information has come out explaining how the shooter got those weapons yesterday?
We mentioned the Texas shooter was court-martialed in 2012 received a bad con
Discharge which involved a year of confinement in a military prison and was reduced to the lowest rank in the airforce this for assaulting his
wife and stepson according to records released by the Air Force
He was originally charged with assault and battery against his wife aggravated assault against his stepson for charges involving firearms
This including two charges of pointing a loaded firearm at his wife and those firearms
Charges were dropped prior to a trial as a result of a plea agreement
But he did still plead guilty to assault against a child and assault against his wife
This reportedly involved him striking his stepson in the head fracturing his skull with quotes likely to produce death or grievous bodily harm
He also reportedly struck his wife with his hands kicking her choking and pulling her hair and so of course when that news came out
people said how did this guy still get a gun citing federal law that states it shall be unlawful for any person to sell or
otherwise dispose of any firearm or ammunition to any person knowing that the
Individual has been convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic
Violence so what happened Academy Sports has confirmed they sold two weapons to the Texas shooter in the past two years
How could that have happened?
well the Air Force has since said that it failed to alert federal authorities to the shooters domestic violence conviction the thing that would have
Prevented him from legally purchasing the firearm
He used a massacre 26 people according to the airforce
Initial information indicates that the shooters domestic violence offense was not entered into the national criminal
information center database by the Holloman Air Force Base Office of Special
Investigation the National instant criminal background check system the ni CS database is an FBI run government
Agency responsible for quote saving lives and protecting people from harm by not letting guns fall into the wrong hands while the information was never
entered so according to Academy sports both sales were approved by the ni CS the Air Force went on to say in their statement the
Service will also conduct a comprehensive review of Air Force
Databases to ensure records in other cases have been reported correctly Air Force has also requested that the Department of Defense inspector
general review records and procedures across the Department of Defense
We've also seen Democratic lawmakers calling to the Department of Defense to investigate, New York senator Kirsten Gillibrand tweeting no excuse for this
I'm calling on the Department of Defense to audit old Case Files to prevent this deadly error from happening again
Adding in a statement learning that the senseless act of violence might have been prevented
If only the proper forum was filled out by military investigators was absolutely
devastating netiquette Senator Richard Blumenthal tweeting as a member of judiciary and Armed Services committees
I call on the DoD DOJ to provide clear picture of where
And how this process failed and in response to all of this medicine today that he had directed the Pentagon's Inspector General to investigate
Further saying if the problem is that we didn't put something out
We'll correct that there's at least an indication what I've read in the press and when I'm getting through other elements of the government not
The Department of Defense that the direction is out there. I've got to make sure this morning
We also heard from Air Force secretary Heather Wilson that we have an initiate initiated a review the Air Force to find out why?
This fingerprint records were not transmitted to the database and we'll find out why we are checking all of the Air Force
Databases and there are several of them to find out and confirm that all
court-martial convictions for these kinds of offensives have been reported in the civilian
Database shouldn't we've taken
responsibility and where we're gonna find out what happened and fix it and coming out of this story my main reaction is I
Didn't think this story could get more depressing, but wow it did if all of this is true
and it appears to be true the
Investigation mainly seems to be on the halp are talking about a mass murder that involved a victim as young as 18
Months and it was done with a weapon that was sold by a legal above the board
Retailer that was trying to follow all the rules because the right paperwork wasn't finally put the system failed all those people that is truly
devastated obviously the pro-gun
Anti-gun people are still going to debate
over if it had been filed properly what he still have been able to get a weapon if not a retail store then maybe a
Private seller that doesn't do enough background work. I think that would just be speculation here, and that's not really helpful
That said I would also love to know what you think about this story during this update this news is what how do you feel?
What do you what are you thinking?
Is it changing what you were thinking before and I've know your thoughts on this and or really anything else
I talked about today in those comments down below
That's where I'm going to end today's show remember if you like this video like what I try and do on this channel hit that
like button if you new ever hit that subscribe button that way you can make sure you don't miss these daily videos which actually if
you did miss yesterday's show you want to catch up click or tap right there to watch that or if you want to see the
Newest behind the scenes vlog click or tap right there to watch that that's of course as always my name's philip defranco
You've just been phill'd in. I love yo faces, and i'll see you tomorrow