Breitbart News‘s now ex-Tech Editor Milo Yiannopoulos held a high drama press conference Tuesday in Manhattan that was everything you wanted it to be and more.
When the infamous journalist shut things down, he switched from regular glasses that he used to read his statement to dark movie star shades. He wore attire more suitable for Washington than his London den filled with interns and an around the clock trainer — a dark suit with a white button-down shirt and red tie.
The news: Yiannopoulos resigned from Breitbart. But he’s not planning to disappear. He says he will never stop saying TABOO things. Accent on the OO. (It’s a British thing?!)
For much of the presser he defended his actions and chastised those who have reported that he believes pedophilia is okay. “I don’t believe that any journalist believes that I sincerely advocate for pedophilia,” he said. “America knows better and different.”
Yiannopoulos spoke of being sexually abused by a priest when he was in his teens. He said worse things can happen to you — like going bankrupt. “It isn’t the worst thing that will ever happen to you,” he said casually.
The tech editor said he lost his virginity at 13. He recalled years after the abuse waking up on random afternoons in Ibiza, a party island in Spain. It was a time in his life when he says he turned to alcohol and drugs for relief.
“The message I was trying to send is it doesn’t have to affect your life, doesn’t have to define the rest of your life,” he said.
He spoke of his colleagues at Breitbart with affection, saying he felt he was becoming a distraction and therefore wanted to resign so they could do their jobs in peace. Except really, what peace is there at Breitbart?
Yiannopoulos said his book will be published this year despite the fact that Simon & Schuster nixed their deal with him.
He also praised President Trump‘s chief strategist Steve Bannon.
“Steve Bannon is brilliant,” he said. “…Not an easy person to work for if you’re a slacker. I haven’t spoken to him for a very long time.”
He called Breitbart‘s Editor-in-Chief Alex Marlow “probably the most gifted editor of his generation.” (This, despite word on the street that Marlow called for his head on a platter, along with several other Breitbartians.)
Yiannopoulos, who is often referred to as a “provocateur,” said he has obviously outgrown Breitbart as well as journalism.
At one point during his presser, Milo waved off a reporter who had already posed a question: “We’ve had you…so.” In other words, so shut up, I’m moving on to someone else (my words, not his). At another juncture, he asked, “Can you please be more respectful?”
Speaking in a serious tone, he admitted, “The last 24 hours has been a humiliating and degrading experience for me.” He said this was not the way he wanted his parents to find out that he was sexually abused.
In the coming weeks Yiannopoulos said he’ll announce a new media venture that will focus more on entertainment. “I look forward to making you laugh, cry and think for decades to come,” he said.
CPAC dumped him from its speaking roster after video clips emerged of him discussing pedophilia. He said he won’t likely approach the conference in National Harbor, Md. this week.
But one never knows.
“It would be indecorous of me to go to CPAC,” he said.
Which is precisely why you may see him there.
