Media

Meme Video At Center Of Media’s Latest Freak Out Played In Near-Empty Room

YouTube Screenshot: The GeekzTeam

Amber Athey Podcast Columnist
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The meme at the center of claims that President Donald Trump is promoting violence against members of the media was played in a near-empty room at a pro-Trump conference, videos from attendees reveal.

The New York Times first wrote about the spoofed video, which is an edited version of a violent scene from the movie “Kingsman” wherein actor Colin Firth’s character indiscriminately shoots and stabs members of a hate group. In the pro-Trump version, Trump’s face is superimposed over Firth’s as he is shown killing media, political personalities and news outlets. (RELATED: Spoofed Video Of Trump Shooting Political And Media Opponents Shown At Florida Resort)

The video was reportedly played at the American Priority (AMP) festival at the Trump Doral resort in Miami, Florida. The White House Correspondents Association (WHCA) released a statement condemning the violent video and demanding Trump denounce it as well.

“All Americans should condemn this depiction of violence directed toward journalists and the president’s political opponents,” the WHCA said. “We have previously told the President his rhetoric could incite violence. Now we call on him and everybody associated with him to denounce this video and affirm that violence has no place in our society.”

Other members of the media accused the Trump campaign of being involved in the display of the video and claimed it was sanctioned by the festival organizers. Alex Phillips, the organizer, said in a statement that the display must have been submitted by a third party and that he was not aware it was being shown.

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According to CJ Ciaramella, a Reason reporter who attended the festival as press, the video was part of a meme exhibit in a small room off of the main Doral ballroom where the festival was being held. The room was empty when Ciaramella was there, and, according to other attendees, never had more than a handful of people inside at a time.

Stills from Ciaramella’s video show the room being empty:

Empty room at AMP Festival at Trump Doral (Twitter: CJ Ciaramella)

Empty room at AMP Festival at Trump Doral (Twitter: CJ Ciaramella)

Empty room at AMP Festival at Trump Doral (Twitter: CJ Ciaramella)

Empty room at AMP Festival at Trump Doral (Twitter: CJ Ciaramella)

Other reporters criticized The New York Times for linking the video to Trump and his campaign, and pointed out that very few people would have even seen the meme.

The video was first posted on YouTube over a year ago.