Why am I commenting on Kanye West's Trump endorsement? Admittedly, he seems to be a distraction at the moment from many more important topics. However, when I saw that a Rolling Stone writer named Michael Arceneaux had written a hit piece on him [1], I figured "why not now?" With Rolling Stone specifically there's a pattern of lies that for me have become the barometer of poor journalism. When in April 2015 I started to read about the "A Rape on Campus" fake news story by Rolling Stone magazine, I finally awakened to the reality that we are being misinformed by the media. It was a story that was egregiously libelous, was based on the testimony of ONE witness that was disputed by even her friends and closest associates, and it ruined the lives of dozens of fraternity brothers and students at the University of Virginia.
"A Rape on Campus" was the story that caused me to begin writing and commenting on politics again [2], and Rolling Stone was thoroughly embarrassed by peer media exposés of their falsehoods and even a Columbia School of Journalism investigation that completely tore the magazine to shreds over it. Yet in subsequent actions, publisher Jann Wenner and his organization showed zero consideration for the victims of their lie, including UVA administrator Nicole Eramo who was smeared by name, and the students themselves. In December 2017 they officially settled their last piece of litigation on this matter. Erdely, for her part, played the role of traumatized victim herself even though Wenner and RS didn't fire her and she worked there until November 2016 [3]. And the litigation suits filed by the UVA plaintiffs were only settled in December 2017 so Wenner could sell his remaining stake in the magazine without it being held up.
So when Rolling Stone wants to publish a story by Arceneaux, an almost self-parodying representative of social justice identity politics that who claimed in The Guardian [4]in March 2016 during the heart of the primary season "Bernie or Bust" voters had a stance "based on privilege", I really start to question how they've changed since Wenner sold the magazine to Advertising Age and Penske Media. Here are a few of nuggets of idiocy from Arceneaux's article and some easy rebuttals:
"Conservatives have long elevated black figures who uphold white patriarchy. It's why Diamond and Silk can net New York Times profiles and appearances before Congress." Diamond and Silk got famous by posting gutsy videos of them calling out media frauds and politicians. Arceneaux has been working for establishment media publications like The Guardian and now Rolling Stone. Who exactly is upholding a "white patriarchy"?
"Conspiracy theorist and village idiot Alex Jones has extended an invitation to Kanye West to appear on InfoWars. Imagine how many people will be exposed to and influenced by such ignorance if that appearance happens." Yes, and Arceneaux among other media snobs are probably going to get thank you notes from Jones, because they basically give him free advertising by mentioning his name at every opportunity.
"The inconvenient truth is that there are a number of black people more interested in enjoying the perks of white privilege than in leveling the playing field for us all." The inconvenient truth for Arceneaux and Rolling Stone is they themselves are instruments of privilege, approved pasteurized lying media privilege. They're so privileged, that they feel they can denounce people in the heat of a primary for daring to make a different choice.
The Kanye West story may be a distraction, but it also helps to focus the lens on those that suddenly, after two years proclaiming that Colin Kaepernick is some sort of saviour of black dignity, flip over and say that another black entertainment figure has no right to talk. It's no wonder they seem to be quaking with fear at a time when realistically the United States is changing and becoming more of a citizen responsive society against their will.
Links
Arceneaux's attack on Kanye West.
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/why-kanye-wests-pro-trump-tweets-are-a-real-threat-w519572My post from April 2015 "Rolling Slander":
http://x-n-trick.blogspot.com/2015/04/rolling-slander.html$3 million in damages awarded for Eramo lawsuit:
http://archive.is/6gLBAArceneaux calls Bernie voters "privileged":
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/mar/07/democratic-vote-hillary-clinton-election-2016-bernie-sanders
