Last month, Podcast Movement convention organizers came under fire from the woke left after an unannounced visit from popular conservative commentator Ben Shapiro to the Daily Wire booth purportedly caused hurt feelings and members of the LGBTQ community at the Dallas event to “feel unsafe,” according to some Twitter users who were in attendance.
“Hi folks, we owe you an apology before sessions kick off for the day. Yesterday afternoon, Ben Shapiro briefly visited the PM22 expo area near The Daily Wire booth. Though he was not registered or expected, we take full responsibility for the harm done by his presence,” Podcast Movement wrote in a series of now-deleted tweets published on August 25th.
“Many in our community are appalled not just by this incident, but by our choice to take money from TDW in the first place. As @amahnke said, ‘this was signed off on by a human.’ Yes. During event planning, the dangerous nature of the company’s messaging was overlooked,” they wrote in another.
They went on to acknowledge the alleged “pain” Shapiro’s brief appearance supposedly caused and how “it will always stick with us.” They also noted that they would “more carefully consider” who they allowed in as sponsors at future conventions, the implication being that Daily Wire would be excluded.
Not surprisingly, the organizers were widely mocked by conservatives, with the Daily Wire and Ben Shapiro, of course, getting in on the action as well as other popular Twitter accounts like Libs of TikTok.
A little over a week later, Podcast Movement continued virtue signaling by telling their audience that “We’re putting in place policies to guide our social media & events with inclusivity, diversity & respect for all. It’s a journey.”
Just four days after that tweet went up, however, it was reported by Axios that Cumulus Media was opting to sever their ties with Podcast Movement over what happened:
Cumulus, one of the largest radio companies in the country, says it’s “disassociating” from Podcast Movement, an annual podcast industry conference, following an unusual confrontation on Twitter between the conference and The Daily Wire, a conservative outlet that partners with Cumulus.[…]In response to the saga, Cumulus told Axios in a statement Tuesday that it’s “disassociating” from Podcast Movement, “including canceling our 2023 sponsorship plans.”Cumulus said it’s making the decision to separate from the conference, after giving the leaders of Podcast Movement “sufficient time to appropriately address their misstep.”
Here’s their full statement:
“At Cumulus Media, our tenet is that Every Voice Matters and we support conferences and trade events where differing political viewpoints can be expressed and received with respect. As such, we were dismayed and disappointed by Podcast Movement’s handling of the reaction to our partner, top podcaster, and conservative talk leader Ben Shapiro’s mere presence at Podcast Movement. After giving the leaders of Podcast Movement. After giving the leaders of Podcast Movement sufficient time to appropriately address their misstep, we are disassociating from Podcast Movement, including canceling our 2023 sponsorship plans.”
Cumulus’ move also came after Podcast Movement reportedly told Shapiro in the immediate aftermath of the controversy that it was best they “go [their] separate ways,” according to the Axios story.
As a result of Cumulus’ decision, Podcast Movement is suddenly singing an awfully convenient new tune:
While Podcast Movement’s about-face is clearly all about money rather than any sincere change of heart, the dustup serves as a case study in showing one way conservatives can fight back against cancel culture – by using both the power of social media and the almighty dollar, something seemingly acknowledged by Daily Wire co-founder Jeremy Boreing.
“In an illiberal moment such as the one we’re currently living in, if we don’t stand up to this kind of bigoted behavior it’s only going to get worse,” Boreing stated. “I certainly hope Cumulus’s strong response to Podcast Movement is the first of many others like it.”
That being said, at least one person says he plans on attending the next Podcast Movement gathering and intends not to sell but to give away “Facts Don’t Care About Your Feelings” t-shirts out of the goodness of his heart:
And as for anyone who felt “unsafe” by Shapiro’s appearance at the conference, one Twitter user had a reality check for them.
“Want to feel unsafe? Walk through a Democrat-controlled city at night.”
‘Nuff said.
— Stacey Matthews has also written under the pseudonym “Sister Toldjah” and can be reached via Twitter. —
CLICK HERE FOR FULL VERSION OF THIS STORY