my sincerest condolences to the Muslim people https://t.co/XNtKiBz35M
— Armand Domalewski (@ArmandDoma) March 11, 2024
There is a fresh block of naive individuals on social media, angry about a widely publicized tragedy, eager to donate their mite to reparation or retribution — especially if they can gain clout among their peers by doing so.
Of course Shaun King has reemerged from the grey zone, with an eye-catching announcement…
"Dear Muslims, unfortunately, it's your turn"
– love, Black people
??????? pic.twitter.com/ogsDnKqWBI
— T. Fisher King (@T_FisherKing) March 11, 2024
Perhaps we cynics wrong Mr. King… possibly he has seen the errors of his past and renounced them?…
If they ever establish a Grifting Hall of Fame, Shaun's easily a first-ballot choice. https://t.co/ACWWYWYpDu
— Daily Trix (@DailyTrix) March 12, 2024
A refresher, if necessary, from Ralph Leonard at Unherd — “Is Shaun King’s Islam conversion a grift?”:
… After affirming the Muslim creed — that there is only one God and his messenger Muhammad — King, who used to be a Christian pastor, addressed a crowd, proclaiming that his decision to convert was due to the “past six months of suffering, pain and trauma that we’ve seen in Gaza”. He went on, while donning a keffiyeh, to praise Gazans’ “faith and their devotion to Islam”, which “not only opened my heart but has opened the hearts of millions of people around the world”.
This, however, isn’t going to be the beginning of a genuine spiritual odyssey; instead, it marks the next stage of King’s career as a performative activist. Before it was Black Lives Matter. Now he has detected where the wind is blowing and knows that Palestine, specifically Gaza, is the hottest, most en vogue issue within the activist world.
King’s record as a grifter and pathological fabricator runs long and deep. Many activists have complained about how he has repeatedly received donations in the name of the families of victims of police shootings in America, yet none of the money seems to have ever reached the families, leaving them feeling exploited and denouncing King for profiting from their pain.
In relation to Israel-Palestine, King claimed that he worked “behind the scenes” to secure the release of two American citizens held hostage by Hamas. However, the families have refuted this claim, saying that he was not involved in the negotiations for their release and lied about it…
Don’t be surprised if King organises fundraisers to feed the needy children of Gaza and later can’t prove if the money went to them. If he possessed a genuine desire to help the people of Gaza, then there would be no need to have the added gimmick of converting to Islam alongside it. Plenty of non-Muslims have been emotionally affected by the war in Gaza and feel a deep solidarity with its suffering people, and have done much more to help them than King ever could…
It didn't take long for Talcum X's new nicknames to start rolling in.
— Ragnarok Lobster (@eclecticbrotha) March 11, 2024
This is the best response to Shaun King converting to Islam. I love this video so much. I can't express how much I love this video. pic.twitter.com/wladpnt9Dk
— Andrea Karshan | #JusticeforMalkiRoth (@karshanandrea) March 13, 2024
Always read the fine print and research whom you’re donating to! I seriously had to question what type of organization would want to work with Shaun King given what the Black community has said about him… Just going to leave this right here… Here’s some Backround on the charity pic.twitter.com/a2klJi26Qm
— Naomi #houseofmoderna ?????????? (@nantienomi) March 13, 2024
Baud
Will his departure from Christianity become a new Christian holy day?
SpaceUnit
So who is Shaun King and what is this post about? I think I’m going to bed.
ETA: Feels like 8 or 9 votes are hanging in the balance here.
Ryan
I’m sorry, who? This stuff’s too online for me.
Baud
@Ryan:
Nominated!
Chetan Murthy
@SpaceUnit: @Ryan: a link that was posted when this came up a few days ago. Imani Gandy (Angry Black Lady, used to be an FPer here) has choice things to say about him, too.
TL;DR He’s a grifter
https://www.blackenterprise.com/grifter-or-nah-shaun-king-lives-it-up-in-luxe-jersey-estate-while-begging-for-money-for-his-wife/
SpaceUnit
@Chetan Murthy:
So basically he’s nobody.
Ben Cisco
Bell Biv DeFaux strikes again.
Chetan Murthy
@SpaceUnit: In the larger scheme of things, yeah, he’s a nobody. He causes harm by taking money that was meant for helping victims. But he doesn’t destroy democracy, create (AFAICT) pernicious social movements, or other truy bad acts. He’s just a thief.
eclare
@Ben Cisco:
Hahaha…also love Cream Abdul-Jabbar.
Nukular Biskits
@Chetan Murthy:
I remember Angry Black Lady.
Why did she leave BJ? And didn’t her and Cole take a road trip?
p.a.
Is George Costanza on the Board of Directors?
Tony Jay
Where there is geld there will always be grift. Whether they wear brown shirts, red shirts or smart suits they’re all the same, entirely dishonest and willing to screw anyone over if they come out with some spending money.
mrmoshpotato
Ah, this pile of shit who wasn’t died already – like Dump.
eclare
@Nukular Biskits:
I think she got a lot of harassment from readers, my memory is fuzzy. Did she accompany John to the Democratic convention in Charlotte? I seem to remember he forgot to pack any pants.
jonas
@Ryan: King is a writer and BLM activist with a history of running a bunch of very grifty fundraising campaigns for various causes over the years — basically whatever he thinks
his markspeople will throw money at any given time. Think George Costanza’s “Human Fund”, but like for Black people or something.lowtechcyclist
His name rang a vague bell with me, but I couldn’t have told you why, let alone who he was.
So my summary of this post is that this guy’s got a long track record of grifting off whatever The Hot Cause Of The Day is, raising money that never quite finds its way to the alleged beneficiaries, and it would be a kindness to warn his intended marks of his history.
That’s worth a post to help get the word out.
As a Christian, I’d tell King, “don’t let the door hit you where the good Lord split you.” And to Muslims, my sincere condolences.
Shalimar
@SpaceUnit: If you’re not one of the well-meaning people he has scammed out of hundreds of thousands of dollars you were trying to give to worthy causes, yes, nobody.
OzarkHillbilly
@eclare: Yes, it was a DEM convention (’08?) and yes, she had a testy relationship with commenters here. Not sure why, most of her posts were after my zone out time. I never read comments in dead threads so it was all one big “whoosh” for me.
Ben Cisco
@Nukular Biskits:
@eclare:
Correct, and correct. I will always lament the fact that I didn’t get to meet with them while they were in town.
eversor
I don’t think most grifters know they are grifting. Having worked at a lot of non profits that would give the consulting and law firms I worked at a run for their money at sheer cash grabbing and lavish spending the non profits were often worse. At least the lawyers and consultants would admit it was crap!
Leaving Christianity is odd for a grifter. As Churches are the masters of grifting.
He’s just a lost idiot.
Baud
@eversor:
He’ll be back.
Steeplejack
@Baud:
Heh. When he does, my fantasy is that the Muslims put out a fatwa on him. Don’t they treat heretics worse than infidels?
BellyCat
“Talcum X”. LOL!!1!
eversor
@Baud:
I dunno. If he’s a true grifter coming back and writing a book about it and going on the preaching circuit would be great. My sense is that he’s just a delusional moron who believes in what he’s doing but also wants to be admired for it and have a full time job.
@Steeplejack:
The punishment for converting to another religion is death. Though that’s supposed to be carried out by the state. Those actions are rare though. It doesn’t stop randos from doing it though.
Regardless he’s gotten himself into one hell of a situation of which he probably doesn’t grasp gravity of.
MelissaM
So the money’s going to The Human Fund. #SeinfeldReference
aaall
The Human Fund!
Paul in KY
@Baud: Probably not, as he probably wasn’t ‘Christian’ either. I think he worships Mammon and clicks.
Paul in KY
@Tony Jay: Was very glad to get out of Anfield with a tie. There were a couple of times in 2nd half where I thought “I can’t believe they haven’t scored”.
Best of luck in FA Cup.
Paul in KY
@eclare: Anyone who gave her shit, got shit. She was badass (still is). Reminded me of Steve (fuck the fucking Yankees!)
Paul in KY
@eversor: This one sure knows he is grifting. Even if he doesn’t call it that.
Paul in KY
@Steeplejack: That would be rich! Islam don’t play.