Controversial streamer Hasan Piker is facing renewed scrutiny over a recent addition to his visual background during his streams. Viewers noticed what appeared to be a framed copy of the front page of a newspaper with an image of the Sept. 11, 2001, attack on the Twin Towers in New York City.
The earliest livestream reviewed by Fox News Digital showing the newspaper in the background was broadcast on July 13. The front page appears to be The New York Times‘ Sept. 12, 2001, edition, which was headlined, “U.S. Attacked: Hijacked Jets Destroy Twin Towers and Hit Pentagon in Day of Terror.” The X account DSA Watch on Tuesday posted a clip of Piker’s stream, where he discussed the newspaper front page framed on the wall behind him.
“You might have noticed something, some changes behind me. I finally framed the cutie Cinderella newspaper from 9/11, the morning of 9/12⦠the newspaper that covered 9/11. It’s now officially sitting behind me,” he told viewers earlier this month.
Piker was widely criticized after saying that “America deserved 9/11” during a stream in 2019. After facing immense backlash, Piker said in an interview that he “obviously” did not mean that America deserved the attacks and accused critics of disregarding “the actual truth of what I was talking about,” explaining the viral quote as a critique of U.S. foreign policy.
“I should have used more precise and better use of language there,” in the interview. “It’s messed up that I would give the opportunity to the right to try to morally grandstand on an issue like this when they are 100% responsible for all the bloodshed that has been caused.”
He later admitted in the interview that his comments on 9/11 were “inappropriate.”
The renewed attention comes as Piker’s influence spreads beyond his hours-long streams.
Piker was featured as at the College Democrats of America’s (CDA) convention, held in Washington, D.C., from July 17 through July 19. Other speakers included Leaders We Deserve founder David Hogg, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, as well as Democratic lawmakers and political influencers, according to CDA’s Instagram posts. However, none drew as much scrutiny as Piker.
The streamer was mocked for wearing what many described as a Mao Zedong-esque jacket while going off on “Democrats who compromise, who conciliate, and who betray us.”
“No more to the fascist reactionaries, but no more to the Democrats who will collaborate and cooperate with the fascists, who will fund ICE, who will fund Israel, who will help poison the planet, who will stiff workers and help bosses,” Piker said.
WISCONSIN DEMOCRAT DOWNPLAYS APPEARING ON HASAN PIKER’S SHOW, DOESN’T ‘ENDORSE’ EVERYTHING HE SAYS
One of the co-sponsors for the event, J Street U, the campus arm of left-leaning J Street, which aims to be the “political home and voice for pro-Israel, pro-peace, pro-democracy Americans,” faced
