The conservative student group hosting a “Free Speech Week” speaking series on the campus of the University of California at Berkeley on Saturday canceled the four-day event the day before it was expected to begin.
“It is extremely unfortunate that this announcement was made at the last minute, even as the university was in the process of spending significant sums of money and preparing for substantial disruption of campus life in order to provide the needed security for these events,” university spokesman Dan Mogulof told The Los Angeles Times.
Mogulof didn’t immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment.
Right-wing provocateur and former Breitbart News editor Milo Yiannopoulos, who had been touting the event for weeks, claimed that he was “blindsided” by the decision of the student-led Berkeley Patriot to scuttled the speaking series.
In a press conference that was livestreamed on Facebook Saturday, Yiannopoulos vowed to continue with an “unofficial” speaking event.
“There will be a March for Free Speech through UC Berkeley on Sunday at noon with me and other Free Speech Week speakers,” Yiannopoulos said in a lengthy post on Facebook. “We will march through Sproul Plaza, where the Free Speech Movement began and where we will begin to lead a new one… If we do not protect free speech for those with whom we disagree, there is no point in protecting it at all.”
On Monday, Yiannopoulos released a statement blaming the university for using “bureaucratic maneuvers and strategic media leaks to disrupt the event and dissuade headline speakers from attending.”
Mogulof flatly denied that assertion, noting that conservative pundit Ben Shapiro had spoken on the campus earlier this month without incident.
Eleven of the 17 speakers listed by organizers have not confirmed that they will attend, UC Chancellor Carol Christ said in a statement on Friday.
And other headline speakers, including commentator Ann Coulter, also canceled their plans to attend.
Yiannopoulos had touted former White House adviser Steve Bannon as a speaker, but the Breitbart News boss has not confirmed his appearance with the university or reached out to plan his security, Mogulof told TheWrap on Friday. Bannon did not respond to TheWrap’s request for comment.
At least four of people listed by organizers as speakers at the event, which is scheduled to begin on Sunday, have said they were never even contacted by Yiannopoulos or student organizers.
They include Charles Murray, Heather MacDonald, Michael Malice, and James Damore, the former Google engineer who was fired for his anti-diversity memo, Vanity Fair reported.
Milo Yiannopoulos' Rise and Fall, From GamerGate to Pedophilia Comments (Photos)
Breitbart News editor Milo Yiannopoulos' rising star has turned into a meteor plummeting toward Earth. After video of Milo voicing support for adults to have sexual relationships with boys began circulating the internet, the Conservative Political Action Conference dropped him for its keynote and his book deal was canceled.
Here's the complete timeline of Milo's rise, from his opportunism in the "GamerGate" harassment campaign against women in the video game industry, to his resignation from Breitbart News.
2011 — Milo founds “The Kernel” The British journalist launches the London-based blog, which covered tech startups. By 2012, he was sued for allegedly not paying contributors who alleged that he owed them more than £10,000. The blog closes in 2013 and Milo sold it in 2014.
2014 — Milo joins Breitbart News As an incendiary Breitbart columnist, Milo relies on shock, and mostly targets feminism, Islam, liberals, social justice and his idea of political correctness. Column subjects have included “Why I Don’t Like Beyonce” and “Birth Control Makes Women Unattractive and Crazy.”
August 2014 — GamerGate The online “movement” called "GamerGate" draws on some existing toxic attitudes in the video game community as women gain more visibility in the space. Beginning with a screed by a jilted man against his ex-girlfriend, GamerGaters claimed to fight for “ethics in games journalism.” However, the most vocal component of GamerGate almost exclusively focused on harassing female game developers and journalists online.
October 2014 — Milo and GamerGate Milo begins to write about GamerGate for Breitbart, claiming feminists are taking over and destroying the industry. He gains acclaim in the GamerGate community and becomes one of its stars, gaining many online followers from his involvement.
2015 — Breitbart starts "Breitbart Tech" Breitbart starts “Tech” section that Yiannopoulos runs as a senior editor. Through GamerGate in particular, he rises as a figure in the “alt-right” movement. Breitbart Chairman and Donald Trump adviser Steve Bannon once described Breitbart as the “platform of the alt-right.” The “alt-right,” it should be noted, is widely regarded as a white nationalist movement.
2015 — "Dangerous Faggot” College Tour starts As he becomes better known for his incendiary, often hateful conservative opinions, Milo kicks off a speaking tour of U.S. college campuses called the “Dangerous Faggot Tour." (He is openly gay.) His appearances are met with protests, with critics claiming he spreads hate speech. These protests sometimes cause university officials to cancel his speaking engagements.
July 2016 — Milo goes after "Ghostbusters" Again gaining notoriety in conservative “geek” circles, Milo pans Sony's all-women “Ghostbusters” reboot on Breitbart. His review of the movie coincided with many complaints around the internet, mostly leveled by men, claiming the reboot with a female cast was somehow an attack on culture by the forces of political correctness and feminism.
July 2016 — Milo attacks Leslie Jones and is banned from Twitter Milo takes to Twitter to insult "Ghostbusters" co-star Leslie Jones, and in so doing kicks off a harassment campaign against Jones by his followers. Jones leaves Twitter, and Milo is permanently banned from the site for “inciting harassment.” Milo positions the ban as an attack on his free speech rights.
July 2016 — Milo stumps for Trump Gaining fame and notoriety, Milo throws his particular influence behind Donald Trump's campaign for president. He hosts a "Gays for Trump" event at the GOP National Convention, and refers to Trump as "Daddy."
December 2016 — Milo blasts transgender student on stage While visiting the University of Milwaukee, Milo showed the photo of a transgender student, named her, and disparaged her on stage.
December 2016 — Book deal Threshold Editions, an imprint of publisher Simon & Schuster that focuses on conservative works, signs a $250,000 book deal with Milo for a book titled "Dangerous."
Jan. 23, 2017 — Milo supporter shoots man at protest A Milo appearance at the University of Washington prompts a student protest during which a supporter of Milo and Donald Trump shot a protester, seriously injuring him. The shooter claimed he was acting in self-defense.
Feb. 2, 2017 — Protesters force speech cancellation at Berkeley Protesters appear before a Milo event at the University of California at Berkeley, including members of the “Black Bloc” anarchy group. The protests turn violent. Police break up the rally, and Berkeley cancels Milo’s appearance as a result.
Feb. 18, 2017 — Comedian Bill Maher hosts Milo on “Real Time” Maher interviews Milo on HBO's “Real Time With Bill Maher,” despite the controversy the move created. Maher, responding to the Berkeley protest in particular, claims that bringing Milo to the show was essential to the protection of free speech.
Feb. 18, 2017 — CPAC announces Milo will headline conference The Conservative Political Action Committee announced Milo as its keynote speaker.
Feb. 20, 2017 — Milo on video defending sexual relations with boys A recording from Milo’s appearance on the podcast “Drunken Peasants” begins to circulate the internet. In it, Milo defends the idea of adults having sexual relationships with adolescent boys. He also joked that his experience of being molested by an older man when he was a young teen had made him good at oral sex.
Feb. 20, 2017 — Milo resigns from Breitbart Milo says in a statement, "I would be wrong to allow my poor choice of words to detract from my colleagues' important reporting, so today I am resigning from Breitbart, effective immediately. This decision is mine alone."
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A timeline of the conservative pundit’s high-profile career
Breitbart News editor Milo Yiannopoulos' rising star has turned into a meteor plummeting toward Earth. After video of Milo voicing support for adults to have sexual relationships with boys began circulating the internet, the Conservative Political Action Conference dropped him for its keynote and his book deal was canceled.
Here's the complete timeline of Milo's rise, from his opportunism in the "GamerGate" harassment campaign against women in the video game industry, to his resignation from Breitbart News.
