Anonymous Threatens To Expose Bored Ape Yacht Club's Alleged Roots In Racist 4chan Memes As Viral Debate Reignites

A video purporting to be a threat against the Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT collection from hacktivist organization Anonymous was released this past weekend. In the video, a figure in a Guy Fawkes mask threatens Yuga Labs (the company behind Bored Apes) with what sounds like investigative journalism: Anonymous promises to research the original intentions of the NFT collection when it was created, and discover whether it is racist (which has been brought into question since earlier this year).

Anonymous Message for Enthusiasts of the NFT Collection, BAYC #burnbayc #bayc #Anonymous #nfts #nftcommunit #burnbayc #bayc #nfts #nftcommunity pic.twitter.com/jWzW0avXeS

— Anonymous (@anonewsco) August 13, 2022

The video comes after a viral YouTube video essay by Philion (1.7 million views and counting) accused Yuga Labs of “trolling” and using “cryptography and symbolism” to spread esoteric 4chan imagery. Not long after, notable streamer Asmongold also covered the information in a video of his own.

Online chatter began to circulate months ago about BAYC NFTs incorporating neo-Nazi and neo-Confederate imagery. In particular, the logo of the Bored Ape Yacht Club is said to resemble the logo of the S.S. Some have also accused the Bored Apes themselves of depicting cartoonish racial stereotypes.

Has anyone noticed that one of the bored ape kennel clubs backgrounds is named "ss monke biz". SS was a major paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party, Mohnke was one of the original members of the SS-Staff Guard. Another obvious BAYC Nazi dog whistle. pic.twitter.com/F4sMx8aSlE

— Jello (@SamJell0) August 13, 2022

On April 30th 2022 The Otherside launched. It was also the anniversary of the day Hitler died. The Nazi symbolism for #BAYC might have seemed like a joke when you first heard about it, but a lot of people are about to hear about it. What’s your opinion? pic.twitter.com/ST8zcqpCwl

— Metavibe (🥃,🦉) (@metavibz) May 1, 2022

BAYC's use of triggering racist symbolism, unconscious or conscious moved me the most. Search racist symbolism on Google, books in any library, in any country, you will find these similar/same symbols being used for racist purposes and dehumanization. pic.twitter.com/98DqBlq7vr

— SEAN 🔜💫 (@SeanKGriffin) June 27, 2022

The more esoteric symbolism is purportedly connected to white supremacist appropriations of Hindu texts, the drink Aperol Spritz and Julius Evola. The YouTube video essay relies heavily on the work of Ryder Ripps, an artist Know Your Meme interviewed a while back about the controversy. Ripps is a conceptual artist, online culture researcher and former partner of Azealia Banks.

Ripps has connected the Bored Ape Yacht Club’s symbols and in-jokes to bits and memes on 4chan as detailed on his personal website. The artist, who has his own rival NFT collection to BAYC and is currently being sued by Yuga for copying their NFTs, has also continued to comment about the situation on Twitter.

i dont know why the yuga people are getting all hot about the anonymous video.. claiming its "fake"? the video just said the hacker group was investigating the allegations.. i thought they have nothing to hide? if thats the case they should be ecstatic no?

— RYDER-RIPPS.ETH 🔜 (@ryder_ripps) August 15, 2022

always fascinating to read chan takes on this situation pic.twitter.com/A3CwPI5d5D

— RYDER-RIPPS.ETH 🔜 (@ryder_ripps) August 15, 2022

Defenders of the Bored Apes and Yuga Labs have argued the Anonymous organization that posted the video is not the "official Anonymous" and declared the collection is innocent.

Lol anonymous didn’t post about BAYC a FAKE anonymous page did and anti-Yuga detractors are posting it with zero due diligence…What happened to 100s of hours of research? pic.twitter.com/9Zfes5MdOP

— NFT POWER RANKINGS 🚨 (@nftpowerranking) August 14, 2022

Others, however, have proposed the NFT collection is “tainted” as the viral debate continues picking up steam.

The #bayc collection is tainted.This is no longer a debate – but fact now.The clock has started for those who did not yet realize this.Everyone else, can continue peddling or sitting on your rigged apes.Tick tock.⏲️⏲️⏲️⏲️⏲️#burnbayc#bayc#nftcommunity#nft

— nxg4n (@nxg4n) August 14, 2022