Steven Crowder And Ben Shapiro Arguing Over $50-Million Daily Wire Contract Stirs Up Debates And Annoys Onlookers
Steven Crowder, as part of his self-styled "free agency" period in which his podcast Louder With Crowder is not affiliated with a larger organization, recently scoffed at and publicly shamed an offer he received to have his show go under another organization, one that was later revealed to be The Daily Wire.
Ben Shapiro, a co-founder of Daily Wire, seemingly took offense to Steven's public comments about the contract, especially the words Crowder used to equate the contract to "slavery." Over the last 24 hours, the controversy surrounding all of this has since stirred up tons of discussions and debates online.
What bothers me about
scrowder</a> v. <a href="https://twitter.com/realDailyWire?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">realDailyWire is the tribalistic response from the public. You can think Crowder is right & not be stupid. You can think Daily Wire is right without being a “pro-censorship big tech shill”. Social media is the antithesis to nuanced discourse.— Viva Frei (@thevivafrei) January 20, 2023
.@RealCandaceO on Steven Crowder: "Unrelatable. People are trying to pay for bacon and eggs right now at the grocery store…and you're over here crying because somebody couldn't meet you at $120 million…It was a total bitch move." pic.twitter.com/7LeKQieER8
— Candace Owens Podcast (@candaceowenspod) January 19, 2023
In particular, the term "slavery" being used despite the contract being for a whopping $50 million over a four-year period has angered a lot of people online, with many seeing this as a "no-brainer" deal and others shaming both parties for this public fighting.
Steven Crowder when he sees someone unable to support their family while working 50 hours a week: The minimum wage should be even lower. I love capitalism!Steven Crowder when Ben Shapiro offers him $50 million to make videos: HE IS TRYING TO EXPLOIT MY LABOR! THIS IS SLAVERY!!!
— KnowNothing (@KnowNothingTV) January 19, 2023
Holy fuck Steven Crowder was offered $50 million from the Daily Wire and not only turned it down but he's so offended by the offer that he's putting them on blast.Ever wonder why there's so many right wing grifters? Because it fucking pays
— The Serfs (@theserfstv) January 19, 2023
Naturally, when something happens between two big-name people or organizations, there are sides that are picked for their own objective reasons. As such, some are picking Shapiro's side in the viral debate because of his history of supporting Crowder in the past, as well as saying that $50 million and the language of the contract were fair.
Others, however, are supporting Crowder against Shapiro for stating that Crowder's points on the contract equating to an expanded overreach of "big tech censorship" is something that should be stood against in all forms. Also being pushed into the mix through anecdote is Alex Jones, who purportedly was less controlling over the content and performance of who he gave money to than Shapiro is.
Ben Shapiro was Steven Crowder's first lawyer. Ben helped Steven negotiate his first contract.When YouTube demonetize Crowder, Ben made so much noise about it that Susan Wojcicki called him personally, and he yelled at her. On Crowder's behalf.Truly objectionable behavior.
— Sour Patch Lyds 👎🏻🇺🇦 (@sourpatchlyds) January 20, 2023
Why @scrowder is right – why penalize for big tech strikes when youre building a membership businessWhy DW is right – Crowder is owed nothing from DW and people can choose to join or not, no one is owed DW resources1/
— Tim Pool (@Timcast) January 20, 2023
On the Crowder thing…I’ve negotiated with everyone you can think of in the space. Even in last few months with Blaze and DW. Sometimes you get there sometimes not. But can truly say I’ve never had bad interaction with anyone at either company. Independence was key for me…
— Dave Rubin (@RubinReport) January 20, 2023
When I was sponsored by Alex Jones, he never took control of my social media, never demanded my ad revenue, and never penalized me for getting censored by big tech. It was great. @scrowder is right. This is the way conservatives should do business.
— Kaitlin Bennett (@KaitMarieox) January 20, 2023
Aside from those personally involved in the highly publicized contract battle or offering their takes, many appeared to be simply annoyed or dismissive about the whole debacle, as well as others finding it fodder for memes and jokes.
(reads the words "Stephen Crowder $50 million contract") pic.twitter.com/AxoypMNRj4
— Rob (@robrousseau) January 19, 2023
Who had “Stephen Crowder going to war with the Daily Wire” on their 2023 bingo card?
— i cook with TALLOW (@justquinn9) January 18, 2023
I don't give a fuck about Stephen Crowder or The Daily Wire. pic.twitter.com/uZ403Y69Xq
— Great Ape Reset🌎☄️💥 (@Last_Individual) January 20, 2023
As the controversy ensues, fellow podcaster Elijah Schaffer shared one take on the issue that is at least unlikely to lead to getting dragged on social media for picking the wrong side, which is to simply say, "Thanks Obama."
At this point I admit I have no idea what’s going with this DW/Crowder issue It’s just getting weirder by the day I’m going to take the safe bet & blame Obama for all of this It hasn’t been the same since 2008
— E (@ElijahSchaffer) January 20, 2023
Share Pin
Vulture051
I will give you eleventy gorillion dollarz but you lose 1 billion every time your heart beats.
Why are you refusing this exceptionally fair deal!? What, is bodiggity septajillion dollarinos not enough money for you!? THE SHEER ARROGANCE!!
Iso
Ew gross, Shapiro.
Nurdboy42
spacecowboy27
From what I understand, the contract had a stipulation that if he was demonetized or received on a platform like youtube (which was definitely going to happen given his subject matter), his pay would get cut. THATS what he was upset about
Rynjin
Sounds fair to me. If he's entering into a business relationship the onus is on him to make sure his own value is maintained as an asset. It's the same reason athletes often have contract clauses about not doing dangerous stunts that might lead to injuries.
Gumshoe
Yeah but that's also a completely reasonable thing to have happen when they're offering him that much money. If DW is going to offer him that much money, they need some terms so that he doesn't just torpedo any chances at making a profit on their investment. He probably could have negotiated a lot on that though anyway if he wanted. He could have taken a much smaller fee in exchange for less of a demonitisation hit, but I think more likely he was never planning to accept their offer so he decided to publicly grandstand about it instead to boost his own profile.
H-BOMB
50 million isn't a lot in this context, it doesn't just go into his pocket he has a business to run. Also this is steven crowder the guy Carlos maza started the adpocalypse over he's a right winger on a social media site he could get demonitized even if he followed the rules to the T and the daily wire should know this.
*sigh*
Ah yes, people who know nothing about how running a business works crying and beating their chests when they see someone publicly negotiate their contracts.
Nevermind the fact that 90% of Crowder's issue with the contract has nothing to do with the money, but about the stifling language, just look at the funny big number and be angry!
The Christmas Pyro
Pokejoseph64
AJ_Lethal
grifter civil war
H-BOMB
UnKewln00b
Give each man a knife and let them settle it out, no matter what, we're the winners in the end.
polandgod75
When the bro-douche and annoying nerd fight