The incident occurred when Ramaswamy asked the student to focus on “substance instead of stylistic” attacks.The student told Ramaswamy’s co-panellist Charlie Kirk: “This is what you do, you take people and you put them under the spotlight.”
Kirk put up the video with the caption: “Did Hater Try to Flash Charlie Kirk to get him banned on YouTube?”
Did Hater Try to Flash Charlie Kirk to Get Him Banned on YouTube?
Google, which owns YouTube says: “Explicit content meant to be sexually gratifying is not allowed on YouTube. Posting pornography may result in content removal or channel termination. Videos containing fetish content will be removed or age-restricted. In most cases, violent, graphic, or humiliating fetishes are not allowed on YouTube.”
Several commentators shared the video online:
Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, visited the University of Pittsburgh as part of his “You’re Being Brainwashed” tour to engage with students on controversial topics, such as the war in Ukraine and transgender issues. Approximately 250 attendees, including university students, high school pupils, and parents, gathered at Crumley Park where Kirk sat under a tent with a sign that read “Prove me wrong.” Many attendees, some wearing “Make America Great Again” hats, cheered Kirk during his debates.
Kirk’s visit comes at a time when the new academic year and the election cycle overlap, heightening the tension on issues discussed on campuses nationwide. He highlighted, in a press release, the dangers of misinformation on campuses and online, claiming that falsehoods are being perpetuated at an unprecedented rate. Kirk’s organization, Turning Point USA, aims to educate and train students to promote principles of freedom, free markets, and limited government, with active chapters across the nation.
The tour focuses on challenging “left-wing orthodoxies” present in higher education, giving students the opportunity to experience different perspectives. This aligns with Kirk’s mission to promote free speech, which he views as fundamental to Western freedom. Kirk’s debate videos, many featuring contentious exchanges with students, have garnered millions of views online, contributing to his rising influence in conservative circles.
The university’s Turning Point USA chapter president, Colten Marshall, facilitated the event, stating his goal was to create a space for conservative students to build a community and express their views freely. He acknowledged that while not everyone would agree with Kirk’s opinions, he wanted to ensure that diverse voices were heard on campus.
Students who attended the event expressed mixed opinions. University student Raed Safdar, who participated, felt that while the debates were entertaining, they were also somewhat imbalanced, as inexperienced students struggled to match Kirk’s debating skills in front of a large audience. Another attendee, Jackson Hopkins, echoed this sentiment, observing that Kirk’s extensive experience gave him a clear advantage over less seasoned student debaters.
The event sparked discussion about the value of university education, with the local Turning Point chapter even challenging followers to “prove Charlie wrong” on whether college is a scam. While some students, like Safdar, acknowledged that higher education can offer value, especially in fields like engineering, they also noted that the high cost of tuition often makes the return on investment questionable, aligning with Kirk’s criticisms.