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Friday 25 May 2018

Raheem Kassam SACKED By Breitbart?

[UPDATE: Raheem Kassam has denied vehemently that he was sacked by Breitbart.

Although the Breitbart statement does not confirm the contention one way or the other, I am happy to put his denial on record.

I note that he has not recorded any objection to any other part of this post]

These are troubled times for the convocation of the irredeemably batshit otherwise known as Breitbart. Traffic is rumoured to have dropped by around 50% recently, Robert Mercer has sold his stake in the operation to his daughters, and Steve Bannon has parted company with the site. Now has come the news that one of Bannon’s first hires for Breitbart London may have been given the order of the boot.
Raheem “call me Ray” Kassam, a Walter Mitty figure of no discernible ability, was handed the role of Editor-in-Chief by Bannon back in 2014. He had little credible backstory except for a spell at The Commentator, and his deservedly short-lived venture Trending Central, that title hinting at Kassam’s staggering pretentiousness.

Even after his time as aide to former UKIP Oberscheissenführer Nigel “Thirsty” Farage, Kassam was able to walk straight back into his role at Breitbart. How times have changed: as The Atlantic has told, “Breitbart London editor Raheem Kassam has left the company, a source with direct knowledge of his departure told The Atlantic, marking the exit of one of the most visible legacies of the company’s former chairman Steve Bannon”.

There was more. “Bannon brought Kassam to Breitbart in 2014, hiring him to run the site’s London bureau. Kassam is closely associated with the anti-European Union, anti-immigration United Kingdom Independence Party and the pro-Brexit movement. He was also once a top aide to former UKIP leader Nigel Farage, and in 2016 launched a failed bid to lead UKIP himself”. Failed bid? It was never a serious bid in the first place.

Kassam couldn’t organise an act of alcoholic derangement in an EU wine lake, let alone a serious political party, which the Kippers were still pretending to be when Mr Thirsty left the scene and Kassam had another of his attacks of pretentiousness.
Still, no doubt Kassam has other ambitions? Well, maybe: “As for what he’ll do next, Kassam said he’s joined the advisory board for ISSEP, the political training school for right-wing leaders being launched by Marion Maréchal-Le Pen, the niece of Front National leader Marine Le Pen. Its website lists him as a ‘member of the scientific council.’” Scientific Council? “Ray” Kassam? Don’t make me laugh.

He’s also not lost the Walter Mitty touch: “Kassam told TheWrap that he was considering a challenge to Mayor Sadiq Khan … Sadiq Khan is up for re-election in 2020. He needs a good challenger”. Khan may need a good challenger. But Kassam is neither good, nor a challenger. He’s an amateur, a clown, a phoney, and he isn’t going to do it.

Raheem Kassam had a very good job at Breitbart which his talents did not merit. Now he has to find another mug - or do some work for a change. Just rejoice at that news.

7 comments:

Burlington Bertie from Bow said...

Kassam consorting with the Front National, eh? That sounds sensible.

How long before he finally confirms his political confusion by founding the Anti-exMuslim America-worshipping Right Wing Pricks Party?

AndyC said...

First the sandwich monitor in the doo-doo, then Robinson getting banged up, now Call me Ray out on his ear. A hat trick. Truly a Bona Day.

Anonymous said...

We are witnessing all the key players in Vote leave boxing their belongings and creeping away form the crime-scene.
Cambridge Analytica has closed, but may return in another guise.
Farage, and plenty of unpleasant less closeted fascists are now trading as "Independent journalists".
All the other assorted misfits and weirdoes have changed job, or are in that process.

Make no mistake, this collective shit-stain will return; united around an unacceptable cause by the attractive dollars of a different billionaire provocateur.

The one thing that none of these clowns can resist is money, plenty of it.

Steve Woods said...

Yesterday's Guardian reports Marion Maréchal Le Pen has dropped the Le Pen part of her surname.

Apparently, it's more toxic than her fascist views.

Arnold said...

“Kassam told TheWrap that he was considering a challenge to Mayor Sadiq Khan … Sadiq Khan is up for re-election in 2020. He needs a good challenger"
Good. He can split the [insert derogatory adjectives here] vote with Hatey Katie.

Anonymous said...

I'd love to see Kassam and/or Hopkins stand for Mayor.

They'd get their arses kicked democratically from dawn to sunset.

Which, of course, is why they'll never stand.

Jonathan said...

Love to see Raheem and Hatey Katey throw their ticket into the Mayoral contest, to see them lose their deposit and what remains of any credibility will be a delight to view.