Here’s a message Kickstarter won’t miss.
Hat Tip Films, responsible for the Gosnell movie, erected a billboard slamming Kickstarter – a half mile away from Kickstarter’s headquarters in Brooklyn, New York. Erected on April 29th, the sign criticized crowdfunding site Kickstarter for refusing permission to fundraise for the Gosnell project. Picture Below.
The billboard reads “Kicked out by Kickstarter,” and continues “Gosnell Movie raises $1 million and counting! To the public – we say ‘thank you!’ To Kickstarter we say – ‘you stink at censorship!’”
Headed by Hat Tip Film’s Phelim McAleer and wife Ann McElhinney, the Gosnell project debuted on crowdfunding site Indiegogo to raise funds from the public after Kickstarter complained that the project described babies “stabbed to death.” Kickstarter’s initial refusal later surfaced as hypocritical in comparison to other projects permitted on the site.
“They claim to like diversity but don't like diversity of opinion,” McAleer said of Kickstarter. While he acknowledged Kickstarter’s rights to refuse a project as a private company, McAleer demanded that the site, “be honest and announce that certain opinions and ideas are not welcome” there. “It’s sad, but that’s the truth,” he explained to the Media Research Center.
With 12 days left to go, the Gosnell movie’s Indiegogo campaign boasts more than $1.6 million raised with 16,500 funders – 76 percent of the $2.1 million goal. The project would result in a scripted drama based on abortionist Kermit Gosnell’s trial and grand jury report.
Abortion Dr. Kermit Gosnell was convicted last May of murdering babies in his Philadelphia clinic. A mere 12-15 reporters attended the trial, in which witnesses described baby abortion survivors “swimming” in toilets. Not until after a public outcry and letters from members of the House of Representatives did all three broadcast networks cover the story.
Although the nets covered other crowdfunded campaigns in the past, they have yet to cover the Gosnell movie campaign.
— Katie Yoder is Staff Writer, Joe and Betty Anderlik Fellow in Culture and Media at the Media Research Center. Follow Katie Yoder on Twitter.
