Creators Paid In Smear Campaign Against Kamala Harris

CREATOR NEWSLETTER

Issue #271 | September 10, 2024

On Sept. 8, Semafor broke some wild news, sharing that a mysterious “network,” which operated with Zoom calls and Zelle payments, paid influencers to bolster “sexual smears” of Vice President Kamala Harris. So far, there’s no evidence clarifying what the mystery network is and who is funding it.

This smear campaign took place in July, when Democrats were vying for Harris’ presidential nomination. Along with being instructed to pedal more typical Republican talking points, the influencers were explicitly told to promote “lurid sexual jibes” aimed at Harris.

Anonymous sources told Semafor that none of the influencers in the scheme shared their identities, and instead, they joined video calls anonymously with their cameras off. The only person who was publicly identified was the one and only Long Island queen George Santos, who allegedly turned his camera on to urge the group not to pursue the “sexual allegations” and comments against Harris (you know it’s bad when even George Santos draws the line).

Creators are an inextricable part of the political landscape right now — whether it’s commentators being paid by Russian operatives to make pro-Trump content (read more about that here), entrepreneurial teens making bank with TikTok Live Harris v. Trump debates (read more about that here), or Harris inviting a bunch of creators to a meme-y New York Fashion Week event featuring a “grab them by the…” claw machine and a couch with a “property of JD Vance” sign (see here).

As we gear up for the first presidential debate between Harris and Trump tonight, creators are the pulse of what little remains of American civic engagement. These days, a meme reaches more voters than NBC’s Nightly News.

– Grace Stanley, Deputy Editor

PERSONALITIES

Brandon Farris Has Figured Out YouTube

With over a decade on the platform, YouTuber Brandon Farris has learned to stick to what works. 

By Steven Asarch, Passionfruit Contributor

→ READ THE FULL STORY

IN THE BIZ

PLATFORMS

YouTube Announces Deepfake Prevention Tools For Creators

YouTube is targeting the growing threat of AI impersonation on the platform. 

By Charlotte Colombo, Passionfruit Contributor

READ THE FULL STORY →

PLATFORMS

Roblox Announces Updated Revenue Sharing Model and Generative AI Tool For Creators

‘We’re setting the groundwork for a more expansive range of content on the platform.’

By Charlotte Colombo, Passionfruit Contributor

READ THE FULL STORY →

JOB BOARD

YOUTUBE MADE ME DO IT

This week, it’s the season 2 finale of the Reactorverse Podcast with a special interview! Host Eric Rodriguez, aka Nerd Chronic, sits down with Passionfruit Editorial Director Drew Grant to reflect on the show’s journey and the valuable insights gained from interviewing others in the reaction space.

Be sure to subscribe to the Passionfruit YouTube channel so you don’t miss an episode! If you’d prefer to listen in audio form, we also have a podcast feed.

Copyright © 2024 Passionfruit, All rights reserved.

You are receiving this email because you signed up to get the latest tips, tricks,
and trends in the creator economy from Passionfruit.

Have an idea for our next big story or want to get featured? Email us at tips@passionfru.it

Don’t want to hear from us anymore?
Click here to unsubscribe 

To view in your browser click here 

Content for Creators.

News, tips, and tricks delivered to your inbox twice a week.

Newsletter Signup

Latest Newsletters

  • 🎬 The Actress Behind M3GAN Is a Creator

    🎬 The Actress Behind M3GAN Is a Creator

    CREATOR ECONOMY NEWSLETTER Issue #110 | Feb. 21, 2023 M3GAN, a comedy-horror movie about an artificial intelligence doll, saw viral success through social media marketing since its December 2022 debut.  Behind the voice of the leading doll character is 18-year-old actress Jenna Davis (@itsjennadavis), who is also a creator and influencer. Davis garnered millions of…

    By

    Grace Stanley

  • 💍 The Perils of Influencer Divorces

    💍 The Perils of Influencer Divorces

    CREATOR ECONOMY NEWSLETTER Issue #109 | Feb. 16, 2023 Influencer public breakups and divorces tend to get messy. A recent example was in September 2022, when Ned Fulmer, a member of the YouTube collective Try Guys, faced viral scrutiny for an extra-marital affair he had with a co-worker. The high-stakes story led many fans to…

    By

    Grace Stanley

  • 💔 Your Marriage Counselor Is Now a TikToker

    💔 Your Marriage Counselor Is Now a TikToker

    CREATOR ECONOMY NEWSLETTER Issue #108 | Feb. 14, 2023 More and more creators are opting to keep their day jobs with the rise of “workplace” content. For many professionals, sharing their expertise in their given field can prove lucrative—especially on TikTok, as it rises to become a top search engine and one of the largest…

    By

    Grace Stanley