Kony Film Creators Release New Video Addressing Criticisms [VIDEO]

By now most of you will have seen the infamous Kony 2012 video which, as of this morning, has become the most viral video ever. You’ll also have seen the considerable backlash, both from Ugandans and elsewhere. Now, watch how the original video’s creators responded to criticism, live.

The latest video, posted yesterday, sees Invisible Children CEO Ben Keesey and Co-Founder Jason Russel answering to widespread criticism in a live interview with CNN’s Don Lemon. Rather than answer questions directly, the duo mince words and quickly shift focus onto another topic or jump on the defensive.

The video opens with short clip of Evelyn Apoko, a survivor of LRA imprisonment, giving her opinion of the video. In it she says,

It’s very painful for me to hear that Joseph Kony is right now in the United States…a celebrity. And I ask myself, what is a celebrity? The kids are the ones who are supposed to be a celebrity because they have been through a lot.

Keesey begins his response by saying that he couldn’t agree more and that Evelyn is a close friend of theirs. However, after the interview the claim is challenged by Lemon who spoke to Apoko just before filming at which time she said she the exchange was not as amicable as the founders claimed.

The video also features two short clips of Ugandans responding to the initial Kony film. Both of the Kampalians interviewed questioned the organization’s motives, particularly where funding is going. Keesey and Russel both laugh off the implication that they’re personally benefiting, claiming that 81% of their profit from 2011 went into “programs” and that they have always considered the funds as “the children’s money”.

Interestingly, Jedidia Jenkins, Invisible Children’s Director of Ideology had the following to say about their budgetary breakdown,

Thirty-seven percent of our budget goes directly to central African-related programs, about 20 percent goes to salaries and overhead, and the remaining 43 percent goes to our awareness programs. […] But aside from that, the truth about Invisible Children is that we are not an aid organization, and we don’t intend to be. I think people think we’re over there delivering shoes or food. But we are an advocacy and awareness organization.

This is particularly interesting when considering that over 500 000 action kits have already been ordered at $30 a pop. That equals at least $15 million in the last couple of days alone.

It’s also worth mentioning that both Keesey and Russel agreed with those questioning why the campaign wasn’t launched six or seven years ago when it was actually relevant to Ugandans, but they could offer no reason. The pair also acknowledge that Kony is no longer in Uganda but give no explanation as to why they portray him to be so in their film.

Throughout the interview it seems the pair was trying to drown out Lemon and his questions with a flood of meaningless words. Unfortunately he found little joy when asking them for direct answers and speculation surrounding the issue continues.

[Source: CNN, Invisible Children, Visible Children]

http://URL Svenja

Even if they are pocketing from ‘the children’s money’ I still believe in their cause!! Everyone is so quick to criticize, but at least they are doing something about this massive crime against humanity. At least they are creating awareness. And charity is a full time job, so why can’t they take home a salary. I didn’t know who Jacob Kony was until I watched their video, and I’m sure thousands didn’t either. And now that I know, I’ll share it with everyone I know and hope they do the same. There’s no price on catching this animal. and if this campaign will do it, then good.
http://URL Anton

@svenja – you still don’t know who Joseph Kony is. You can start by learning his name.
http://stickmanscorral.blogspot.com stickman

As many people have pointed out, the real reason to be wary of Invisible Children’s campaign is that the singular fixation on Joseph Kony — monstrous though he may be — is actually distracting from the main issues that currently plague Uganda…. Such as the massive persecution of gay people. (For its part, the Ugandan Government is presently mulling a bill that will make homosexuality an offence punishable by life imprisonment or, in some cases, by death!)

I specially mention the gay issue, because the Kony 2012 viral video prominently features a US Senator from Oklahoma, James Inhofe, who happens to be one of the major political backers of the movement. Inhofe is an evangelical type who’s discriminatory bent was beautifully captured by his 1994 campaign slogan: “God, Gays and Guns“… I’ll leave you to guess which of those he is for, and which against. [Side note: He also claims that the man-made climate change is a hoax, because God doesn't mention it in the Bible. I shit you not.]

More disturbingly, Inhofe has met on several occasions — and apparently acted as inspiration for — David Bahati, the Ugandan politician that first tabled the infamous anti-homosexuality bill mentioned above. (See links here: http://bit.ly/wYcJKl)

Invisible Children are marketing this as a non-partisan campaign; a very laudable thing. However, I can’t be the only person who thinks it strange that they would unquestionably accept public support from a character like James Inhofe, given Uganda’s current problems (and his implicit role in them).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCv1GybEUxc&sns=em&fb_source=message Hilton

This “cause” deserves serious questioning ..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCv1GybEUxc&sns=em&fb_source=message
http://URL CMf

@Hilton I agree. What’s interesting for me, is the fact that the US (not the producers o the vid but the string pullers behind the scenes) are now extremely interested in the plight of the children in Uganda. Could it be that they are sniffing around the spoils of the trillions of natural resources discovered in the area. It would be mighty convenient for them to drum up support for a small war or at least a military base in the area. They have been looking for an entry strategy into Africa for a while, now that Iraq and Afghanistan are well pillaged.

What is more pleasing to me is that loads of people smelt the rat. Not like 9/11, which took people a few years longer to question.

P.s. I don’t question the suffering of the children or even that Kony is a bad man, just making the point that there will always be a bogey man (ala Bin Laden) that they can use as a reason to invade. Heavy, I know.

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