Carl Benjamin#Rape comments

{{Short description|British YouTuber and political commentator (born 1979)}}

{{about|the YouTube commentator|the American abstract expressionist painter|Karl Benjamin}}

{{Infobox person

| honorific_prefix =

| name = Carl Benjamin

| image = File:Carl Benjamin 2018 (cropped).png

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| caption =

| birth_name = Carl Charles Benjamin

| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1979|9}}

| birth_place =

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| death_date =

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| nationality = English

| citizenship = United Kingdom

| education =

| alma_mater = University of London (BA)

| occupation = {{hlist|YouTuber|Political commentator}}

| years_active =

| known_for =

| party = UKIP (2018–{{circa}} 2020)

| spouse =

| partner =

| children = 2

| mother =

| father =

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| website =

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{{Infobox YouTube personality

| embed = yes

| channel_handle = SargonofAkkad

| channel_display_name = Sargon of Akkad

| years active = 2013–present

| genre =

| subscribers = {{plainlist|

Sargon of Akkad: 875 thousand
The Thinkery: 367 thousand{{cite web |title=About The Thinkery |website=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/@TheThinkery/about}}
Akkad Daily: 311 thousand{{cite web |title=About Akkad Daily |website=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/@AkkadDaily/about}}

}}

| views = {{plainlist|

Sargon of Akkad: 5.2 million
The Thinkery: 136.9 million
Akkad Daily: 3.1 million

}}

| associated_acts =

| silver_button = yes

| silver_year = 2015{{cite AV media |date=26 April 2015 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhqXZJktKb8 |title=100,000 Subscriber Vlog and Recommendations |publisher=Sargon of Akkad |via=YouTube |access-date=13 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211101095927/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhqXZJktKb8 |archive-date=1 November 2021 |url-status=live}}

| gold_button = no

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| stats_update = {{date|2024-06-09}}

}}

| module2 = {{Listen |embed= yes |filename= SargonofAkkadAlternativeMedia.ogg |title= Benjamin's voice |type= speech }}

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Carl Charles Benjamin (born September 1979), also known by his online pseudonym Sargon of Akkad, is a British right-wing YouTuber and political commentator. A former member of the Eurosceptic UK Independence Party (UKIP), he was one of its unsuccessful candidates for the South West England constituency at the 2019 European Parliament election.

During the Gamergate harassment campaign, Benjamin promoted the conspiracy theory that feminists were infiltrating video game research groups to influence game development. Since Gamergate, he has focused on promoting Brexit and criticising feminism, Islam, identity politics, and what he views as political correctness in the media and other institutions. Benjamin has been described as politically right-wing and far-right by multiple outlets. He denies this description of his politics, instead calling himself a classical liberal and a sceptic.

YouTube career

Benjamin's YouTube channel drew attention during the Gamergate harassment campaign in 2014.{{cite news|last1=Rozsa|first1=Matthew|title=A Deep Dive into the Alt-right's Greatest YouTube Hits|url=https://www.dailydot.com/upstream/youtube-alt-right-richard-spencer/|access-date=5 March 2017|work=The Daily Dot|date=7 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306132454/https://www.dailydot.com/upstream/youtube-alt-right-richard-spencer/|archive-date=6 March 2017|url-status=live}} Inside Higher Ed said his videos on the topic advanced a conspiracy theory in which he argued members of the Digital Games Research Association (DiGRA) were actively plotting to influence video game development, saying DiGRA "became co-opted by feminists to become a think tank by which gender ideologues can disseminate their ideology to the gaming press and ultimately to gamers".{{cite news|last1=Straumstein|first1=Carl|date=11 November 2014|title=#Gamergate and Games Research|work=Inside Higher Ed|url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2014/11/11/gamergate-supporters-attack-digital-games-research-association|url-status=live|access-date=21 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704052646/https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2014/11/11/gamergate-supporters-attack-digital-games-research-association|archive-date=4 July 2017|quote=Sargon of Akkad, a YouTube user who regularly discusses "gaming, anti-feminism, history and fiction" on his channel, has fueled that conspiracy theory.}}{{cite journal|last1=Chess|first1=Shira|last2=Shaw|first2=Adrienne|date=5 April 2016|title=We Are All Fishes Now: DiGRA, Feminism, and GamerGate|url=http://todigra.org/index.php/todigra/article/view/39/91|journal=Transactions of the Digital Games Research Association|volume=2|issue=2|pages=21–30|doi=10.26503/todigra.v2i2.39|issn=2328-9422|doi-access=|access-date=26 October 2019|archive-date=13 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190913215018/http://todigra.org/index.php/todigra/article/view/39/91|url-status=dead}}{{cite journal|last1=Mortensen|first1=Torill Elvira|date=13 April 2016|title=Anger, Fear, and Games: The Long Event of #GamerGate|journal=Games and Culture|volume=13|issue=8|pages=787–806|doi=10.1177/1555412016640408|s2cid=147383984|issn=1555-4120|url=https://pure.itu.dk/portal/da/publications/b7dde92b-90cb-4cb0-87b1-16aa8fc38055 }} He also posted content that was critical of feminist video game critics and academics and posted content that was critical of feminism in general.{{cite report |url=https://datasociety.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/DS_Alternative_Influence.pdf |title=Alternative Influence: Broadcasting the Reactionary Right on YouTube |last=Lewis |first=Rebecca |date=18 September 2018 |publisher=Data & Society |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214191142/https://datasociety.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/DS_Alternative_Influence.pdf |archive-date=14 February 2019 |url-status=live}} That year, Benjamin said that he had named his channel Sargon of Akkad because he was "a lover of history and the lessons it can teach us".{{cite AV media |date=8 December 2014 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6qPfIKrruU |title=Who I Am and What I Do |publisher=Sargon of Akkad |via=YouTube |access-date=13 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215103255/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6qPfIKrruU |archive-date=15 February 2022 |url-status=live}}

At VidCon 2017, the media critic Anita Sarkeesian appeared on a panel discussing online harassment directed towards women. A group of YouTubers who had frequently criticised Sarkeesian in the past, including Benjamin, filled one half of the first three rows of the audience and filmed Sarkeesian as part of a targeted harassment campaign against her.{{Cite news|url=https://www.dailydot.com/upstream/vidcon-anita-sarkeesian-hank-green/|title=VidCon apologizes for panelist clash involving activist Anita Sarkeesian|last=Vasquez|first=Vanna|date=27 June 2017|work=The Daily Dot|access-date=3 June 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143100/https://www.dailydot.com/upstream/vidcon-anita-sarkeesian-hank-green/|archive-date=12 June 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/12/youtube-drama-2017-jake-paul-pewdiepie-adpocalypse.html|title=The 10 Biggest YouTube Dramas of 2017|last1=Lockett|first1=Dee|date=29 December 2017|newspaper=Vulture|access-date=7 July 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707092639/http://www.vulture.com/2017/12/youtube-drama-2017-jake-paul-pewdiepie-adpocalypse.html|archive-date=7 July 2018}}{{cite journal|last1=Marwick|first1=Alice E.|last2=Caplan|first2=Robyn|date=26 March 2018|title=Drinking male tears: language, the manosphere, and networked harassment|journal=Feminist Media Studies|volume=18|issue=4|pages=543–559|doi=10.1080/14680777.2018.1450568|s2cid=149246142|issn=1468-0777}} Sarkeesian singled out Benjamin as a serial harasser of hers, calling him a "garbage human".{{Cite book |last1=Aghazadeh |first1=Sarah A. |title=Online Harassment |last2=Burns |first2=Alison |last3=Chu |first3=Jun |last4=Feigenblatt |first4=Hazel |last5=Laribee |first5=Elizabeth |last6=Maynard |first6=Lucy |last7=Meyers |first7=Amy L. M. |last8=O’Brien |first8=Jessica L. |last9=Rufus |first9=Leah |publisher=Springer International Publishing |year=2018 |isbn=978-3319785820 |editor-last=Golbeck |editor-first=Jennifer |series=Human–Computer Interaction Series |location=Cham, Switzerland |pages=179–207 |chapter=GamerGate: A Case Study in Online Harassment |doi=10.1007/978-3-319-78583-7_8 |lccn=2018939005}}{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/features/2017/6/27/15880582/anita-sarkeesian-garbage-human-vidcon-interview|title=Anita Sarkeesian's astounding 'garbage human' moment|last1=Campbell|first1=Colin|date=27 June 2017|work=Polygon|access-date=24 August 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918134613/https://www.polygon.com/features/2017/6/27/15880582/anita-sarkeesian-garbage-human-vidcon-interview|archive-date=18 September 2018}} The event went viral among both critics and supporters of Sarkeesian. Benjamin accused Sarkeesian of abuse and cyberbullying and said that he would have wanted to know how she "would like to be approached"; in a blog post, Sarkeesian wrote:

{{blockquote|[Benjamin] makes over $5,000 a month on Patreon for creating YouTube videos that mock, insult and discredit myself and other women online, and he's not alone. He is one of several YouTubers who profit from the cottage industry of online harassment and antifeminism.}}

Hank Green, the founder of VidCon, issued a statement that the group's actions were clear "intimidating behaviour" and apologised for the situation "which resulted in [Sarkeesian] being subjected to a hostile environment that she had not signed up for".{{cite news|url=https://mic.com/articles/181083/patreon-is-investigating-youtuber-sargon-of-akkad-over-anita-sarkeesian-vidcon-harassment|title=Exclusive: Patreon investigated YouTuber "Sargon of Akkad" over VidCon harassment|last1=Mulkerin|first1=Tim|date=28 June 2017|access-date=11 December 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101050019/https://mic.com/articles/181083/patreon-is-investigating-youtuber-sargon-of-akkad-over-anita-sarkeesian-vidcon-harassment|archive-date=1 January 2019|publisher=Mic}} Patreon also investigated the claims of harassment, but determined that although they considered his actions "distasteful", Benjamin had not violated their code of conduct.

In March 2018, Antifa protesters broke into a scheduled discussion between Benjamin and Yaron Brook by King's College London's Libertarian Society at the school. Masked protestors attacked security guards, set off smoke bombs, broke windows and set off a fire alarm. The event organisers called the police, cancelled the event and evacuated the building. The organiser reported that two security guards were hospitalised.{{Cite news|last1=Turner|first1=Camilla|last2=Horton|first2=Helena|date=6 March 2018|title=Violence breaks out as protesters storm King's College London event featuring controversial YouTuber|work=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/03/06/violence-breaks-self-proclaimed-antifascists-shut-alt-right/|url-status=live|access-date=12 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190213005613/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/03/06/violence-breaks-self-proclaimed-antifascists-shut-alt-right/|archive-date=13 February 2019}}

Patreon banned Benjamin in December 2018, when he was earning over US$12,000 a month.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/24/technology/patreon-hate-speech-bans.html|title=Patreon Bars Anti-Feminist for Racist Speech, Inciting Revolt|last1=Bowles|first1=Nellie|date=24 December 2018|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=24 December 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224213124/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/24/technology/patreon-hate-speech-bans.html|archive-date=24 December 2018|author-link1=Nellie Bowles|url-access=limited}} According to Patreon, Benjamin violated the site's rules on hate speech by using "racial and homophobic slurs to degrade another individual".{{cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/7c4285b2-fe2f-11e8-ac00-57a2a826423e|title=PayPal shuts Russian crowdfunder's account after alt-right influx|last=Coulter|first=Martin|date=15 December 2018|work=Financial Times|access-date=8 March 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20181215111758/https://www.ft.com/content/7c4285b2-fe2f-11e8-ac00-57a2a826423e|archive-date=15 December 2018|url-access=subscription}}{{cite news|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/jordan-peterson-says-hell-launch-patreon-alternative-before-christmas-2018-12|title=Top Patreon creators, of the 'Intellectual Dark Web,' say they're launching an alternate crowdfunding platform not 'susceptible to arbitrary censorship'|last1=Goggin|first1=Benjamin|date=17 December 2018|work=Business Insider|access-date=8 March 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327101300/https://www.businessinsider.com/jordan-peterson-says-hell-launch-patreon-alternative-before-christmas-2018-12|archive-date=27 March 2019}} A number of users, including Sam Harris, Jordan Peterson, and Dave Rubin, left the platform following the ban of Benjamin, with Benjamin and Rubin moving onto Peterson's service Thinkspot.{{cite news |last1=Kassel |first1=Matthew |last2=Im |first2=Matthew |title=Jordan Peterson's Starting A 'Free Speech Hub' – And Extremists Are Intrigued|url=https://forward.com/news/national/428250/white-supremacist-jordan-peterson-parler-laura-loomer/ |access-date=17 April 2020 |work=The Forward |date=24 July 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Weaver |first1=Matthew |title=Jordan Peterson launches anti-censorship site Thinkspot |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/jun/13/jordan-peterson-launches-anti-censorship-site-thinkspot |access-date=18 April 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=13 June 2019}}

Harris stated that he did not "share the politics of the banned members," but objected to what he described as "political bias" on Patreon. As part of their explanation for why they dropped Benjamin, Patreon published a transcript of a YouTube video in which Benjamin stated that members of the alt-right were "acting like white niggers" because "Exactly how you describe black people acting is the impression I get dealing with the Alt-Right." He added that: "White people are meant to be polite and respectful to one another."{{cite news|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/patreon-crowdfunding-platform-defends-itself-amid-boycott-2018-12|title=Crowdfunding platform Patreon defends itself from protests by 'intellectual dark web,' publishes slur-filled posts from banned YouTuber|last1=Goggin|first1=Benjamin|date=18 December 2018|work=Business Insider|access-date=19 December 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181218161205/https://www.businessinsider.com/patreon-crowdfunding-platform-defends-itself-amid-boycott-2018-12|archive-date=18 December 2018}} Later in the video, Benjamin stated: "don't expect me to have a debate with one of your faggots." In response, Benjamin said that his targets were not black or homosexual, and claimed that the epithet "nigger" is not offensive in Britain, as it is in the United States.{{cite news |last1=Feder |first1=J. Lester |title=Steve Bannon Met A White Nationalist Facebook Personality During London Trip |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/lesterfeder/steve-bannon-met-a-white-nationalist-facebook-personality |work=BuzzFeed News |access-date=20 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220230450/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/lesterfeder/steve-bannon-met-a-white-nationalist-facebook-personality |archive-date=20 December 2018 |url-status=live }} Benjamin also argued that the comments had been taken out of context.{{Cite news|last=Halliday|first=Josh|date=12 July 2018|title=Anti-Islam activists get key roles in 'family-friendly' Brexit march|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/dec/07/anti-islam-activists-get-key-roles-in-family-friendly-brexit-march|url-status=live|access-date=18 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181207201601/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/dec/07/anti-islam-activists-get-key-roles-in-family-friendly-brexit-march|archive-date=7 December 2018}}

In May 2019, YouTube suspended Benjamin's Sargon of Akkad channel from the YouTube Partner Program.{{Cite web|last=Stefano|first=Mark Di|date=10 May 2019|title=YouTube Has Downgraded Carl Benjamin's Sargon Of Akkad Account After He Talked About Raping A British MP|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/markdistefano/youtube-says-sargon-of-akkad-has-been-suspended-from-being|url-status=live|access-date=27 August 2021|website=BuzzFeed News|language=en-gb|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510181304/https://www.buzzfeed.com/markdistefano/youtube-says-sargon-of-akkad-has-been-suspended-from-being |archive-date=10 May 2019 }} In May 2019, Benjamin was suspended from Twitter. His account was reinstated in November 2022, a few weeks after Elon Musk took control of the platform.{{Cite web |last=Barr |first=Kyle |date=2022-11-23 |title=All the Worst Twitter Policy Offenders Elon Musk Is Giving Free Rein To |url=https://gizmodo.com/elon-musk-twitter-account-reinstatements-1849814319/8 |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=Gizmodo |language=en-US}}

In November 2020, Benjamin launched Lotus Eaters, a podcast platform, which takes its name from Lotus-eaters from Homer's Odyssey. In May 2024, former prime minister Liz Truss appeared as a guest on Tomlinson Talks, a show hosted for the site by Connor Tomlinson.{{Cite web |last=O'Dell |first=Liam |title=What is Lotus Eaters, and why is Liz Truss being interviewed for them? |url=https://www.indy100.com/politics/liz-truss-lotus-eaters-podcast |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=indy100 |language=en}} In response, Labour MP Jess Phillips, about whom Benjamin had previously made a rape joke saying he "wouldn't even rape her", urged Rishi Sunak, Truss's successor as prime minister and leader of the Conservative Party, to deselect Truss as a candidate.{{Cite web |last=Wingate |first=Sophie |date=2024-05-29 |title=Rishi Sunak urged to deselect Liz Truss over appearance on 'far-right' platform |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/liz-truss-rishi-sunak-tory-whip-lotus-eaters-carl-benjamin-b1160794.html |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=Evening Standard |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Liz Truss: Rishi Sunak facing call to de-select former PM over appearance on 'hateful platform' |url=https://news.sky.com/story/liz-truss-rishi-sunak-facing-call-to-de-select-former-pm-who-is-set-to-appear-on-hateful-platform-13144670 |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=Sky News |language=en}}{{Cite news |last1=Gibbons |first1=Amy |last2=Penna |first2=Dominic |date=2024-05-29 |title=Jess Phillips calls on Prime Minister to deselect Liz Truss over interview on 'hateful platform' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/05/29/jess-phillips-lotus-eaters-carl-benjamin-liz-truss-deselect/ |access-date=2024-05-30 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}

Political career

In response to Phillips' statement that rape threats are commonplace for her, Benjamin said in May 2016, "I wouldn't even rape you #AntiRapeThreats #FeminismIsCancer" in a YouTube video, and repeated this on Twitter.{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/anti-fascist-protesters-kings-college-london-university-antifa-carl-benjamin-alt-right-talk-a8242181.html|title=Fights break out at King's College London as masked anti-fascist protesters storm talk|last=Busby|first=Eleanor|date=6 March 2018|work=The Independent|access-date=20 February 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220132620/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/anti-fascist-protesters-kings-college-london-university-antifa-carl-benjamin-alt-right-talk-a8242181.html|archive-date=20 February 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/racist-troll-who-sent-rape-tweet-addresses-ukip-members-8tdvlp6qj|title='Racist' troll who sent rape tweet addresses Ukip members|last1=Macwhirter|first1=Jamie|date=23 September 2018|newspaper=The Sunday Times|access-date=8 March 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402184316/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/racist-troll-who-sent-rape-tweet-addresses-ukip-members-8tdvlp6qj|archive-date=2 April 2019|issn=0956-1382|url-access=subscription}} He declined to apologise for the comment.{{cite news|last1=Daubney|first1=Martin|date=5 June 2016|title=I set out to troll her – why all this fuss about 600 rape tweets?|work=The Sunday Times|url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/technology/article/i-set-out-to-troll-her-why-all-this-fuss-about-600-rape-tweets-56h38ts97|url-status=live|url-access=subscription|access-date=5 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306133047/http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/i-set-out-to-troll-her-why-all-this-fuss-about-600-rape-tweets-56h38ts97|archive-date=6 March 2017}} Benjamin was investigated by West Midlands Police for the comment, and a police spokesperson said he was "dealt with by way of words of advice".{{cite news|last1=Seaward|first1=Tom|date=17 April 2019|title=Wiltshire Police investigated MEP candidate over 'rape' tweet|language=en|work=Swindon Advertiser|url=https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/17579304.wiltshire-police-investigated-mep-candidate-over-rape-tweet/}}{{Cite news|last1=Gray|first1=Jasmin|last2=Demianyk|first2=Graeme|date=7 May 2019|title=Man Tells MP Jess Phillips 'People Should Be Able To Joke About Raping Her'|language=en|work=HuffPost UK|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/police-ukip-carl-benjamin-jess-phillips-rape_uk_5cd14f1ce4b04e275d4fb741|access-date=27 May 2019}}

In June 2018, Benjamin joined the UK Independence Party (UKIP), along with YouTuber Mark Meechan, better known by his online name Count Dankula, and far-right conspiracy theorist Paul Joseph Watson.{{cite news|last1=Walker|first1=Peter|date=25 June 2018|title=Ukip welcomes social media activists linked to 'alt-right' into party|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jun/25/ukip-welcomes-social-media-activists-linked-to-alt-right-into-party|url-status=live|access-date=13 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420133948/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jun/25/ukip-welcomes-social-media-activists-linked-to-alt-right-into-party|archive-date=20 April 2019}} The trio's membership was described by political analysts as part of a shift to the far-right in UKIP under Gerard Batten's leadership.{{cite news|last1=Sommer|first1=Will|date=26 June 2018|title=Far-Right YouTube Stars Plan Takeover of UKIP|work=The Daily Beast|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/far-right-youtube-stars-plan-takeover-of-ukip|url-status=live|access-date=13 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413033234/https://www.thedailybeast.com/far-right-youtube-stars-plan-takeover-of-ukip|archive-date=13 April 2019}}{{cite news|last1=McTague|first1=Tom|date=19 December 2018|title=The rise of UKIP's YouTubers|work=Politico|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/the-rise-of-ukips-youtubers-social-media-video-sharing/|url-status=live|access-date=13 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413033930/https://www.politico.eu/article/the-rise-of-ukips-youtubers-social-media-video-sharing/|archive-date=13 April 2019}} In the European Parliament's 2019 elections in the United Kingdom, Benjamin was second on UKIP's list for the South West England constituency.{{cite news|last1=Bloom|first1=Dan|last2=Milne|first2=Oliver|date=12 April 2019|title=Everything you need to know about European Parliament elections|work=Daily Mirror|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/eu-elections-2019-european-parliament-14224600|url-status=live|access-date=13 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413010410/https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/eu-elections-2019-european-parliament-14224600|archive-date=13 April 2019}}{{cite news|last1=Barnes|first1=Tom|date=12 April 2019|title=Anti-feminist YouTuber Sargon of Akkad selected as Ukip election candidate|work=The Independent|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/sargon-of-akkad-ukip-mep-european-election-candidate-carl-benjamin-a8867986.html|url-status=live|access-date=13 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412234646/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/sargon-of-akkad-ukip-mep-european-election-candidate-carl-benjamin-a8867986.html|archive-date=12 April 2019}} Benjamin was not elected, with his party getting only 3.22% of the vote in his native South West England constituency (a drop of 29.1% from 2014), and losing both of its seats in the region, as well as all twenty-two of its seats across the rest of Britain.{{Cite news|last=Bloom|first=Dan|date=27 May 2019|title=European election results in full as Tories suffer worst result for 200 years|work=Daily Mirror|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/european-election-results-full-2019-16204234|url-status=live|access-date=27 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527015640/https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/european-election-results-full-2019-16204234|archive-date=27 May 2019}}

At a UKIP press conference announcing his candidacy, Benjamin again declined to apologise for his comment about Phillips, saying "a decent person doesn't laugh about male suicide" and that he would apologise if Phillips apologised for her position on men.{{Cite web|last=Port|first=Samuel|date=29 April 2019|title=Jess Phillips' childhood friend stands up to UKIP's Carl Benjamin|url=https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/gloucester-news/mp-jess-phillips-childhood-friend-2812484|access-date=15 December 2020|website=GloucestershireLive|language=en}} Benjamin also stated that she was being a "giant bitch" for "laughing about male suicide", and so he was justified in being a "giant dick back".{{cite news|last1=Hossein-Pour|first1=Anahita|date=18 April 2019|title=Ukip candidate brands Labour MP Jess Phillips a 'b*tch' and doubles down on rape comments at chaotic campaign launch|work=PoliticsHome|url=https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/uk-independence-party/news/103327/ukip-candidate-brands-labour-mp-jess|url-status=live|access-date=20 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419131117/https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/uk-independence-party/news/103327/ukip-candidate-brands-labour-mp-jess|archive-date=19 April 2019}} Phillips had previously critiqued the idea of a "men's day", but also said that male suicide is a serious issue.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/apr/18/ukip-leader-attacks-farage-party-at-eu-elections-launch-gerard-batten|title=Ukip leader attacks Farage party at EU elections launch|last1=Syal|first1=Rajeev|date=18 April 2019|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=20 April 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420051455/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/apr/18/ukip-leader-attacks-farage-party-at-eu-elections-launch-gerard-batten|archive-date=20 April 2019|issn=0261-3077}}

In response to the controversy, the chairman of the Swindon branch of UKIP called for Benjamin to be deselected, which was rejected by Batten.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-wiltshire-47974036|title=UKIP candidate not sorry for rape comments|date=18 April 2019|access-date=20 April 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419152858/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-wiltshire-47974036|archive-date=19 April 2019|work=BBC News}} Later in the campaign, Benjamin made additional negative comments about Phillips, saying he might rape her, but "nobody's got that much beer". He said this was a joke, and was empowering to victims of rape, because "it's a lot more empowering to not be controlled by jokes".{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/world/british-mp-sick-at-interview-with-ukip-candidate-who-joked-about-raping-her-924705.html|title=British MP 'sick' at interview with Ukip candidate who joked about raping her|date=16 May 2019|work=Irish Examiner|access-date=27 May 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527170257/https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/world/british-mp-sick-at-interview-with-ukip-candidate-who-joked-about-raping-her-924705.html|archive-date=27 May 2019|agency=Press Association}}{{Cite news|url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/carl-benjamin-claims-survivors-of-sexual-assault-have-thanked-him-for-joking-about-raping-mp-jess-philips-114830425.html|title=Carl Benjamin claims survivors of sexual assault have thanked him for joking about raping MP Jess Phillips|last=Wells|first=Andy|date=16 May 2019|work=Yahoo! News UK|access-date=27 May 2019|language=en-GB}} The University of the West of England cancelled a hustings event for fears of disturbances, and both Gloucester Cathedral and Exeter Cathedral banned him a few days later from a separate election event it was hosting.{{cite news|last1=Dalton|first1=Jane|date=19 May 2019|title=Carl Benjamin: Milkshake thrown at Ukip candidate for fourth time this week|work=The Independent|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/carl-benjamin-milkshake-salisbury-ukip-a8920846.html|url-status=live|access-date=19 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190519162730/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/carl-benjamin-milkshake-salisbury-ukip-a8920846.html|archive-date=19 May 2019}}{{Cite web|last=Sherwood|first=Harriet|date=19 May 2019|title=Exeter Cathedral bans Ukip's Carl Benjamin from hustings|url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/may/19/exeter-cathedral-bans-ukips-carl-benjamin-from-hustings|access-date=29 January 2022|website=The Guardian|language=en}} In 2024, Benjamin apologised to Phillips for the joke, saying he had changed since he made it and did not want to be a corrosive force in British politics.{{cite news |last1=Wild |first1=Gabrielle |date=9 July 2024 |title=Carl Benjamin apologises to Jess Phillips over rape comments: 'I want to set a better example' |url=https://www.gbnews.com/politics/carl-benjamin-jess-phillips-rape-comments-apology |access-date=9 July 2024 |work=GB News |language=en}}{{Better source needed|date=July 2024}}

In February 2020, Benjamin launched the group Hearts of Oak with the British far-right activist Tommy Robinson and former UKIP members. Members of the group say that it is not a political party, but a "cultural movement" focused on "strong borders, immigration and national identity," "authorities privileging and protecting Islam alone", and "freedom of speech".{{Cite web|date=2 August 2020|title=New Far-Right Group 'Going Nowhere' as London Protest Draws Small Crowd|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/qj4egp/hearts-of-oak-far-right-london-protest|url-status=dead|access-date=30 August 2021|website=Vice News|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001065035/https://www.vice.com/en/article/qj4egp/hearts-of-oak-far-right-london-protest |archive-date=1 October 2020 }}

Political views

Benjamin is an anti-feminist.{{cite news|last1=Zadrozny|first1=Brandy|author-link1=Brandy Zadrozny|last2=Collins|first2=Ben|date=30 October 2018|title=How a right-wing troll and a Russian Twitter account created 2016's biggest voter fraud story|work=NBC News|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/how-right-wing-troll-russian-twitter-account-created-2016-s-n925711|url-status=live|access-date=5 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190307224825/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/how-right-wing-troll-russian-twitter-account-created-2016-s-n925711|archive-date=7 March 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/03/technology/youtube-right-wing-channels.html|title=YouTube Cracks Down on Far-Right Videos as Conspiracy Theories Spread|last1=Bromwich|first1=Jonah Engel|date=3 March 2018|work=The New York Times|access-date=19 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516120648/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/03/technology/youtube-right-wing-channels.html|archive-date=16 May 2018|url-access=limited}}

He is also an advocate for Brexit and a critic of Islam,{{Cite news|last=Busby|first=Eleanor|date=6 March 2018|title=Fights break out at King's College London as masked anti-fascist protesters storm talk|work=The Independent|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/anti-fascist-protesters-kings-college-london-university-antifa-carl-benjamin-alt-right-talk-a8242181.html|url-status=live|access-date=20 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220132620/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/anti-fascist-protesters-kings-college-london-university-antifa-carl-benjamin-alt-right-talk-a8242181.html|archive-date=20 February 2019}} and has argued for a reduction in immigration to the UK from majority Islamic countries.{{Cite book |last=Miller |first=Eva |series=Palgrave Studies in Comics and Graphic Novels |title=Comics and Archaeology |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |year=2022 |isbn=978-3-030-98918-7 |editor-last=Kamash |editor-first=Zena |pages=75–96 |chapter=Making Sargon Great Again: Reuse and Reappropriation of Ancient Mesopotamian Imagery in Fan-Art of the Online Right |doi=10.1007/978-3-030-98919-4_4 |editor-last2=Soar |editor-first2=Katy |editor-last3=Van Broak |editor-first3=Leen}} He has opposed online feminist movements such as the British group Reclaim the Internet, which he called "social communism". Following the 2014 Isla Vista killings, Benjamin said that social justice feminism was a "disease of the modern age" that had disenfranchised and radicalised young men, causing a rise in the number of mass murders.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/apr/22/ukip-mep-candidate-carl-benjamin-blamed-feminists-for-rise-in-male-violence|title=Ukip MEP candidate blamed feminists for rise in misogyny|last=Walker|first=Peter|date=22 April 2019|work=The Guardian|access-date=23 April 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423000551/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/apr/22/ukip-mep-candidate-carl-benjamin-blamed-feminists-for-rise-in-male-violence|archive-date=23 April 2019|issn=0261-3077}}

In the 2016 United States presidential election, Benjamin initially supported Bernie Sanders, later saying that Donald Trump was the lesser of two evils, compared with Hillary Clinton.

While on a panel in New York City in 2018, he said: "Jewish people, unfortunately for them, have got to drop the identity politics. I'm sorry about the Holocaust but I don't give a shit. I'm sorry."{{Cite news|url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/ukip-candidate-carl-benjamin-accused-jewish-people-of-identity-politics-over-the-holocaust-1.483446|title=Ukip candidate Carl Benjamin accused Jewish people of 'identity politics' over the Holocaust|date=25 April 2019|work=The Jewish Chronicle|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425181329/https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/ukip-candidate-carl-benjamin-accused-jewish-people-of-identity-politics-over-the-holocaust-1.483446|archive-date=25 April 2019|url-status=live|access-date=26 April 2019}} In May 2018, Benjamin was a speaker at a right-wing "Day of Freedom" rally in support of Tommy Robinson, after Robinson was banned from Twitter for hate speech. At the rally, Benjamin voiced opposition to "totalitarianism, identity politics and Islamism".{{cite news|last=Gayle|first=Damien|date=6 May 2018|title=Thousands march in 'free speech' protest led by rightwing figures|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/06/thousands-of-far-right-protesters-march-in-london-in-support-of-free-speech|url-status=live|access-date=18 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618203813/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/06/thousands-of-far-right-protesters-march-in-london-in-support-of-free-speech|archive-date=18 June 2018}}{{cite news|last1=Coulter|first1=Martin|date=6 May 2018|title=Milo Yiannopoulos expected to speak at controversial far-right rally in central London|work=Evening Standard|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/day-of-freedom-protest-farright-activists-milo-yiannopoulos-and-tommy-robinson-expected-to-speak-at-a3830671.html|url-status=live|access-date=11 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216005027/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/day-of-freedom-protest-farright-activists-milo-yiannopoulos-and-tommy-robinson-expected-to-speak-at-a3830671.html|archive-date=16 December 2018}}

News outlets, journalists, and academics have described Benjamin as right-wing{{cite news|url=https://www.niemanlab.org/2017/05/whos-your-4chan-correspondent-and-other-questions-storyful-thinks-newsrooms-should-be-asking-after-the-french-election/|title="Who's your 4chan correspondent?" (and other questions Storyful thinks newsrooms should be asking after the French election)|last1=Ryan|first1=Padraic|date=22 May 2017|work=Nieman Journalism Lab|access-date=29 May 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170527030045/http://www.niemanlab.org/2017/05/whos-your-4chan-correspondent-and-other-questions-storyful-thinks-newsrooms-should-be-asking-after-the-french-election|archive-date=27 May 2017}}{{cite news|url=https://mic.com/articles/171628/youtube-lgbtq-restriction-isnt-censorship-its-laziness|title=YouTube's LGBTQ restriction isn't censorship. It's laziness.|last1=Smith|first1=Jack IV|date=20 March 2017|access-date=16 April 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170416221720/https://mic.com/articles/171628/youtube-lgbtq-restriction-isnt-censorship-its-laziness|archive-date=16 April 2017|publisher=Mic}} and far-right.{{cite journal|last1=Karamanidou|first1=Lena|first2=Osman|last2=Sahin|title=Information sources shared on Facebook and Networking by Nigel Farage and the UKIP Party in the UK|url=https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=1029137|journal=Studia Politica Slovaca|date=2021|issn=1337-8163|pages=127–146|volume=XIV|issue=2–3|quote=...and YouTube commentator Sargon of Akkad (real name Carl Benjamin), an unsuccessful UKIP candidate and far-right activist eventually banned from YouTube for advocating the rape of an MP.}}{{cite journal|first1=Charlotte|last1=Galpin|title=At the Digital Margins? A Theoretical Examination of Social Media Engagement Using Intersectional Feminism|url=https://www.cogitatiopress.com/politicsandgovernance/article/view/4801|journal=Politics and Governance|date=17 February 2022|issn=2183-2463|pages=161–171|volume=10|issue=1|doi=10.17645/pag.v10i1.4801|quote=Ahead of the 2019 European elections, the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) was criticised for selecting the prominent anti‐feminist and far‐right YouTuber Carl Benjamin (known as Sargon of Akkad) as a candidate.|doi-access=free}}{{cite journal|first1=Ofra|last1=Klein|first2=Andrea L. P.|last2=Pirro|title=Reverting trajectories? UKIP's organisational and discursive change after the Brexit referendum|url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1369118X.2020.1792532|journal=Information, Communication & Society|date=27 July 2021|issn=1369-118X|pages=1382–1400|volume=24|issue=10|doi=10.1080/1369118X.2020.1792532|quote=Another move substantiating UKIP’s organisational change included allowing social media activists Paul Joseph Watson, Mark Meechan, Carl Benjamin, and Milo Yiannopoulos into the party in the summer of 2018 (Walker, 2018c; Spence & Di Stefano, 2019). The four far-right activists have large online followings and have expressed controversial views.|hdl=1814/67853|s2cid=225572411 |hdl-access=free}}{{cite news|last=Di Stefano|first=Mark|date=27 May 2019|title=Tommy Robinson And Carl Benjamin Have Failed To Get Elected to the European Parliament|work=Buzzfeed News|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/markdistefano/far-right-internet-personalities-europe|url-status=live|access-date=29 May 2019|archive-url=https://archive.today/20190612050353/https://www.buzzfeed.com/markdistefano/far-right-internet-personalities-europe|archive-date=12 June 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Croucher |first1=Shane |date=21 May 2019 |title=The British have made throwing milkshakes at the far-right a thing |language=en |work=Newsweek |url=https://www.newsweek.com/british-throwing-milkshakes-far-right-farage-1431288 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525013123/https://www.newsweek.com/british-throwing-milkshakes-far-right-farage-1431288 |archive-date=25 May 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/technology/440869-twitter-suspends-eu-election-campaign-accounts-for-two-candidates-who-were|title=Twitter suspends EU election campaign accounts for two candidates who were previously banned|last1=Birnbaum|first1=Emily|date=26 April 2019|work=The Hill|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510033244/https://thehill.com/policy/technology/440869-twitter-suspends-eu-election-campaign-accounts-for-two-candidates-who-were|archive-date=10 May 2019|language=en}}{{cite magazine|last1=Bedingfield|first1=Will|date=21 February 2019|title=Five of the top far-right figures are British. We're world leaders in hate|url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/hope-not-hate-uk-far-right|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20190223174405/https://www.wired.co.uk/article/hope-not-hate-uk-far-right|archive-date=23 February 2019|access-date=29 June 2019|magazine=Wired UK}} Vox has described him as anti-progressive.{{cite news|url=https://www.vox.com/culture/2017/6/30/15900656/anita-sarkeesian-carl-benjamin-vidcon-mcmansion-hell-zillow|title=Gorilla memes, YouTube trolls, and McMansion copyright fights: this week in internet culture|last1=Romano|first1=Aja|date=30 June 2017|work=Vox|access-date=1 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818010219/https://www.vox.com/culture/2017/6/30/15900656/anita-sarkeesian-carl-benjamin-vidcon-mcmansion-hell-zillow|archive-date=18 August 2017|url-status=live}} He has been described as alt-right by The Times and The Jewish Chronicle,{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/article/smoke-bomb-protest-halts-altright-speaker-sargon-of-akkad-at-university-2qxghjpwh|title=Smoke bomb protest halts 'alt‑right' speaker 'Sargon of Akkad' at university|last1=Bennett|first1=Rosemary|date=6 March 2018|work=The Sunday Times|language=en|url-access=subscription}} and has been linked to the alt-right by news media and researchers, including Newsweek,{{cite news|url=https://www.newsweek.com/alt-right-social-media-activists-welcomed-member-britain-ukip-994905|title=Controversial alt-right linked social media activists welcomed as members of Britain's UKIP|last1=Lemon|first1=Jason|date=25 June 2018|work=Newsweek|access-date=13 April 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327090155/https://www.newsweek.com/alt-right-social-media-activists-welcomed-member-britain-ukip-994905|archive-date=27 March 2019}} Salon,{{cite news|url=https://www.salon.com/2017/02/15/how-pewdiepie-fudged-the-labels-to-avoid-anti-semitism-claims-because-of-his-youtube-videos/|title=How PewDiePie 'fudged the labels' to avoid anti-Semitism claims because of his YouTube videos|last=Rozsa|first=Matthew|date=15 February 2017|work=Salon|access-date=17 March 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170318125003/http://www.salon.com/2017/02/15/how-pewdiepie-fudged-the-labels-to-avoid-anti-semitism-claims-because-of-his-youtube-videos/|archive-date=18 March 2017}} The Guardian,{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/may/09/gamergate-carl-benjamin-ukip-mep|title=We've seen Carl Benjamin's rank misogyny before – remember Gamergate?|last1=MacDonald|first1=Keza|date=9 May 2019|work=The Guardian|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530050438/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/may/09/gamergate-carl-benjamin-ukip-mep|archive-date=30 May 2019}} Wired UK, and Data & Society.{{Cite web|last=Mason|first=Paul|date=17 October 2018|title=Why it's time for YouTube to ban the alt-right|url=https://www.newstatesman.com/world/north-america/2018/10/why-it-s-time-youtube-ban-alt-right|url-status=live|access-date=16 July 2021|website=New Statesman|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181017165228/https://www.newstatesman.com/world/north-america/2018/10/why-it-s-time-youtube-ban-alt-right |archive-date=17 October 2018 }} The Daily Dot compared Benjamin to the alt-right, due to his anti-feminism and criticisms of Islam and Black Lives Matter, frequent subjects for criticism by the alt-right. Vice and PC Magazine have described him as a conspiracy theorist.{{cite news|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/crowdfunding-site-patreon-is-purging-far-right-figures/|title=Crowdfunding site Patreon is purging far-right figures|last1=Gilbert|first1=David|date=7 December 2018|publisher=Vice News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181207164435/https://news.vice.com/en_us/article/qvqeev/crowdfunding-site-patreon-is-purging-far-right-figures|archive-date=7 December 2018|url-status=live|access-date=7 December 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://uk.pcmag.com/news-analysis/119232/youtube-bans-tommy-robinson-from-making-money-off-his-videos|title=YouTube Bans Tommy Robinson From Making Money Off His Videos|last1=Smith|first1=Adam|date=17 January 2019|website=PCMag UK|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190118131310/https://uk.pcmag.com/news-analysis/119232/youtube-bans-tommy-robinson-from-making-money-off-his-videos|archive-date=18 January 2019|access-date=8 March 2019}} Benjamin has described himself as a "classical liberal"{{cite news |last1=Walker |first1=Peter |title=YouTuber accused of triggering rape threats could stand for Ukip |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/22/youtuber-carl-benjamin-accused-triggering-rape-threats-could-stand-for-ukip |access-date=27 October 2019 |work=The Guardian |date=22 March 2019}} or "English liberal",{{Cite magazine |last=Quirk |first=Trevor |date=15 January 2020 |title=Can This Notorious Troll Turn People Away From Extremism? |url=https://www.wired.com/story/twitch-politics-online-debate/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200628200339/https://www.wired.com/story/twitch-politics-online-debate/ |archive-date=28 June 2020 |access-date=2 March 2022 |magazine=Wired}} and has said that he opposes the alt-right.{{cite news|url=https://gizmodo.com/prominent-youtubers-find-great-anti-semitic-hill-to-die-1792793126|title=Prominent YouTubers Find Great Anti-Semitic Hill to Die on|last=Menegus|first=Bryan|date=27 February 2017|work=Gizmodo|access-date=17 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170317220554/http://gizmodo.com/prominent-youtubers-find-great-anti-semitic-hill-to-die-1792793126|archive-date=17 March 2017|url-status=live}} He has argued that the alt-right's authoritarian and collectivist thinking is a reaction to comparable racism against white people from the left. Benjamin has also described himself as a "sceptic".

Personal life

Benjamin was born Carl Charles Benjamin in September 1979.{{cite web |title=Carl Charles BENJAMIN |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/Va_iOmwGUU0COsXuMZn8Qk1rzwI/appointments |date= |website=find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk |publisher=gov.uk |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241226051347/https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/Va_iOmwGUU0COsXuMZn8Qk1rzwI/appointments |archive-date=26 December 2024 }} He lives with his family in Swindon. As of October 2020, he was an atheist.{{cite AV media |date=27 October 2020 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ucfhRAf7Jk |title=Macron vs Islam |publisher=Akkad Daily |via=YouTube |access-date=13 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229190413/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ucfhRAf7Jk |archive-date=29 December 2020 |url-status=live}} In April 2025 Benjamin reaffirmed his atheistic belief, however, stated that he was pro-Christianity because, "it is the traditional religion of the west" and that "the future that the atheists are opening up to us are where man... is just material blob living in a meat sack, living on a rock, and so there's nothing sacred about him..."{{cite AV media |date=25 April 2025 |title=Why I Am (Regrettably) Not A Christian |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaFO_5-4kQE |archive-date=24 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250424212358/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaFO_5-4kQE |work=Sargon of Akkad |via=YouTube |access-date=6 May 2025 }}{{cite AV media |date=9 April 2024 |title=Richard Dawkins and the Last Church|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnswmh4qQZg|work=Sargon of Akkad |via=YouTube |access-date=13 May 2025 }}

In 2023, Benjamin graduated from the University of London with a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy.{{Cite web |title=Humanities |url=https://stories.london.ac.uk/uolgrad2024/humanities/index.html |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=stories.london.ac.uk |language=en}}