Boots Riley Props Up Venezuelan Dictator on Twitter
“Sorry to Bother You” caused quite a stir last summer.
Not only did Boots Riley’s film overperform at the box office, it earned raves from film critics nationwide. The movie just snared a Best First Feature award from the Independent Spirit Awards.
Could the film’s strong anti-capitalist bent have anything to do with it? The Guardian asked, “Sorry to Bother You: is this the most shocking anti-capitalist film ever?”
Now, Riley is waging a one-man war on behalf of Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro. Don’t believe the stories of Venezuelans starving, he says via Twitter. It’s much worse in Oakland, Calif.
RELATED: Dana Carvey Shreds Socialism in Netflix Special
It appears Riley supports the socialist government which reduced the nation to its current state. Here’s how one Venezuelan, who just escaped, described the nation’s current status.
“There are no words. No way to describe a person who make so many mistakes,” one man said of Maduro, “I can’t express how much of a dictator he is – so cynical, so sadistic and not only him, but all his companions.”
An ABC News report says, “Venezuela’s economy has halved in size over the last five years.”
Venezuelans’ diets have become ever more deficient in vitamins and protein, as currency controls restrict food imports and salaries fail to keep pace with inflation, which is now above 2 million percent annually.
Forces loyal to Maduro are blocking desperately needed aid, sometimes by force, to the impoverished country. Nonsense, says Riley. He pins the blame on phony media reports and an alleged U.S. coup to seize the country’s oil resources.
The CIA doing the bidding of Standard Oil has been WELL documented. Cmon mister journalist.
— Boots Riley (@BootsRiley) February 26, 2019
They are so hungry that they took two tiny little bites of the food.
Come to Oakland, we got way more homeless, hungry ppl than this.
Again, who is throwing away all that food if EVERYBODY is starving?
A guy walks by with a full bag of groceries. https://t.co/9JjNdmcbqc
— Boots Riley (@BootsRiley) February 26, 2019
He also downplayed members of the press being detained by the country’s police. That, despite this report describing the incident.
“Very shortly into the interview, Maduro didn’t like the line of questioning, and they stopped the interview,” Univision spokesman Jose Zamora said.
He said government aides confiscated the network’s equipment.
And why would it be for only two hours, leaving them with this same footage they came with? Is that supposed to scare journalists?
“I might have to wait in a room in the president’s house/office for two hours longer than I intended!”
Not very effective repression of the press.
— Boots Riley (@BootsRiley) February 26, 2019
… as well as footage a Univision journalist captured and shared online.
Come to Oakland. We have 3000 ppl homeless- eating out of garbage, camping on streets (u see it In Sorry To Bother You). Population 400k.
Most wouldnt eat garbage on camera tho, which makes this suspicious.
Who threw away all that food if EVERYBODY is starving? https://t.co/ujMYZpXQGk
— Boots Riley (@BootsRiley) February 26, 2019
“The private media use the concept to demonise the real collectives in VZ ― feminist collectives, community groups, environment & education collectives, cultural groups, mural painters… these have grown, multiplied, & united around general support for the Bolivarian revolution”
— Boots Riley (@BootsRiley) February 26, 2019
He also retweeted this ode to Maduro and co.
Africans In America standing in Solidarity with the true government of Venezuela The December 12th Movement got your back @NicolasMaduro We Support you and the people of Venezuela #PowerToThePeople Defend The Bolivarian Revolution #ByAnyMeansNecessary #StopTrumpsCoupInVenezuela pic.twitter.com/zSP56NgaYD
— Iman Essiet (@imanthebrand) February 23, 2019
This shouldn’t be surprising for anyone who heard Riley’s acceptance speech at the Independent Spirit Awards Saturday.
Riley then switched things up to call out the United States and the CIA, who he theorized is organizing a coup in Venezuela right now. “I also want to say that the CIA is trying to have a coup in Venezuela. We should all be putting our voices out to stop the U.S. from having regime change for oil in Venezuela.”
Did Riley offer any proof to back up his claims? Of course not. Have any journalists followed up with said claims? Highly unlikely.
Riley did, however, feel guilty for not thanking the people who helped him craft “Sorry to Bother You.” So, instead of spreading the love at the awards gala he boiled it down to a Tweet.
I used my Indie Spirit Award moment to make a statement & I know it was the right thing2do.
But I wish I also had had time to thank the amazing actors, department heads, crew, producers, friends, & family members who made SorryToBotherYou happen. My heart is full. I love yall.
— Boots Riley (@BootsRiley) February 25, 2019