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| ===Promotion of conspiracy theories=== | ===Promotion of conspiracy theories=== | ||
| In a November 2020 article, ] ] Jonathan Jarry describes Sears as a member of the ], a movement which he describes as combining ] and ] beliefs, in which members believe that "a group secretly controls the political and social order and also that humanity is on the verge of a paradigm shift in consciousness", and is linked to belief in ] conspiracy theories. Jarry notes that Sears was "recently censored on YouTube for spreading unfounded conspiracy theories" and that "JP Sears his massive online platforms to discredit public health measures against COVID-19 and to open the door to grand conspiracy theories. Distrust is the name of the game, and he does it with comedic flair."<ref name=":0" /> | In a November 2020 article, ] ] Jonathan Jarry describes Sears as a member of the ], a movement which he describes as combining ] and ] beliefs, in which members believe that "a group secretly controls the political and social order and also that humanity is on the verge of a paradigm shift in consciousness", and is linked to belief in ] conspiracy theories. Jarry notes that Sears was "recently censored on YouTube for spreading unfounded conspiracy theories" and that "JP Sears his massive online platforms to discredit public health measures against COVID-19 and to open the door to grand conspiracy theories. Distrust is the name of the game, and he does it with comedic flair."<ref name=":0" /> JP Sears falsey claimed that ] provides protection against ], and has referred to ] as "face suffocators".<ref name=":0" /> | ||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 20:15, 20 February 2021
American YouTuber and conspiracy theorist
| AwakenWithJP, JP Sears | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jonathan Sears April 12, 1981 |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Occupation | Internet personality |
| Years active | 2012- |
| YouTube information | |
|---|---|
| Channel | |
| Subscribers | 1.63 million |
| Total views | 187.5 million |
Last updated: January 10, 2021 | |
JP Sears (born April 12, 1981), known online as AwakenWithJP, is an American YouTuber, comedian, emotional healing and life coach and businessman. Sears produces satirical videos about wellness and the American Left such as "How to Become Gluten Intolerant". These videos typically feature promotions for sponsored pseudoscientific items that include supplements and devices. JP Sears has promoted false claims and conspiracy theories surrounding COVID-19.
Career
Prior to his appearance on YouTube, JP Sears operated the website holistichealthandfitness.com, which promoted treatments by alternative medicine proponent Joseph Mercola.
Sears received notable attention in 2015 for his YouTube video titled "How to Become Gluten Intolerant" (as of November of 2020 the video had received over 10 million views). In the video, Sears delivers lines such as "If you’re ready to have a ravenous appetite for impossible standards and dogmatic feelings of victimization, then let’s get started on what you need to do to become gluten intolerant" in a deadpan and sarcastic manner typical of his YouTube content's approach to satire.
In July 2017, Sears gave a talk on TEDx titled "Saying YES! to your Weirdness" that was uploaded to the YouTube channel TEDx Talks.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, in July 2020, Sears appeared at a rally in Austin, Texas protesting Governor Greg Abbott's COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
Sears is the author of the satirical book How to Be Ultra Spiritual: 12-1/2 Steps to Spiritual Superiority.
Promotion of conspiracy theories
In a November 2020 article, McGill University science commmunicator Jonathan Jarry describes Sears as a member of the conspirituality movement, a movement which he describes as combining New Age and conspiracy theory beliefs, in which members believe that "a group secretly controls the political and social order and also that humanity is on the verge of a paradigm shift in consciousness", and is linked to belief in QAnon conspiracy theories. Jarry notes that Sears was "recently censored on YouTube for spreading unfounded conspiracy theories" and that "JP Sears his massive online platforms to discredit public health measures against COVID-19 and to open the door to grand conspiracy theories. Distrust is the name of the game, and he does it with comedic flair." JP Sears falsey claimed that Vitamin D provides protection against COVID-19, and has referred to face masks as "face suffocators".
References
- ^ "About AwakenWithJP". YouTube.
- ^ Jarry, Jonathan (November 19, 2020). "The Clown Prince of Wellness". Office for Science and Society. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - "Saying YES! to your Weirdness | JP Sears | TEDxCardiffbytheSea". YouTube. TED. July 19, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - Jimenez, Claudia (July 25, 2020). "Several rallies protesting bar closures, police defunding, Gov. Abbott, BLM in Austin area". KEYE. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
- Ham, Larissa (August 15, 2016). "YouTube comedian or real life coach: who is the real JP Sears?". The Sydney Morning Herald.
- "JP Sears - Live in Denver". Comedy Works. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
Further reading
- "J.P. Sears: The Truth Behind His "How To Become Gluten Intolerant" Video". The Good Men Project. April 9, 2015.
- "Meet the "New Age" Stephen Colbert". Religion Dispatches. March 30, 2015.
- "An Interview With His Enlightenedness the Ultra Spiritual JP Sears". Yoga Journal. December 22, 2016.
- Sears, JP (March 7, 2017). How to Be Ultra Spiritual: 12 1/2 Steps to Spiritual Superiority. Sounds True. ISBN 9781622038213.
- Schawbel, Dan (December 7, 2017). "JP Sears: His Quest To Create An Emotionally Healthy World". Forbes.