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Lauren Chen
Chen in 2022
Personal information
Born
Lauren Yu Sum Tam
NationalityCanadian
SpouseLiam Donovan
Children1[1]
YouTube information
Channel
Years active2016–2024
Subscribers572 thousand[2]
(September 2024)
Total views100,717,306[2]
(September 2024)
Channel is now suspended

Lauren Chen (born Lauren Yu Sum Tam) is a Hong Kong-Canadian conservative[3][4][5][6][7] political commentator and former YouTube personality. She has been involved with Glenn Beck's BlazeTV and Turning Point USA and has contributed opinion pieces to RT, a Russian state media outlet.[8][9] Her husband, Liam Donovan, was president of the now-defunct Tenet Media, a company they co-founded.

Early life and education

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Lauren Yu Sum Tam[4] was born in Quebec, Canada,[6] and spent much of her childhood in Hong Kong. She has lived in Shanghai, Singapore, and London. Chen attended the University of Southern California and Brigham Young University, where she studied political science and screenwriting.[10]

Career

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Chen began her online career in 2016, using the moniker "Roaming Millennial" on YouTube. Her videos focused on various political and social issues from a conservative viewpoint, including critiques of immigration, LGBTQ+ rights and feminism. These views helped her gain a significant following among conservative audiences.[11][4][10]

Throughout her rise in the conservative media sphere, Chen's platform facilitated connections with both mainstream conservative figures and more controversial individuals. In 2017, she interviewed Richard Spencer, a white supremacist and prominent figure in the alt-right movement, though she publicly distanced herself from his white nationalist views. By positioning herself as a more moderate voice while engaging with controversial figures, she became a bridge between mainstream conservatism and the far-right online ecosystem.[10]

By 2019, Chen had accumulated over 400,000 subscribers on her (now-suspended) YouTube channel and continued to expand her presence. She became a contributor to CRTV, which later merged with Glenn Beck's TheBlaze, where she hosted her own show, Pseudo-Intellectual.[12][13][14] She contributed to Turning Point USA,[15][16] an American conservative nonprofit organization.[17]

In 2021, she began contributing op-eds to RT, a Russian state media outlet, publishing articles with headlines such as "America’s 'white supremacy' is a myth" and "If you’re American and oppose war with Russia, expect to be smeared as unpatriotic." According to a federal indictment, Chen, identified as "Founder-1," was allegedly compensated by RT to create and publish over two hundred videos on her personal YouTube channel without disclosing the source of funding.[10]

Tenet Media and alleged Russian connections

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Main article: 2024 Tenet Media investigation

On January 19, 2022,[18] Chen co-founded Tenet Media with her husband, Liam Donovan.[18][19][20][21][22] In January 2023, Chen allegedly received a contract from RT to recruit other commentators for Tenet Media as part of the former's efforts to influence U.S. public opinion. Chen recruited conservative or conservative-adjacent commentators Matt Christiansen, Tayler Hansen, Benny Johnson, Tim Pool, Dave Rubin, and Lauren Southern to be a part of the Tenet Media network.[23] Despite her role at Tenet, her name did not appear on the company’s website, nor did she publicly associate her title with the organization on social media.[10]

During this period, Chen made public statements that aligned her with fringe and extremist voices. She expressed support for white supremacist streamer Nick Fuentes's anti-Israel stance on the Israel–Hamas war and criticized U.S. support for Ukraine. For instance, she suggested that former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley should "move to Ukraine and run for its presidency." These positions contributed to a decline in support from some of her previous mainstream conservative audience.[10][24]

United States federal indictment

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A federal indictment unsealed in September 2024 accused Tenet Media of receiving funding and direction from a covert operation funded by Russia to disseminate pro-Russian propaganda within the United States.[25][26][27] The indictment, filed in the Southern District of New York, alleged that Russian state-controlled media company RT funneled nearly $10 million to Tenet Media to create and distribute content favorable to Russian interests, aimed at amplifying U.S. domestic divisions. The indictment specifically named Kostiantyn Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva, employees of RT, as the main operatives behind the funding.[28][23]

The Justice Department said that Tenet Media, referred to as "US Company 1" in the indictment, produced numerous videos that supported Russia's geopolitical aims and received significant views on platforms such as YouTube, Twitter, and TikTok. These activities were part of broader Russian efforts to influence U.S. public opinion ahead of the 2024 elections.[11] Although the indictment suggested that not all individuals affiliated with Tenet were aware of the source of funding, it highlighted that founders, including Chen, were cognizant of their financial backers and actively concealed this information.[23]

The indictment was revealing: "The unsealed indictment said the founders of the unidentified company — widely reported to be Tenet Media — knew their funding came from 'the Russians.'"[29] It alleges the Tenet founders masked their Russian funding by creating a fictitious persona of a wealthy European sponsor, "Eduard Grigoriann."[9] The charged Russian nationals, Kostiantyn Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva, were involved in day-to-day operations of Tenet by fall 2023, using false names to conceal they were Russian RT employees. The indictment alleges the founders acknowledged in private communications that their "investors" were actually the "Russians."[18][11]

Attorney general Merrick Garland said Tenet "never disclosed to the influencers or to their millions of followers its ties to RT and the Russian government."[30] Prosecutors also allege the $10 million was a Russian money laundering operation.[11]

Canadian government reaction

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On September 10, five Canadian members of parliament issued a letter calling for Chen to testify before a Canadian parliamentary committee.[31]

After being summoned, Chen appeared with counsel during the hearing on November 5, 2024, and refused to answer any questions, citing the American criminal investigation. This prompted the committee, comprising MPs from all parties, to unanimously vote to send the matter to the House of Commons as a potential contempt of parliament case.[32]

Response and public statements

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Following the indictment's public release, Tenet Media and the involved commentators, including Chen, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. As of September 6, two days after the indictment was revealed publicly, Chen had not posted on social media since the indictment.[33]

In response to the indictment, BlazeTV officially fired her.[34][35] Her Turning Point USA profile was also removed.[33] Her channels, as well as that of Tenet Media, were taken down by YouTube.[36][37] Tenet Media has since been shuttered.[38]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Lauren, Chen [@TheLaurenChen] (April 19, 2022). "Last week had some unexpected turns! But now we're going home with little Riley 🥰" (Tweet). Retrieved September 8, 2024 – via Twitter.
  2. ^ a b "About YouTube channel". YouTube.
  3. ^ Bonn, Tess (July 11, 2019). "Conservative commentator: US women's soccer team pay should be proportionate to earnings 'if everything else is equal'". The Hill. Archived from the original on September 8, 2024. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Roush, Ty. "Who Is Lauren Chen? What To Know About The Influencer Behind Alleged Russia-Funded Outlet". Forbes. Archived from the original on September 6, 2024. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  5. ^ "How a Canadian influencer targeted this Florida bar for its drag shows". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on September 8, 2024. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Cherry, Paul (September 6, 2024). "Quebec-born commentator and her husband alleged to have helped Russia spread misinformation". Montreal Gazette. Archived from the original on September 6, 2024. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  7. ^ "Canadian tied to alleged Russian influencer op received thousands in fees: U.S." Toronto Sun. September 6, 2024. Archived from the original on September 8, 2024. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  8. ^ Reilly, Ryan J.; Rubin, Lisa; Zadrozny, Brandy; Ingram, David (September 5, 2024). "Russian money was funneled to right-wing creators through a pro-Trump media outlet: prosecutors". NBC News. Archived from the original on September 6, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Bond, Shannon; Joffe-Block, Jude; Thompson, Caitlin (September 5, 2024). "How Russian operatives covertly hired U.S. influencers to create viral videos". National Public Radio. Archived from the original on September 6, 2024. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  10. ^ a b c d e f "Before she allegedly became a Russian asset, Lauren Chen was the darling of conservative YouTube". NBC News. September 11, 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  11. ^ a b c d Nakamura, David; Belton, Catherine; Sommer, Will (September 4, 2024). "Justice Dept. charges two Russian media operatives in alleged scheme". The Washington Post.
  12. ^ Suderman, Alan; Swenson, Ali (September 5, 2024). "Right-wing influencers were duped to work for covert Russian influence operation, US says". AP News. Archived from the original on September 6, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  13. ^ Murray, Conor (July 21, 2023). "'Barbie' Largely Praised For Feminist Themes—But Draws Anger From The Anti-Woke". Forbes. Archived from the original on July 24, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  14. ^ Stanton, Andrew (May 2, 2024). "Republicans voting for bill that could make "Bible illegal" outrages MAGA". Newsweek. Archived from the original on September 6, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  15. ^ Jones, Ja'han (October 18, 2023). "Right-wingers start to turn on this pro-Trump propaganda group". MSNBC. Archived from the original on September 6, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  16. ^ Eckstein, Griffin (September 4, 2024). "Right-wing media group allegedly took $10 million in Russian financing: DOJ indictment". Salon. Archived from the original on September 6, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  17. ^ Pearce, Georgia (July 17, 2024). "'They STILL blame the right!' Lauren Chen blasts MSM's 'very violent rhetoric' after Trump assassination attempt". GB News. Archived from the original on September 6, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024 – via MSN.
  18. ^ a b c Becket, Stefan; Quinn, Melissa (September 5, 2024). "U.S. says Russia funded media company that paid right-wing influencers millions for videos". CBS News. Archived from the original on September 6, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  19. ^ "Right-Wing Influencers Were Duped to Work for Covert Russian Influence Operation, US Says". US News And World Report. Archived from the original on September 6, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  20. ^ Schmunk, Rhianna (September 4, 2024). "U.S. accuses Russia of using unwitting influencers, fake news sites to sway presidential election". CBC. Archived from the original on September 5, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  21. ^ Kovensky, Josh (September 4, 2024). "Is This Right-Wing Media Platform the Product of a $10 Million Russian Plot?". Talking Points Memo. Archived from the original on September 5, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  22. ^ Sommer, Will (September 6, 2024). "Inside Tenet Media, the pro-Trump 'supergroup' allegedly funded by Russia". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  23. ^ a b c Couts, Andrew (September 4, 2024). "Right-Wing Influencer Network Tenet Media Allegedly Spread Russian Disinformation". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Archived from the original on September 5, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  24. ^ Talcott, Shelby; Weigel, David (October 17, 2023). "Conservative influencers battle over Israel, 'America First,' and antisemitism after Hamas attack". Semafor. Archived from the original on May 29, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  25. ^ "Well-known right-wing influencers duped to work for covert Russian operation, U.S. prosecutors say". PBS News. September 5, 2024. Archived from the original on September 6, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  26. ^ "Dave Rubin, Benny Johnson, Tim Pool Exposed as Working For Alleged Russian Influence Operation in New DOJ Indictment". Mediaite. September 4, 2024. Archived from the original on September 4, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  27. ^ "Tenet Media: All about 'Russia-funded' US media company linked to right-wing influencers - CNBC TV18". CNBCTV18. September 5, 2024. Archived from the original on September 6, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  28. ^ Merlan, Anna (September 4, 2024). "Federal prosecutors charge a conservative media company took millions in Kremlin cash". Mother Jones. Archived from the original on September 5, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  29. ^ Dyer, Evan (September 11, 2024). "Washington's indictment shines a bright light on the dark corners of Russian disinformation operations". CBC.ca. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  30. ^ McCausland, Phil (September 5, 2024). "Right-wing US influencers say they were victims of alleged Russian plot". BBC. Archived from the original on September 6, 2024. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  31. ^ Major, Darren (September 10, 2024). "Liberal MPs call for probe into Canadian connections to alleged Russian propaganda scheme". CBC. Archived from the original on September 12, 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  32. ^ Tunney, Catharine (November 5, 2024). "Canadian linked to Russian influence campaign refuses to answer MPs' questions". CBC News. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
  33. ^ a b Montpetit, Jonathan; Wong, Aloysius (September 6, 2024). "Meet the right-wing Canadian influencers accused of collaborating with an alleged Russian propaganda scheme". CBC News. Archived from the original on September 7, 2024. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  34. ^ Smith, Ben (September 5, 2024). "Blaze fires contributor linked to alleged Russian operation". Semafor. Archived from the original on September 5, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  35. ^ Korach, Natalie (September 5, 2024). "Blaze Fires YouTube Contributor Linked to Alleged Russian Influence Campaign". TheWrap. Archived from the original on September 5, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  36. ^ Vynck, Gerrit De (September 6, 2024). "YouTube takes down right-wing channels linked to DOJ Russia indictments". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  37. ^ "YouTube terminating Tenet Media channel after US indictment". Reuters.
  38. ^ Merlan, Anna. "Tenet Media shutters after being accused of taking $10 million in covert Kremlin funding". Mother Jones. Archived from the original on September 7, 2024. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
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