Influencer Behind 'Fascist Liars' Video Has History of Fueling Viral Social Justice Battles

Ed Choi, the influencer behind a controversial video featuring Los Angeles mayoral hopeful Nithya Raman, has cultivated a significant online following by participating in heated social justice issues and initiating viral campaigns. Choi, who posts as @etchaskej, has garnered nearly 800,000 followers across TikTok and Instagram.

Choi's recent involvement in a video with Raman, a challenger to Mayor Karen Bass, has drawn attention. In the video, Choi states that Los Angeles has become "extremely fascist, especially because Karen Bass appointed Jim McDonnell as the chief of police," and asks Raman how she would "de-fascistize" the city. Together, they deliver the line, "Only you can stop fascist liars." The video also displays images of Bass and McDonnell, with a red 'X' superimposed over the LAPD chief's face.

Raman's campaign stated that Choi added the visual elements after their interview and that Raman's remark was intended to refer to ICE and the Trump administration. The campaign has since removed itself from the post and requested Choi to take down the video.

Prior to this, Choi was involved in a controversy concerning the Los Angeles restaurant group Great White. False allegations of racial segregation emerged, with one diner claiming Asian customers were being seated together at its Melrose location. The restaurant's owners denied discriminating against customers based on race or ethnicity, explaining the name Great White was inspired by the shark featured in its branding.

Choi published over a dozen videos about Great White and its former sister restaurant Gran Blanco, contributing to the spread of the allegations on social media. One of these videos reportedly garnered over one million Instagram views. Amidst the online backlash, which led to threatening and harassing messages directed at the owners, employees, and their families, Choi publicly condemned the harassment.

Choi also engaged with a viral controversy surrounding San Francisco's Kis Cafe. A reaction video he posted about the cafe amassed over 3.2 million views, and he urged his followers not to patronize the establishment. Kis Cafe eventually closed following a widespread social media backlash that began with another influencer's encounter with its chef-owner. The restaurant later reopened under new management and a different name.

More recently, Choi has focused his online platform on immigration enforcement, promoting detainee fundraisers and anti-ICE initiatives. He has also claimed that federal agents visited his home in response to his online activities involving ICE personnel, though there is no public confirmation from federal authorities of an investigation or accusations against him.

Choi, a former stand-up comedian and co-founder of a clothing brand, has stated that he shifted to social justice content after the 2021 Atlanta spa shootings, which resulted in eight deaths, including six Asian women.