Hasan Piker, the prominent streamer and YouTube commentator recognized for his progressive politics, described Osama bin Laden as a “spoiled brat” while discussing bin Laden’s stated rationale for planning the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Piker characterized the attacks as “blowback” tied to prior U.S. involvement in the Middle East.
In an interview with Axios, Piker addressed bin Laden’s grievances against the United States, including U.S. backing for Israel, American oil policy and the presence of U.S. military bases across the Middle East. He also pointed to bin Laden’s earlier connection to U.S. interests, noting that America trained, financed and supplied Afghan mujahideen during the Soviet-Afghan War.
“The action was so heinous and so violent that — and also … given his position as formerly an American ally — I think that he came across a little bit more as a spoiled brat that wasn’t getting his way. With many backers in the Saudi kingdom as well and the royal family,” Piker said.
Twitch streamer Hasan Piker has drawn fresh criticism over comments made in an Axios interview, where he called Osama bin Laden a “spoiled brat” while discussing the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. (Sam Barnes/Web Summit via Sportsfile via Getty Images)
The left-wing online personality said he would prefer a world in which fewer figures like bin Laden emerge at all.
“The other path of least resistance is to not interfere in these affairs in general and not continue to dominate and create an environment where people are going to seek out revenge and put us in a position of danger,” he said.
The World Trade Center in New York City after hijacked planes struck the buildings on Sept. 11, 2001. (Newspix via Getty Images)
Piker described the 9/11 attacks as a “horrifying tragedy,” while again framing them as blowback stemming from U.S. conduct in the Middle East.
“Blowback is not a justification. Blowback is just what it is,” he said. “A justification offers either a moral condemnation or a moral acceptance of the act. I do not accept the act of 9/11 morally”.
Piker has also encountered backlash over another statement from the Axios conversation, in which he compared the United States with al Qaeda “pound for pound.”
“Pound for pound as far as the number of deaths, yes,” Piker said. “We have caused tremendous terror all around the world.”