The influencer who appeared with Nithya Raman in the “fascist liars” video has built a large digital following by inserting himself into heated social-justice disputes and organizing viral campaigns viewed millions of times.
Ed Choi, known online as @etchaskej, has nearly 800,000 followers across TikTok and Instagram. He interviewed Los Angeles mayoral candidate Raman in the video that triggered controversy Monday night.
It was not Choi’s first brush with an online firestorm.
Last year, he repeatedly criticized Los Angeles restaurant group Great White after false claims emerged that Asian diners were being segregated.
The controversy began when a diner alleged that Asian customers were being seated together at the restaurant’s Melrose location. The backlash soon expanded to focus on Great White’s name.
Great White’s owners firmly denied discriminating against customers based on race or ethnicity. They said the restaurant was named for the great white shark, which is also featured in its branding.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Choi eventually posted more than a dozen videos about Great White and its then-former sister restaurant, Gran Blanco, helping spread the allegations across social media.
One of his early videos surpassed 1 million views on Instagram.
As the backlash intensified, the owners, workers and their families received threatening and abusive messages. Choi later condemned the harassment publicly.
His latest controversy followed an interview with Raman, who is challenging Mayor Karen Bass. During the video, Choi says Los Angeles has become “extremely fascist,” citing Bass’ appointment of Jim McDonnell as police chief.
He then asks Raman how she would “de-fascistize” Los Angeles.
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Later, the two repeat the phrase together: “Only you can stop fascist liars.”
The video also briefly shows images of Bass and McDonnell, with a large red X placed over the LAPD chief’s face.
Raman’s campaign said Choi inserted those images after the interview. It also said Raman intended the reference to “fascist liars” to mean ICE and the Trump administration.
The campaign said it had distanced itself from the post and asked Choi to remove the video.
Choi, a former stand-up comedian and co-founder of a clothing brand, has said the 2021 Atlanta spa shootings prompted his shift toward social-justice activism. Eight people died in those attacks, including six Asian women.
He later entered another viral restaurant dispute involving San Francisco’s Kis Cafe. His reaction video drew more than 3.2 million views, and he urged his followers to stop supporting the business.
Kis Cafe eventually closed following a wider social-media backlash that began after another influencer described an encounter with the restaurant’s chef-owner. The business later reopened under a new name and with different leadership.
More recently, Choi has used his substantial online platform to promote detainee fundraisers and causes opposed to immigration enforcement by ICE.
He has also said that two federal agents recently came to his home because of his online activity involving ICE personnel.
But there is no public confirmation from federal authorities that Choi is under investigation or has been accused of a crime.