In my book American Madness, I talk about Richard McCaslin, who fell deep into conspiracy theories. When he took his own life in 2018, he wrote a final statement that mentioned several conspiracies he wanted to call out before he died. Among them was a point that he didn’t wanted to live in a world filled with “toxic 5G radiation.”
5G conspiracies exploded as the COVID pandemic began to shut down society about a year ago. They vary somewhat, but common ones suggest that 5G weakens the immune system, making the body more susceptible to the virus, or that 5G actually spreads the virus itself, or that 5G creates the symptoms being called COVID, which is fake, so people will be forced to take a vaccine (which contains a microchip concocted by evil genius Bill Gates).
Fear and anger over these theories has led to international incidents of people burning down 5G towers to stop their perceived harmful output. The UK is a hotbed for this activity, with approximately 80 tower arsons and a string of Internet company workers being harrassed and threatened on the streets. The Netherlands also had about 30 arsons, and more were found in Ireland, Cyprus, Italy, New Zealand, Canada, and America (Oregon and Tennessee).
The strangest story to come out of these arsons comes from Quebec, as reported by Mack Lamoureux for Vice. Lamoureux has done great reporting on conspiracy theorists and extremists– I cited an article he wrote in American Madness that was an early look at how QAnon beliefs had caused people to lose their loved ones— friends, parents, spouses– to Q.
Lamoureux reports that a string of 9 tower arsons across the province of Quebec were caused by Justin-Phillipe Pauley, a wannabe French Canadian rapper who records as Justin Phillipe, and his beauty pageant contestant and model wife, Jessica Kallas. One French Canadian newspaper has called them “Les Bonnie and Clyde.”
The couple were arrested last May, when Phillipe’s white Volkswagon was identified in security camera footage. Phillipe was found “not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder,” reports Le Journal de Montreal, as he claimed that he was “convinced his life was in danger” if he did not commit the tower arsons. He remains detained in a psychiatric hospital. Earlier this year Kallas pleaded guilty to criminal mischief. She’ll avoid a criminal record with 150 hours community service and two years probation. The couple has reportedly since split up.
Justin Phillipe’s music, unlike Flat Earth Hip Hop, does not offer any conspiracy clues as to his motivations. But is it good?
Well now. I’m no musicologist but…um…just watch this music video for Phillipe’s song “Party Like.”
Woof.
In addition to the 5G tower arsons, Nashville Christmas Bomber Anthony Warner is suspected to have 5G conspiracy beliefs–his RV blew up outside of an AT&T center. He’s known to have believed in the Reptilian alien theory. Both the Reptilian and 5G theories have been promoted by British conspiracy-monger David Icke. This is also concerning as the vaccine is finally available and rolling out, but getting people to take it is a battle against 5G and vaccine conspiracy theory misinformation.
Please Clap Dept.: I had a great time as a guest on the Killed By Desk podcast. It was a unique interview as I talked about my personal life in addition to bits of my entire writing career.
Tune in to the show here: killed-by-desk.simplecast.com/episodes/22-tea-krulos-writer-journalist-milwaukee-punk-scene
Tea’s Weird Week podcast episode 08: Zeta Zimmer talks to me more about 5G radiation theories and ongoing fears of new technology. Me and Heidi talk about a mosquito tornado, a gang of feral chickens, a robot police dog, the Australian Nimbinjee, occult ritual in politics (from the Nazis to Bohemian Grove to CPAC), and a recent UFO sighting in New Mexico. Plus trivia and special guest Jen Cintrón tells us about her own UFO encounter in Puerto Rico and closes out with her track “Perfect Mirror” (check out her IntuitiveInsightsTarot.com page).
Listen here: teasweirdweek.podbean.com/e/teas-weird-week-episode-08-5g-conspiracies
And on: Spotify//Soundcloud//Google Podcasts//iHeartRadio//PlayerFM//Apple//Stitcher//Pocket Casts
Tea’s Weird Week merch: www.teepublic.com/user/tea-s-weird-week
Check out my books: American Madness: The Story of the Phantom Patriot and How Conspiracy Theories Hijacked American Consciousness: bookshop.org/books/american-madness-the-story-of-the-phantom-patriot-and-how-conspiracy-theories-hijacked-american-consciousness/9781627310963
Apocalypse Any Day Now: www.chicagoreviewpress.com/apocalypse-any-day-now-products-9781613736418.php
Tea’s Weird Week: 2020 Review (e-book): https://www.amazon.com/Teas-Weird-Week-2020-Review-ebook/dp/B08SGL97YJ/ref=sr_1_1
