By Dick LaFontaine with Richard Luthmann
In a sensational twist to the already contentious feud between YouTube star Jeremy Hales and his neighbors, investigative journalist Richard Luthmann has turned his focus on podcaster and commentator Megan Fox. He accuses her of blindly supporting Hales in what he describes as a "cult-like" obsession.
Luthmann, who co-hosts The Unknown Podcast with Michael Volpe, says Fox’s comments about his investigative methods crossed the line, prompting him to go on the offensive.
Luthmann also contributes to this outlet and gave background and comments for this story.
Sparks Fly Over “Bizarre” Email Exchange
The controversy centers on an email exchange between Luthmann and Fox. In it, Fox criticized Luthmann’s coverage of Hales’ legal battles because Luthmann and Volpe interviewed opposing attorney Bruce Matzkin.
In her email, Fox dismissed Luthmann’s investigative approach as “bizarre,” accusing him of failing to familiarize himself with public motions before commenting on the case.
“I guess I’m bizarre,” Luthmann retorted in his response. “The insinuation that I didn’t do my homework before I published is bullshit. I call bullshit.”
Luthmann wanted to know about the defamatory lawn signs central to the federal case. Neither Jeremey Hales nor Megan Fox were forthcoming with answers, even after Attorney Bruce Matzkin said he had a handwriting expert who said Hales made the signs himself.
Luthmann’s pointed email included a scathing assessment of Hales’ alleged behavior in the pending federal case, with three central questions: “Did he make the signs himself? Is he responsible for the calls to CPS? Does he hate Jews?”
“The whole case is those signs and the CPS calls,” Luthmann said.
He further criticized Fox for her inability to evaluate Hales’ actions objectively, questioning whether her loyalty to Hales was personal or professional.
He also accused Hales of anti-Semitic remarks directed at Bruce Matzkin, the lawyer representing Hales’ neighbors, referring to him with slurs like “Deuce Foreskin” and referencing stereotypes about his Jewish heritage.
Cult Allegations and the Groupie Factor
Luthmann did not mince words in his assessment of Fox’s alleged devotion to Hales.
“I think Megan Fox has been co-opted into the WhatTheHales cult,” he said. “She’s a groupie, following Hales with cult-like fanaticism. And I know a thing or two about cults.”
According to Luthmann, Hales’ charisma and influence have created a loyal following that mirrors the dynamics of a cult.
“I’m not saying he’s Keith Raniere, who I know from my time in the Brooklyn MDC. But Hales seemingly controls his groupies and uses them to amplify his narrative while evading accountability,” Luthmann argued.
Fox, who has built a reputation as a journalist, previously focusing on topics like politics, court corruption, and reunification therapy abuses, responded to Luthmann’s accusations with silence, evading his invitation to comment.
The Hales Legal Drama: A Content Creator's Goldmine?
The feud stems from a federal defamation lawsuit filed by Jeremy Hales against his neighbors, Lynette Preston and John Cook, over signs accusing Hales of heinous crimes. Hales claims the signs were part of a smear campaign orchestrated by his neighbors to damage his reputation.
However, Luthmann and Volpe have questioned the signs' authenticity and whether Hales created them to generate content for his YouTube channel, What the Hale$.
“Hales has turned this lawsuit into a content goldmine,” Volpe said on The Unknown Podcast. “It’s less about justice and more about clicks and views.”
Luthmann echoed this sentiment, accusing Hales of weaponizing the legal system for personal gain.
“This isn’t a fight for justice,” Luthmann said. “This is a spectacle for the internet.”
Accusations of Anti-Semitism Add Fuel to the Fire
One of the most incendiary claims in the feud is Luthmann’s accusation that Hales has used anti-Semitic language to disparage Matzkin, further complicating the legal and moral dimensions of the case.
“Jeremy Hales needs to come out and unequivocally deny these vile allegations,” Luthmann said. “Silence is complicity. Never Again means Never Again.”
The accusations have raised questions about Fox’s judgment in aligning herself with Hales.
“Megan Fox was a respected journalist,” Luthmann said. “But now she’s thrown in with someone who refuses to disavow anti-Semitic remarks. It’s disappointing and troubling.”
The Internet's Wild West: Cancel Culture and Harassment
Luthmann also compared Hales’ tactics to other controversial internet figures, such as TikTok’s Danesh Noshirvan. He alleges that both use their platforms to unleash harassment campaigns while maintaining plausible deniability.
“This is a pattern,” Luthmann said. “It starts with internet attacks and escalates to real-world consequences like harassment and false reporting.”
In the Hales case, over two dozen calls to Child Protective Services were allegedly made, straining local government resources.
Luthmann believes Hales may have orchestrated these calls through his followers, a claim Hales has not directly addressed.
“I Can’t Be Canceled”
Despite threats from Hales’ supporters, Luthmann remains defiant.
“I can’t be canceled,” he said. “The O-Biden Justice Department already tried that.”
Luthmann, who was once the Law Chair of the New York State Reform Party, served four years in federal prison on charges he attributes to political lawfare. He says his experience has made him immune to internet mobs.
“Try dealing with the real mob, and then come back and talk to me,” Luthmann said.
Dubbed the “Game of Thrones Lawyer,” New York State prosecutors described him as one of the most prolific social media manipulators of elections before Mark Zuckerberg in 2020. His innovative yet controversial tactics for using social media to influence political narratives made him a lightning rod for legal scrutiny and public debate.
“I don’t care about these blue-haired Garbage Pail Kids coming after me,” he quipped. “I’m lucky I wasn’t ‘suicided’ by Killary Clinton after 2016. You come out the other side of Lawfare, and you’re a changed animal.”
Where Does This Leave Megan Fox?
Luthmann’s final salvo directly challenged Fox’s integrity and independence.
“If Megan Fox can’t see through Jeremy Hales’ smoke and mirrors, she’s lost her edge as a journalist,” he said. “And if she’s complicit in his games, she has everything to lose.”
As the new fronts of this feud unfold, it highlights the volatile intersection of social media, legal battles, and journalism in the digital age. Whether Hales, Fox, or Luthmann will emerge unscathed remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the drama is far from over.
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