By Rick LaRivière and Richard Luthmann
Jeremy Hales, the controversial YouTube personality behind What The Hale$, has come under fire for his persistent anti-Semitic remarks, refusal to apologize, and the toxic online culture he fosters.
In the latest episode of The Unknown Podcast, co-hosts Richard Luthmann and Michael Volpe pulled no punches. They detailed Hales’ use of hateful rhetoric, the role of his enablers—Megan Fox (@MeganFoxWriter) and ThatUmbrellaGuy (@ThatUmbrellaGuy or TUG)—and the blatant attempts to deflect from the growing scandal.
Hales has been accused of repeatedly using anti-Semitic slurs, particularly targeting Jewish attorney Bruce Matzkin. He calls Matzkin “Deuce Foreskin,” mocks his nose, and refuses to denounce his supporters who echo these sentiments.
When given the opportunity to set the record straight, Hales remained silent. His refusal to disavow these remarks has only furthered concerns about the normalization of anti-Semitism in his YouTube community.
Rabbi Jacob Bellinsky Calls Out Hales’ Anti-Semitism
The controversy escalated when respected Orthodox Rabbi Jacob Bellinsky issued a public statement condemning Hales’ language.
“As a Rabbi and follower of the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s teachings, I feel compelled to address the troubling behaviors and rhetoric that have come to light in Jeremy Hales’ lawsuit against his neighbors and his treatment of Attorney Bruce Matzkin,” Bellinsky said.
“The use of anti-Semitic tropes and the deliberate choice to refer to Mr. Matzkin as ‘Deuce Foreskin’—an apparent reference to a well-known slur—represents more than mere insults. These echo historical patterns of dehumanization that have no place in our modern society.”
The Rabbi didn’t stop there, warning that monetized content built around bigotry could have dire consequences.
“When such behavior is broadcast to hundreds of thousands of YouTube followers and monetized through content creation, it risks normalizing anti-Semitism for a new generation,” he said.
Luthmann’s Personal Growth and Call for Accountability
Luthmann, a journalist and investigative reporter, admitted to his own past mistakes in using anti-Semitic language but emphasized that he had since learned and grown, thanks in large part to his relationship with Rabbi Spritzer and the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
“I’ve said things in my past that I regret,” Luthmann said on The Unknown Podcast. “I was ignorant. But I educated myself, I owned my mistakes, and I changed. Hales and his crew refuse to do that. They double down.”
According to Luthmann, the same cannot be said for Hales, Megan Fox, and ThatUmbrellaGuy. Instead of acknowledging the issue, they have chosen to deflect, dismiss, and even mock those raising concerns.
“They’ve got no integrity,” Luthmann said. “They are shameless. Hales won’t even say, ‘I don’t hate Jews.’ That’s how far gone he is.”
The Deflection Strategy: Blame Everyone Else
Rather than addressing the controversy, Hales and his supporters have resorted to what Volpe called the “classic gaslighting playbook.”
“When we brought this up, instead of responding to the actual accusations, Hales and his crew turned it around and said, ‘Well, Richard Luthmann said some bad things years ago,’” Volpe said.
“First of all, Richard has admitted his mistakes and apologized. Second, how does that excuse what Hales is doing right now?”
Fox and TUG, both prominent figures in the Hales YouTube “echo chamber,” have also been accused of using disturbing rhetoric, including endorsing eugenics and joking about children eating paint chips.
“These people openly discuss the idea that ‘stupid parents’ shouldn’t have children,” Luthmann said. “They joke about kids eating paint chips. That’s not just offensive. It’s outright evil.”
The ‘I Have a Jewish Lawyer’ Defense Falls Flat
In an attempt to deflect criticism, Hales’ attorney, Randy Shochet, a Jewish lawyer, tried to distance his client from the anti-Semitism allegations. But this defense has been widely condemned as insincere and offensive.
“That’s like saying, ‘I have a Black friend, so I can’t be racist,’” Luthmann said. “It’s a pathetic excuse and an insult to everyone who actually cares about fighting bigotry.”
Volpe, who is Jewish, also weighed in.
“Deuce Foreskin is going to be considered anti-Semitic by 99.999% of Jews,” he said. “You don’t get to decide for Jews what we believe is anti-Semitic. It is anti-Semitic, period.”
Will Hales Finally Apologize?
Despite the mounting backlash, Hales has refused to acknowledge his offensive comments or issue an apology. Instead, he and his allies have continued their deflections, dismissing criticism as an “attack” on their YouTube community.
“Hales and his goons have a choice,” Luthmann said. “They can stop the hate, or they can deal with the consequences.”
Rabbi Bellinsky, however, remains hopeful.
“Our response to such behavior should be to strengthen our commitment to building bridges between communities, fostering understanding, and demonstrating through our actions the values of respect and human dignity that are fundamental to all faiths.”
But as Luthmann made clear, the clock is ticking.
“If Jeremy Hales wants this to go away, all he has to do is say three words: ‘I am sorry,’” he said. “But something tells me he won’t.”
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