Former Fox News, MTV Finland reporter, and current editor of News Now Finland David Mac Dougall took to Twitter to threaten a man’s career for using the “okay sign.”
David Mac Dougall, who worked as a Fox News correspondent based in Iraq for six years, threatened Twitter user lisak Selin’s career for using the “okay symbol.”
Mac Dougall posted an article on May 16th indicating that Finns Party activists were using the “okay symbol.” In his article, Mac Dougall labels the use of the “okay symbol” as “controversial.” He writes, “A number of Finns Party activists have been caught on camera using a controversial ‘OK’ hand gesture which has been co-opted by white supremacists.”
Interestingly enough, Mac Dougall also decided to write in the same article:
“A third photograph from the Finns Party Youth website on 11th January shows member Linus Linsen from Hyvinkää making the gesture as well.
Pyry-Lii Soinio is also in this picture, giving a thumbs up sign.”
It’s unclear why he decided to indicate that Pyry-Lii Soinio is giving a thumbs up sign.
Mac Dougall also cites the Anti-Defamation League in his article in an attempt to justify his own interpretation of the sign. However, he leaves out a significant portion of their definition, which describes the symbol as “completely innocuous.”
“It is important to realize that the “OK” gesture is a nearly universal hand gesture and most usage of it is completely innocuous. Even when used as described here, the fact that white supremacists, the alt lite and many Trump supporters all use the symbol means that one cannot assume that anyone who poses with such a gesture is intending or exhibiting an association with white supremacy. Only if the gesture occurs in context with other clear indicators of white supremacy can one draw that conclusion.”
Twitter user lisak Selin would respond to Mac Dougall’s article with a picture of what appears to be himself using the “okay sign.” It’s possible it could be a picture of another person using the “okay sign.”
— Iisak Selin (@IisakSelin) May 17, 2019
That’s when MacDougall responded in a threatening manner. He questioned, “Hi lisak – Do you have a job? I wonder what your employers think of you making a sign that has been co-opted by white supremacists and racists? Would be interesting to find out. Or maybe a future employer is interested…”
Hi Iisak – Do you have a job? I wonder what your employers think of you making a sign that has been co-opted by white supremacists and racists? Would be interesting to find out. Or maybe a future employer is interested…
— David Mac Dougall (@davidmacdougall) May 17, 2019
Mac Dougall is not the only person to try and target individuals and imply they are racists and white supremacists for using the “okay symbol.” British actor Stephen Fry was recently associated with those accusations when he used the “okay symbol” to promote Mental Health Awareness Week.
Fry noted that he would “not allow the simple 👌 gesture to belong to the moronic dogwhistling catfishing foghorning frogmarching pigsticking dickwaving few who attempt to appropriate it for their own fatuous fantasies.”
PS: I really will not allow the simple 👌 gesture to belong to the moronic dogwhistling catfishing foghorning frogmarching pigsticking dickwaving few who attempt to appropriate it for their own fatuous fantasies. T
— Stephen Fry (@stephenfry) May 13, 2019
Mortal Kombat 11 changed Johnny Cage’s use of the “Okay” sign to a middle finger. Mortal Kombat developer Daanish Syed indicated the change was made because of “Nazis.”
Blizzard also reportedly banned the use of the symbol in their Overwatch League Arena claiming the “okay sign” was a “white power symbol.” That decision would be praised by TheScore Esport’s Daniel Rosen who claimed, ” The ‘Okay’ hand gesture is a f****** white supremacist thing now. Don’t be mad at Blizzard for banning it. Be mad at white supremacists for taking an innocent thing and ruining it.”
What do you make of David Mac Dougall’s actions?