• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Towleroad Gay News

Gay Blog Towleroad: More than gay news | gay men

  • Travel
  • Sports
  • Law/Justice
  • Celebrities
  • Republicans
  • Madonna
  • Books
  • Men
  • Trans Rights
  • Royals
  • Monkeypox
  • ‘Gay Key West Uncovered’ Dives Into the Island’s Natural Wonders Aboard the Clothing-Optional BluQ, at Mallory Square Sunset and More: LISTEN
  • Corporate giants say anti-LGBT law would hurt Uganda’s economy
  • Early 2024 salvos foreshadow unpredictable Trump vs DeSantis fight

Man Who Made Faux ISIS Flag Slams CNN, Says Intent Was To Start Dialogue: VIDEO

Sean Mandell July 1, 2015

flag

The creator of the much-talked-about faux ISIS flag that was spotted at London’s Gay Pride is speaking out.

In a letter published by The Guardian, the flag’s creator, Paul Coombs, says he “created the Isis dildo flag…to start a dialogue, not get a laugh.”

You’ll recall CNN mistook Coomb’s flag, which parodies the ISIS flag and depicts sex toys, for the terror group’s emblem.

Coombs expanded on the motive behind the flag’s creation, writing:

“The decision to make the flag was a simple one: a sense of outrage at Isis’s brutal advance across North Africa, Libya, Syria and Iraq. Medieval ideologies and barbarism were being spread and recorded through that most modern of expressions, social media, with that flag ever-present. It has become a potent symbol of brutality, fear and sexual oppression. If I wanted to try and stimulate a dialogue about the ridiculousness of this ideology, the flag was key.

It was important that I didn’t try to replicate the writing on the flag, because the words and their subject – Islam – are not the target.”

Coombs also lambasted CNN and reporter Lucy Pawle for failing to identify that his flag was not the actual ISIS standard:

But how could a report so hysterical and so clearly false possibly get onto the air, discussed by a terrorism expert? CNN correspondent Lucy Pawle described my flag as a “very bad mimicry” but the only bad mimicry I could see was CNN’s impression of a reputable news organization. What does this say about every other report that they broadcast? And why have they not mentioned it since? They seem to think that if nobody says anything about it then it can’t have really happened.

But oh, it did. On a message board someone posted: “Whenever I see the Isis flag anywhere, all I can see is dildos!” Mission accomplished.

CNN’s Pawle has since denied that she ever reported on the subject and as Coombs notes, CNN has not acknowledged the falsity of their report.

@Paddy0pedobom I reported no such thing

— Lucy Pawle (@lucypawle) June 27, 2015

Watch CNN’s original report (which the news organization took down from its site) below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXzIgZgmzSg

Topics: Pride, Social Media More Posts About: CNN, ISIS, London, Lucy Pawle

Related Posts
  • Don Lemon Accuser Forced To Pay CNN Anchor $77k In Legal Fees As Court Battle Heats Up
  • CNN Ends Probe into Cuomo Issues, Executive Gollust Quits And Lashes Out In A New Episode Of The Torrid Soap Opera From The Hard News Channel
  • Finally after pressure, Coke, Delta Condemn Voting Restrictions as ‘Unacceptable’ and Based on ‘Big Lie’. Too Little, Too Late?
  • Corporate giants say anti-LGBT law would hurt Uganda’s economy

    Corporate giants say anti-LGBT law would hurt Uganda’s economy

    Published by Reuters UK NAIROBI (Reuters) – A coalition of international companies, including Google and Microsoft, on Wednesday denounced anti-LGBTQ legislation passed by Uganda’s parliament last week, warning it would damage the East Africa country’s economy. …Read More »
  • Early 2024 salvos foreshadow unpredictable Trump vs DeSantis fight

    Early 2024 salvos foreshadow unpredictable Trump vs DeSantis fight

    Published by Reuters By Tim Reid, Alexandra Ulmer and James Oliphant (Reuters) – The battle for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination has for months been seen as a two-man race: a fight between Donald Trump and …Read More »
  • Megyn Kelly Attacks Trans Swimmer Lia Thomas After She’s Honored By ESPN For Women’s History Month

    Megyn Kelly Attacks Trans Swimmer Lia Thomas After She’s Honored By ESPN For Women’s History Month

    Published by Radar Online @liakthomas/Instagram, mega Political pundit Megyn Kelly blasted collegiate transgender swimmer Lia Thomas after ESPN honored the athlete as part of its Women’s History Month celebration, RadarOnline.com has learned. In yet another attempt …Read More »
  • Nashville school shooter had ’emotional disorder’ and small arsenal, police say

    Nashville school shooter had ’emotional disorder’ and small arsenal, police say

    Published by Reuters By Sandra Stojanovic NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Reuters) – The 28-year-old former student who killed three children and three adults at a Christian grade school in Nashville on Monday was under a doctor’s care for …Read More »
Previous Post: « Mississippi Circuit Clerk Resigns Over Same-Sex Marriage Ruling: VIDEO
Next Post: Six Arrested At White House Protest Against Detention of LGBT Immigrants: VIDEO »

Primary Sidebar

Adjacent News

  • Portraits of Dogs: London’s Wallace Collection explores canine character and charm

    Portraits of Dogs: London’s Wallace Collection explores canine character and charm

  • LGBTQ+ trailblazer and comedian Paul O’Grady dies at 67

    LGBTQ+ trailblazer and comedian Paul O’Grady dies at 67

  • Florida bill would instantly ban books based on a single objection from one resident

    Florida bill would instantly ban books based on a single objection from one resident

Good Trash: Going to Read It Somewhere, Y'know

  • Kanye West thanks Jonah Hill for making him ‘like Jewish people again’

    Kanye West thanks Jonah Hill for making him ‘like Jewish people again’

  • Harry Styles, Emily Ratajkowski And Olivia Wilde Spark ‘Throuple’ Chatter In Hollywood After Wild Make-Out Session Caught On Video

    Harry Styles, Emily Ratajkowski And Olivia Wilde Spark ‘Throuple’ Chatter In Hollywood After Wild Make-Out Session Caught On Video

  • Jennifer Aniston Recalls Cher Poking Fun At Her For Eating All The Cold Cuts In Her Home During Actress’ High School Days

    Jennifer Aniston Recalls Cher Poking Fun At Her For Eating All The Cold Cuts In Her Home During Actress’ High School Days

RSS Partner Links

  • An error has occurred, which probably means the feed is down. Try again later.

Most Recent

  • ‘Gay Key West Uncovered’ Dives Into the Island’s Natural Wonders Aboard the Clothing-Optional BluQ, at Mallory Square Sunset and More: LISTEN

    ‘Gay Key West Uncovered’ Dives Into the Island’s Natural Wonders Aboard the Clothing-Optional BluQ, at Mallory Square Sunset and More: LISTEN

  • Corporate giants say anti-LGBT law would hurt Uganda’s economy

    Corporate giants say anti-LGBT law would hurt Uganda’s economy

  • Early 2024 salvos foreshadow unpredictable Trump vs DeSantis fight

    Early 2024 salvos foreshadow unpredictable Trump vs DeSantis fight

  • Megyn Kelly Attacks Trans Swimmer Lia Thomas After She’s Honored By ESPN For Women’s History Month

    Megyn Kelly Attacks Trans Swimmer Lia Thomas After She’s Honored By ESPN For Women’s History Month

  • Nashville school shooter had ’emotional disorder’ and small arsenal, police say

    Nashville school shooter had ’emotional disorder’ and small arsenal, police say

  • Emily Ratajkowski ‘Begging’ Pal Olivia Wilde For ‘Forgiveness’ After Messy Harry Styles Make Out, Spills Source: ‘This Is A Betrayal’

    Emily Ratajkowski ‘Begging’ Pal Olivia Wilde For ‘Forgiveness’ After Messy Harry Styles Make Out, Spills Source: ‘This Is A Betrayal’

  • Madonna Ridicules Tennessee Lawmakers’ ‘Unacceptable & Inhumane Oppression Of LGBTQ+ Community’: ‘See You In Nashville’

    Madonna Ridicules Tennessee Lawmakers’ ‘Unacceptable & Inhumane Oppression Of LGBTQ+ Community’: ‘See You In Nashville’

  • Adam Lambert got a job at Starbucks to buy makeup

    Adam Lambert got a job at Starbucks to buy makeup

Most Commented

Social

Twitter @tlrd | Facebook | Instagram @tlrd

Footer

Copyright © 2023 · Log in

×