Influencer behind Nithya Ramans fascist liars video built huge following fueling racially charged firestorms

The influencer behind Nithya Raman’s “fascist liars” video has built a massive online following by wading into explosive social-justice battles — and launching viral campaigns that have racked up millions of views.Ed Choi, who posts as @etchaskej and has amassed nearly 800,000 followers across TikTok and Instagram, interviewed the Los Angeles mayoral hopeful in the video that erupted into controversy Monday night.But Choi was already well versed in whipping up online firestorms.The biggest news, opinion and culture shaping California right now.

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Never miss a story Last year, he repeatedly targeted Los Angeles restaurant group Great White after false allegations surfaced that Asian customers were being segregated.The claims began with a diner alleging Asian customers were being seated together at its Melrose location, before the restaurant’s name itself became part of the online backlash.Great White’s owners strongly denied discriminating against customers based on race or ethnicity and said the restaurant was named after the great white shark, which features in its branding.Choi ultimately published more than a dozen videos about Great White and its then-former sister restaurant Gran Blanco, according to the Los Angeles Times, helping propel the allegations across social media.One early video topped 1 million Instagram views.As the online backlash exploded and the owners, employees and their families received threatening and harassing messages, Choi publicly condemned the harassment.His latest controversy erupted after he sat down with Raman, who is challenging Mayor Karen Bass.In the video, Choi says Los Angeles has become “extremely fascist, especially because Karen Bass appointed Jim McDonnell as the chief of police.”He then asks Raman how she would “de-fascistize” the city.The pair later de...