NFT Project Ditched as Artist's Old Cartoons Emerge
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NFT Project Ditched as Artist's Old Cartoons Emerge

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2 years ago

Elijah Wood, best known for starring in Lord of the Rings, was among those who had invested in the collection.

NFT Project Ditched as Artist's Old Cartoons Emerge

Índice

An NFT project that was backed by a celebrity has suffered heavy sell-offs after controversial cartoons from the artist's past surfaced.

Jungle Freaks was created by George Trosley and his son — and features 10,000 zombie-esque NFTs.

Elijah Wood, best known for starring in Lord of the Rings, was among those who had invested in the collection.

But scandal emerged when some of Trosley’s cartoons, dating back to the 1970s, emerged.

Some featured depictions of the Ku Klux Klan, while others showed a black man covered in blood being arrested at the scene of a murder. Another showed two white bears encountering black bears spray painting swearwords on rocks.

The controversial art was published in Hustler magazine. After they came to light, Elijah Wood tweeted:

“After previously purchasing some NFTs, as well as being gifted one, I was made aware of some of the artist’s prior disturbing cartoons. Upon learning of this, I immediately sold the NFTs as I wholly denounce any form of racism. I have donated the funds from the sale of the NFTs to LDF and Black Lives Matter.”

The value of Jungle Freaks has now plunged dramatically.

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Creators React

In a statement, George Trosley’s son said “the cartoons my father drew are horrible” — and he stressed that the Jungle Freaks do not support or condone racism in any way. He added:

“The Trosley family does not support or condone racism. We apologize to the holders of Jungle Freaks, our Discord Community and the world at large for having to experience these past transgressions from the 1970s. But we thank the community for bringing about a teachable moment for myself and my father. This was the culture Larry Flint & Hustler pushed, it was incorrect then and it’s incorrect now. My father should not have participated in this.” 

This appeared to be undermined by a video statement that followed, in which George Trosley argued that the cartoons were designed to “call attention to social injustices in America.”

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