A heated exchange took place outside the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, Illinois, on Tuesday between George Chidi, a journalist for The Guardian, and Sidam, a correspondent for Channel 5.
The confrontation, which quickly escalated into a profanity-laced argument, was captured on video and has since drawn significant attention online.
The incident began when Chidi, who covers politics and democracy for The Guardian, approached Sidam outside the convention.
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Identifying himself as a journalist for the prominent London-based publication, Chidi questioned Sidam about his own credentials.
“I’m a journalist, I write for The Guardian,” Chidi stated. In response, Sidam, who was wearing a knit mask, appeared skeptical. “The Guardian?” he asked, prompting Chidi to clarify, “Yeah, big paper, London, ninth largest English language publication in the world, The Guardian. I’m a legitimate journalist. Who are you?”
Sidam identified himself simply as “Sidam from Channel 5,” a response that seemed to further frustrate Chidi.
When asked if Channel 5 was a local station, Sidam clarified that it was a YouTube channel. This revelation appeared to irritate Chidi, who responded aggressively, asking, “What’s your fucking problem?”
Sidam insisted that he had no issue, but Chidi continued to press, expressing disbelief that Sidam was a journalist while refusing to provide more information about his identity. “You’re a fuck up. Legitimate journalists will take issue with this and once I’m done with all of this shit, I’m going to find out what the hell this bullshit is about,” Chidi said before Sidam encouraged him to do so.
The video, which captured the exchange, then cut away before returning to a longer rant from Chidi. “This is fucked up, your people are fucked up, the folks who are listening to this shit are fucked up. You should be ashamed of yourself if you’re giving this guy clicks,” Chidi ranted.
After the initial confrontation, Sidam reflected on the encounter, saying, “I got, uh, verbally assaulted by The Guardian.” Later in the video, the two encountered each other again, with Chidi interrupting another interview Sidam was conducting. Chidi’s remarks grew even more hostile as he cursed at Sidam before walking away.
George Chidi your wonderful journalist who likes to say things like “fuck you, fuck your mother. In fact I got twenty bucks, I’ll go fuck your mother! Maybe she’ll give me ten bucks back so that her husband can go fuckin watch.” Nice pic.twitter.com/WJ6TyWpWN5
— SLC Beav (@GoBeavvs) August 21, 2024
An onlooker, witnessing the interaction, remarked on the behavior, saying, “That’s wild. People from The Guardian acting like that? That’s crazy as fuck.”
George Chidi’s X account has since been set to private following the incident.
According to The Guardian’s website, Chidi is a politics and democracy reporter for their U.S. division.
Channel 5, the outlet for which Sidam works, is known for its unique blend of journalism and comedy. Founded by Andrew Callaghan, Channel 5 has gained a significant following online, with 2.72 million subscribers on YouTube. The outlet’s style is characterized by its guerrilla-style journalism and ironic comedic approach, which often blurs the lines between traditional reporting and satire.
The altercation between Chidi and Sidam highlights the increasingly contentious interactions between members of traditional media outlets and newer, internet-based journalism platforms.
As the video continues to circulate online, it raises questions about the dynamics of journalistic integrity, the role of independent media, and the tensions that can arise in an era where digital platforms challenge conventional media practices.
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