Nick Fuentes Saw His Fans on CNN and Immediately Disowned Them (w/ Donie O'Sullivan)

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Nick Fuentes Saw His Fans on CNN and Immediately Disowned Them"

Podcast: The Bulwark
Host: Sam Stein (with Will Sommer)
Guest: Donie O’Sullivan (CNN)
Date: June 4, 2026

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Overview

This episode explores the contentious and sometimes surreal world of the “Groypers”—a group of far-right internet activists and fans of Nick Fuentes. Sam Stein, Will Sommer, and CNN’s Donie O’Sullivan dissect O’Sullivan’s recent CNN piece, which uniquely features direct conversations with self-identified Groypers. The episode navigates how these fringe figures interact internally and externally, their responses to mainstream attention, and the reactions of de facto leader Nick Fuentes—including his rapid disavowal of his own fans after a CNN appearance.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Who Are the Groypers?

• Definition:

  • “Gripres, for the uninitiated, are fans of Nick Fuentes. It’s a nickname... They identify that way; Fuentes calls them that.” (Donie O’Sullivan, 00:59)
  • The term is also used mockingly by critics.

• Stereotypes vs. Reality:

  • The common image: “trapped in their parents’ basements... the sort of hateful incel type, dangerous radical.” (Donie O’Sullivan, 01:44)
  • O’Sullivan’s observation: The real-life subjects Rich and John, featured in his reporting, defy some stereotypes.

2. The CNN Segment: Mainstream Exposure and Immediate Backlash

• The Incident:

  • Rich and John, two Groypers, appear on CNN, proudly representing Fuentes’ movement.
  • Their appearance (Fuentes-themed attire, physical looks) provokes sharp condemnation from Nick Fuentes on his Telegram channel.

• Fuentes’ Reaction:

  • Quote: “What the actual fuck is this? Do not claim to represent me if you are dressed like that and are plus 25 BMI. As a matter of fact, nobody represent me at all.” — Nick Fuentes on Telegram (Read by O’Sullivan, 02:26)

• Community Response:

  • Many Groypers follow Fuentes' lead, swiftly factionalizing and threatening Rich and John.
  • Notable moment from audio chat:
    • "I can't wait for this guy to be doxxed and have his life ruined forever. Honestly, that's where I'm at." — Unnamed Groyper (03:11, played in episode)
  • Will Sommer contextualizes: “The backlash was enormous... at least one of them has now disowned Nick Fuentes and become like a Nick Fuentes hater.” (03:30)

3. The Fallout: Former Fans Become Enemies

• Immediate Effects:

  • Rich and John initially retreat from public view due to harassment.
  • After the episode airs, both resurface online as vocal critics of Fuentes and the broader Groyper movement.
    • “Now both of them, both Rich and John, are back online and they are tweeting hate for Fuentes and for the gripers. So they are now anti gripers.” — Donie O’Sullivan (04:02)

• Character Complexity:

  • Despite being deep in the movement, Rich and John displayed “normal” qualities. Notably, a segment shows them socializing successfully, breaking typical “incel” stereotypes.
  • “There’s even... one moment when we’re walking along South Beach and, like, they're chatting up a woman and they get a woman’s number... they got some game.” — Donie O’Sullivan (04:33)

• Movement Tensions:

  • Will Sommer: The episode exposes a core tension in the Groyper movement—public visibility often results in internal purges and intense infighting.
  • “As soon as any other Groyper sticks their head up, they look pretty bad... then the other Groypers get really mad... The Groyper General Beardson saying, like, we're gonna dox you...” — Will Sommer (03:30)

4. Journalistic Insights and Challenges

• Perspective of Reporters:
  • O’Sullivan and Sommer discuss navigating this “weird part of our political world,” acknowledging the risk and strangeness of directly engaging with radicalized online groups.
  • Not explicitly quoted, but tone reflects a combination of fascination and wariness.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Fuentes Disavows His Own Fans (02:26):

  • “What the actual fuck is this? Do not claim to represent me if you are dressed like that and are plus 25 BMI. As a matter of fact, nobody represent me at all.” — Nick Fuentes (via O’Sullivan)

• Groyper Threats (03:11):

  • "I can't wait for this guy to be doxxed and have his life ruined forever. Honestly, that's where I'm at." — Unnamed Groyper (audio clip played)

• Sudden Turn on Leader (04:02):

  • “Now both of them... are tweeting hate for Fuentes and for the gripers. So they are now anti gripers.” — Donie O’Sullivan

• Breaking the ‘Incel’ Mold (04:33):

  • “There’s even... a moment when we're walking along South Beach and, like, they're chatting up a woman and they get a woman’s number... So, like, in terms of the automatic assumption... I think if you watch the piece, they got some game.” — Donie O’Sullivan

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Key Timestamps

• 00:59: Introduction to the Groypers and background on Fuentes fandom
• 02:26: Airing of the CNN segment and Fuentes’ negative reaction
• 03:11: Audio of online harassment targeting the CNN-featured Groypers
• 03:30: Discussion of the backlash and explanation of internal infighting among Groypers
• 04:02: Follow-up on Rich and John becoming anti-Groypers
• 04:33: Anecdote about breaking stereotypes—Rich and John socializing on South Beach

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Tone & Language

• The discussion moves fluidly between investigative seriousness and wry amusement, especially when highlighting the absurdity of Fuentes attacking his own supporters over trivialities like attire and BMI.
• The hosts maintain a respectful yet critical distance from their subjects, with occasional self-deprecating humor.

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Summary:
The episode is an essential listen (or read) for anyone seeking insight into the inner workings of modern internet extremism—particularly on how far-right figures like Nick Fuentes handle mainstream exposure, how quickly loyalty can turn in such groups, and what the actual humans behind notorious online movements look and act like in real life. The story of Rich and John, and their dramatic about-face after being shamed by their hero, serves as a microcosm of the volatility, pettiness, and self-cannibalization common in online extremist circles.

Transcript

[A]

Hey everyone, it's me, Sam Stein, managing editor at the book. I'm here with my pal Will Sommer, author of False Flag. And we have a special guest today, Dony Sullivan of cnn, who, I mean I was worried that there might be a little turf war between him and Will, like a little like Shark and Jets thing or whatever it is from west side Story, but it's not. I think they're buds and pals. And Dhon is here to talk about his new piece on CNN.com called Meet the Groipers, which is something that Will writes a lot about and that we've covered here at the Bulwark and at False Flag. And we thought we'd have a really interesting conversation about griper ism and like what it means to be a griper and what these people are like. And I kind of want to get into it and we'll get into a little bit like what it's like for Doni and Will to like do journalism in this very weird part of our political world. So Tony, thank you for coming on. Really appreciate it. Tell us a little bit about this, this project that you did, how long it took. I know it's going to be on CNN.com we have a clip that we're going to show in a second. But before we show the clip, just give us a little backstory about how this all came together.

[B]

Yeah, I mean gripers for the uninitiated are fans of Nick Fuentes. It's a nickname, it's nickname they've sort of given themselves. They identify that way Fuentes calls them that. It's also used pretty mockingly by people who do not like gropers. And I mean I think for us at cnn, Fuentes pops up in the news a lot as a part of the conversation, but we very rarely actually hear directly from the people who like him. And I think there is a sort of caricature of what gripers are. They probably look like me and Will and they're trapped.

[A]

Thank you for not, thank you for not lumping me in there. I appreciate that. Thank you.

[B]

Trapped in their parents basements and so you know the sort of hateful incel type dangerous radical. And I thought what was sort of interesting about these two guys, I mess Rich and John, who are big, big Fuentes fans, was that you know, like so many stereotypes, they, they don't fit that.

[A]

All right, we're going to play a video here from your, from your segment. It now we wrote about this briefly in false like but this is a crazy moment where these two guys go on your show and then Fuentes sees them and then gets really mad at the shoes they're wearing and their physical appearance. So much so that it sparks an incredible backlash against them and. And this kind of factionalism within the griper community. Let's watch it.

[B]

Our interview on social media got Fuentes attention. He wasn't happy. How about that CNN thing? Oh, my gosh. These like, two absolute chuds. Look at us. We're in our Nick Fuentes T shirt and hat with our knee socks pulled all the way up. Fuentes posted into his telegram channel, what the actual fuck is this? Do not claim to represent me if you are dressed like that and are plus 25 BMI. As a matter of fact, nobody represent me at all because Fuentes posted this. Many gripers turned on Rich and John and began threatening them on groiper group audio chats. Like this one.

[A]

Dude, I cannot wait. I. Honestly, dude, can I be. Can I keep it a buck? I can't wait for this guy to be dodged and have his life ruined forever. Honestly, that's where I'm at.

[B]

That's crazy. No, it's not crazy. Rich and John did not want to be interviewed again.

[A]

Will, you wrote about this. Talk a little bit about what happened after that. And then, Dhoni, I want to ask you a question too.

[C]

Yeah. So, I mean, this is an interesting challenge for Nick Fuentes on the goers, which is as soon as any other griper kind of sticks their head up, they look pretty bad. They. They don't look especially appealing. And then the other groipers get really mad. I mean, you can hear there the. The griper, you know, General Beardson saying, you know, that's the guy saying, like, we're going to dox you. He's one of Fuentes cronies. I mean, this is a. The backlash was enormous to these guys to the extent that I think at least one of them has now disowned Nick Fuentes and become like a Nick Fuentes hater.

[A]

Yeah. Have you followed up with these guys, Tony, after this all happened?

[B]

Yeah. So, you know, they were initially not wanting to chat, but since we released this story now both of them, both Rich and John, are back online and they are tweeting hate for Fuentes and for the gripers. So they are now anti gripers. But I mean, I think, like, to Will's point, what was sort of stunning about this to me was which. And it doesn't often happen as we're doing a story was, you know, I met these guys a couple of months ago. We interviewed them. John, one of them got a bit excited and tweeted photos. He was like, hey, interview. You know, cnn. We spoke to cnn. We're going to totally own them. I think they said they mogged me, which. I'll take that. And that, that is when Fuentes spotted them and this all blew up. But I mean, the thing was, and I think if people watch, the full report is like, these, you know, these are really normal guys. And in fact, there's even, you know, one moment when we're walking along south beach and, like, they're chatting up a woman and they get. They get a woman's number. And so, like, in terms of, like, in terms of like, the, the. The automatic assumption on the part of Fuentes and Gruipers that, like, these guys are bad and, you know, that they don't represent the movement. I mean, I think if you watch the Beast, they're. One, they were huge Fuentes fans. Two, as much as the messed up stuff they were saying, they were trying to represent the movement well. And three, you know, they got some game.

[A]

They got some game. Well, I. Let me push back ever so slightly. I, I don't think you meant this way, but like, I watched a clip of the piece where they, you know, you press them on the idea of whether women can vote, Right?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And they were.