The Echo Chamber of Extremism Stella O'Malley, Genspect and the Maniac Exulansic

 

Sierra Weir aka Exulansic, transitioning from a commentator on "I Am Jazz" to a key figure in gender-critical circles, brings a background in Linguistics, Gender Studies from UC Berkeley, and a Master's in Education with a focus on Speech Therapy from San Jose State.

The Price of Controversy: When Alliances Backfire

In 2022, Exulansic, a prominent voice in gender-critical circles, experienced her first notable controversy. Initially gaining popularity through appearances on Benjamin A. Boyce's platform, she used her growing YouTube channel to critique what she saw as problematic aspects of transgender transitions, with a particular focus on public figures like Jazz Jennings.

The 2022 Controversy: Exulansic's Critique and the Caricature Backlash

The conflict began when Sierra Weir aka Exulansic released a video criticizing a guest on Boyce's show who had an intersex condition known as Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (CAIS). Her portrayal was misinformed and derogatory, leading an individual to create a caricature of her in response. This caricature was meant to highlight what they believed was her misrepresentation of CAIS and other disorders of sex development.

Boyce, aiming to foster an environment where diverse views could be discussed civilly, felt undermined by Exulansic's approach, which he viewed as personal and demeaning attacks rather than constructive criticism. The caricature gained traction when it was shared on what was then Twitter (now X) by Boyce. Meanwhile, Carole Hooven, Ph.D., a lecturer and Co-director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University, and an expert on testosterone, found herself unwittingly drawn into the fray. Hooven, with no prior connection to the drama, tried to address and correct the scientific inaccuracies in Exulansic's portrayal of Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (CAIS).

The situation escalated as Exulansic infuriated by the caricature responded with accusations of racism, sexism, and anti-Semitism against Hooven, Boyce, and individuals associated with Genspect. She mobilized her followers to uncover alleged misdeeds of her critics, claiming to have found anti-Semitic statements. This led to a video where she detailed these accusations, which reportedly violated YouTube's policies against coordinated bullying. Resulting in loss of her YouTube channel permanently. Her actions were not just confined to online debates; she was accused of trying to jeopardize the professional lives of those she criticized.

Her close ally and Discord moderator, known as Smokin’ Febs, was also involved in this contentious period, amplifying the conflict. "Slightly Twisted Female" a YouTube ally had her back and started a GoFundMe to bring her YouTube channel back.

Uncovering Contradictions: Allies, Enemies, and the Specter of Hypocrisy

The drama surrounding Exulansic's accusations took an unexpected turn when the controversial website KiwiFarms, along with others, began investigating the unfolding drama within gender-critical communities. Their digging uncovered that Smokin’ Febs, a close ally and Discord moderator for Exulansic, had been active on another, now-deleted, Discord server known for its neo-Nazi rhetoric and hate speech as recently as 2021.

When this information came to light, it was met with significant backlash. Exulansic, confronted with these findings, discussed the matter with Smokin’ Febs, who then acknowledged her posts, apologized, and subsequently stepped down from her role as moderator.

Adding to the irony, further scrutiny revealed a post from one of Exulansic’s relatives, boasting about a charcoal sketch of Hitler that Exulansic had drawn for a school project on World War II. This revelation brought a wave of criticism, highlighting a stark hypocrisy: . With this backdrop, Exulansic's criticisms of others appeared deeply ironic, 

This episode not only exposed the personal contradictions within Exulansic's own camp but also underscored the complexities and hypocritical nature of online activism. It painted a picture of someone who had once been uplifted by the very community she later turned against with accusations, revealing a cycle of betrayal and counter-accusation that muddied the waters of genuine discourse.

By 2024, Exulansic had realigned herself with Genspect, now alongside new allies like 

Stella O'Malley, Matt Osborne, and Graham Linehan. Despite her past controversies, she was back in the fold, perhaps due to her knack for drawing attention or her relentless pursuit of critics, both hers and those of Genspect. However, the core of her contentious nature hadn't changed, affecting both friends and foes alike.

The Phil Incident: A Conference Controversy and Free Tickets

The pivotal incident that might have marked a turning point involved Phil Illy a self-described autogynephilic individual, at a Genspect conference. Phil, who distributed a book detailing his autogynephilia, along with advocating for controversial topics like cross-sex hormones for adolescents, created an uproar. This was particularly jarring as the conference aimed to oppose such viewpoints. It came to light that Phil didn't just attend; he was given a free ticket by someone associated with Genspect, a fact not widely known initially, and ironically, Exulansic also received her ticket for free, while others paid a significant fee. Several conference goers testified to this but are afraid to come forward for obvious reasons. This revelation added layers of embarrassment and controversy over the event's management and coherence with its message.

Exulansic's defense of Phil, captured in a now-infamous photograph with him at the conference, sparked further debate. Her allies, including Karen Davis and "Slightly now Ultra Twisted Female" (Brittany), vocalized their discomfort with Phil's inclusion, seeing it as a contradiction to the conference's ethos. This led to a fiery exchange on X (formerly Twitter), filled with unprofessional remarks aimed at Genspect's leadership.

The situation escalated when Exulansic threatened legal action against Brittany over an alleged dog bite incident. Teaming up with Matt Osborne, a book reviewer for Genspect, they launched a concerted campaign of accusations against several figures, notably Jon Uhler, a Licensed Professional Counselor known for his work with sex offenders. After Uhler appeared on Karen Davis's channel, Exulansic accused Karen of platforming someone she claimed was guilty of sexual assault, though these allegations against Uhler were unsubstantiated.  demonstrating their willingness to tarnish reputations with accusations tailored to their narrative.

This series of confrontations, culminating with the "Phil Incident," might have driven Genspect's management to an unexpected reconciliation with Exulansic. Embracing the principle "the enemy of my enemy is my friend," they might have viewed her combative engagement with critics as advantageous in the fierce ideological battles over gender. Thus, despite past contentions, a strategic alliance or at least a temporary truce was formed with Genspect, illustrating how shared adversaries can sometimes overshadow historical animosities.

Aligning with hyper-political and controversial figures can indeed be a double-edged sword. While such alliances might offer temporary gains or visibility, they often come with the risk of alienating broader support bases, tarnishing reputations, and engaging in a cycle of conflict that can overshadow the initial cause or message. The strategy of silencing critics "by any means necessary" tends to escalate conflicts rather than resolve them.