Konstantin Kisin

Konstantin Vadimovich Kisin (Russian: Константин Вадимович Кисин; born 25 December 1982) is a Russian-British satirist, author, political commentator, and co-host (with Francis Foster) of the Triggernometry podcast. Kisin has written for a number of publications including Quillette, The Spectator, The Daily Telegraph and Standpoint on issues relating to tech censorship, woke culture, comedy and culture war topics in the past but currently publishes articles on these subjects on his Substack.

Konstantin Kisin
Kisin in 2021
Born
Konstantin Vadimovich Kisin

(1982-12-25) 25 December 1982
Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Nationality
  • British
  • Russian
EducationClifton College
Occupations
  • Comedian
  • writer
  • podcaster
  • political commentator
Notable workAn Immigrant's Love Letter to the West (2022)
Spouse
Alina Kisina
​
(m. 2003)​
YouTube information
Channel
Years active2018–present
Subscribers593 thousand[1]
(8 August 2023)
Total views85 million[1]
(8 August 2023)
100,000 subscribers
Website

Background

Kisin was born and grew up in Moscow in the former Soviet Union to parents Marina and Vadim, then 18 and 20 years old, respectively. His family is of Jewish and Russian heritage.[2] His experiences in the country inform much of his own political worldview today.[3] At age 11, he moved to the United Kingdom.[4]

Career

Podcasting

Since April 2018, Kisin has been co-presenter of the show Triggernometry, a YouTube channel and podcast.[5] The show is dedicated to free speech and open discussion on a range of controversial topics.[6] Guests have included Sam Harris, Bret Weinstein, Douglas Murray, Jordan Peterson, Destiny, Adam Carolla, Bill Burr, Andrew Doyle, David Frost, Theo Von, Coleman Hughes, Matt Walsh, Louise Perry, Peter Hitchens, Mark Blyth, Andrew Adonis, Diana Fleischman, Scott Adams, Laurence Fox, Carl Benjamin, Melanie Phillips, Rod Liddle, Julia Hartley-Brewer, John Curtice, Matthew Goodwin, Helen Dale, Calvin Robinson, Steven Woolfe, Geoff Norcott, Kathleen Stock, Paul Embery, Katharine Birbalsingh, Nigel Farage, Toby Young, Ariel Pink, India Willoughby,[7] and Debbie Hayton.[6]

Stand-up comedy

In 2019 he took his show Orwell That Ends Well to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to mixed reviews. The Daily Telegraph included the show in its list of best comedy shows of the Edinburgh Festival,[8] The Student described it as "hilarious and refreshing",[9] while Fest Magazine called it "ill-considered, reactionary nonsense"[10] and The Jewish Chronicle described Kisin as an "antagonist" and rated the show 2/5.[11][12][13] Kisin confirmed in 2022 while appearing on the Joe Rogan Experience that he is currently on a break from stand-up.

Political commentary

In March 2022 he appeared as a panellist on the first edition of BBC Question Time following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He talked about how he feels nothing but shame for his birth-country (Russia), and how his family in Ukraine are being bombarded.[14]

In 2022 Kisin participated in one of the Oxford Union Society debates, arguing that the global climate crisis could not be solved by "woke" protests in rich countries but only by technological advances towards clean energy.[15]

Author

Kisin is the author of An Immigrant's Love Letter to the West, which became a Sunday Times bestseller in the first week of its publication.[16]

SOAS University of London appearance clash

In 2018 Kisin made headlines when he refused to sign a "behavioural agreement" form explaining a "no tolerance policy" with regard to racism, sexism, classism, ageism, homophobia, biphobia, xenophobia, Islamophobia, anti-religion, and anti-atheism,[17] when asked to perform at a fundraising gig for UNICEF at SOAS, University of London. The form explained those topics were not banned but stated the topics should be discussed in a "respectful and non-abusive way" and presented in a way that is "respectful and kind".[17][18]

After Kisin refused to agree to those terms and chose not to perform, the UNICEF on Campus society at SOAS apologised and clarified they did not wish to "impose that guests would have to agree to anything they do not believe in". The SOAS Students' Union said that it did not require external speakers to sign any contract before appearances, and that the UNICEF on Campus society had been "overzealous" in interpreting the guidelines.[19][20][21][22]

Justifying his actions after it was claimed that Kisin had agreed to similar restrictions for a different gig in 2017, he stated he was "absolutely certain there was nothing about religion, atheism, respect or kindness in the rules [of the 2017 contract]. Had there been, I would not have agreed."[23]

Triggernometry podcast

Triggernometry is a political commentary new media brand with a YouTube channel and podcast[24] set up in 2018[25] by Kisin and comedian Francis Foster.[26][27] The primary format of the channel is pre-recorded interviews with a wide range of people, following the channel's brand line of "honest conversations with fascinating people",[28] and has been described as "anti-woke" by The Times.[29] Guests have included Jordan Peterson and Sam Harris.[30] The channel's 2023 interview with Neil deGrasse Tyson on the subject of "Have We Lost Trust in Science?"[31] was widely reported upon, both by other YouTube channels, as well as in the mainstream media, because of Tyson's statements about transgender rights.[32][33][34]

The podcast was named on the "best 20 escapist podcasts" in the Daily Telegraph in 2020.[35]

Bibliography

References
  1. "About Triggernometry". YouTube.
  2. "Home". Konstantin Kisin. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  3. Manzoor, Alex (2 February 2020). "Comedy and Controversy: Interview with Konstantin Kisin". The Cambridge Student. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  4. Kisin, Konstantin [@KonstantinKisin] (10 December 2020). "I came to the UK from Russia aged 11. I was picked on at school for not speaking English and not fitting in. One boy in particular orchestrated a lot of it. It was confusing - I didn't know what to do. I felt anger towards him but didn't want to get into a fight either. Then..." (Tweet). Archived from the original on 16 January 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023 – via Twitter.
  5. "Assault rifles, wind farms, immigration and hormones: Inside NatCon". Someone who worked for the hard-right YouTube channel Triggernometry complained...
  6. "Triggernometry - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  7. "India Willoughby on Being Trans, Trans Athletes and Women's Spaces". Triggernometry. 14 April 2019. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  8. Monahan, Mark; Saunders, Tristram Fane; Cavendish, Dominic (30 August 2019). "Best comedy shows at the Edinburgh Fringe 2019: reviews of 40 of this year's must see-comedians, including Jordan Brookes, Catherine Cohen and Laura Lexx". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  9. "Konstantin Kisin: Orwell That Ends Well – The Student". studentnewspaper.org. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  10. "Review: Konstantin Kisin: Orwell That Ends Well". Fest Magazine. 3 August 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  11. "Snowflakes, lizards and baseball caps: Edinburgh Fringe round-up". www.thejc.com. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  12. "The Wee Review : Konstantin Kisin". theweereview.com. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  13. "Comedy Review: Konstantin Kisin: Orwell That Ends Well, Gilded Balloon Teviot (Venue 14), Edinburgh". www.scotsman.com. 10 August 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  14. "Russian-British Comic Says He Feels 'Nothing But Shame For My Country'". HuffPost UK. 4 March 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  15. Kisin, Konstantin [@KonstantinKisin] (13 January 2023). "My speech at the Oxford Union is finally available. The debate was "This House Believes Woke Culture Has Gone Too Far". As promised, I didn't hold back 🤣 t.co/yV0bAPqAQB" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 28 January 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023 – via Twitter.
  16. Hamilton, Matthew. "'An Immigrant's Love Letter To Love West' by Konstantin Kisin goes into the Sunday Times bestseller list at No 5 | The Hamilton Agency". Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  17. "Comedian refused to sign 'behavioural agreement' before gig". BBC News. 12 December 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  18. Kisin, Konstantin [@KonstantinKisin] (10 December 2018). "I just received an invitation to perform *comedy* at a university... The title of this "contract" nearly made me puke. @UnleashedComedy t.co/4tUPCFwTLG" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 20 December 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2023 – via Twitter.
  19. "Comedians asked to sign 'behavioural agreement' for London university gig". The Independent. 12 December 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  20. "Comedians asked to sign 'behavioural agreement' for Soas gig". the Guardian. 11 December 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  21. "Students ask comedian to sign safe space contract". The Week UK. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  22. Wills, Ella (12 December 2018). "Comedian pulls out of charity show at SOAS over 'safe space' contract". Evening Standard. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  23. Bennett, Steve. "When the safe-space row comedian WAS prepared to watch what he said : News 2018 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  24. "TRIGGERnometry". IMDb.
  25. "Triggernometry". Social Blade.
  26. Lloyd, Will (27 January 2023). "Konstantin Kisin: "Being anti-woke isn't making you happy"". The New Statesman.
  27. Shriver, Lionel (17 May 2019). "telegraph - Now 'Right-wing' has been twisted to mean 'racist', we need a new political language".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  28. "TRIGGERnometry". AudioBoom.
  29. Marriott, James (5 August 2022). "Revisionist History podcast review — Malcolm Gladwell takes the scenic route to common sense". The Times. Archived from the original on 12 January 2023.
  30. White, Flat (19 August 2022). "We need to talk about Sam Harris". The Spectator Australia.
  31. "Have We Lost Trust in Science? - Neil deGrasse Tyson. Podcast Episode". IMDb.
  32. Grossman, Hannah (27 September 2023). "Neil deGrasse Tyson explodes during debate about trans women competing in women sports". Fox News.
  33. Imamovic, Faruk (28 September 2023). "'Scientist' Neil deGrasse Has Meltdown Over Trans Women in Sports Debate". Financial World.
  34. Condon, Ali (28 September 2023). "Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson stands up for trans women in sport: 'Rise to the occasion'". PinkNews.
  35. Fox-Leonard, Boudicca (23 November 2020). "The 20 best escapist podcasts to get us through the next few months". The Telegraph.
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