DJ Hunter Moore’s booking at local bar causes social media backlash
December 9, 2013
By Anyssa Roberts| Assistant News Editor
Despite backlash around controversial DJ Hunter Moore, a local business that has booked Moore for a New Year’s Eve party stands by its decision.
Moore, who is known for his “revenge porn” website called IsAnyoneUp.com, has been scheduled to perform at Art Bar in Lexington on Dec. 31. The booking, made by the Lexington event planning company called A-Team Social, has instigated a protest in the form of a Facebook page called “No More Moore in Lexington.”
“He has ruined so many people’s lives, and when we found out he was coming to Lexington we sounded the call,” said Karen Conley, a member of “No More Moore in Lexington ” and a founder of a Facebook page called “Kentuckians Against the War on Women.”
The Facebook page “No More Moore In Lexington” was created by Caleb Ritchie on Thursday and had more than 1,900 “likes” as of Sunday.
Ritchie said there were two big reasons why he began the protest site.
First, he said, Moore never faced criminal charges for the website he created that was harmful to the people featured on the site.
“(Second), he was able to capitalize and gain celebrity while this was happening,” he said.
IsAnyoneUP.com allowed someone to post photographs, videos and contact information of a person without his or her consent. It was launched in 2010 with regular videos being uploaded to an audience of roughly 350,000 unique viewers each day, according to Rolling Stone magazine. The website shut down last year after Moore sold it to an anti-bullying website.
Ritchie said he began the social media page not knowing what would come of it.
“It was incredible to wake up and find it had 1,200 likes,” he said.
In October 2013, Moore was invited by A-Team Social to DJ a Halloween Party at Art Bar, and after that party’s success, he was re-invited to perform at the New Years Eve party.
Management from Art Bar and A-Team Social declined telephone interviews with the Kernel, but in Facebook messages they provided press releases.
“For anyone who is against our events the solution is simple, don’t attend,” A-Team Social management said in a Facebook message to the Kernel. “… We stand behind our decision.”
Art Bar rents out their venue to event companies, but it does not book entertainment, according to a Facebook press release from the bar.
“Art Bar does not book any of the performers,” according to the statement. “Previous management that is no longer with Art Bar signed the contract for the (New Years Eve) venue rental, however, with that being said, Art Bar is still in a legally binding contract for the (New Years Eve) venue rental.”
A-Team Social said even if they wanted to cancel the DJ, A-Team Social is in a legally binding contract with Hunter Moore’s Agency and would not only lose their deposit, but be responsible for the remainder of the DJ fee and potentially face other legal repercussions.
“This does not mean we endorse any of his past decisions or what he does in his personal life,” according to A-Team Social.
Conley said she has been active in contacting Art Bar and A-Team Social to voice her concern. She has also used her social media sites to speak against bringing Moore to Lexington.
A similar protest against Moore occurred in Omaha, Neb., where a large social media outcry prevented Moore from performing at a local club. Conley said she hopes the same will take place in Lexington.
The group will hold a meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday at Common Grounds Coffee House to discuss further plans of action to increase pressure on Art Bar to replace Moore or cancel the show, Ritchie said.
“A goal is to acknowledge this in Lexington because the law has failed us in allowing Hunter Moore to capitalize on his celebrity,” Ritchie said.
A long-term goal, Ritchie said, is to look at passing a legislative law making revenge pornography illegal in Kentucky.
“We are generally a really cool city with lots of cool businesses that really enrich our community,” Ritchie said. “But just like Hunter Moore, Art Bar and A-Team Social are capitalizing on this kind of issue.”
