A famously viral and controversial video that turned an African warlord into a household name in February now has a sequel.
On Thursday morning, the San Diego-based organization Invisible Children released "Beyond Famous." Coming in at 19 minutes – about 10 minutes less than the group's first video – the sequel addresses media criticism of the first "Kony 2012" video, which caught fire on Twitter and was reportedly viewed on YouTube 100 million times. It also explains what politicians in Washington and in Africa have done in the past month since the original "Kony 2012" video.
The second video continues to advocate for the capture of Joseph Kony, the leader of the Lord's Resistance Army. Formed in the 1980s, the LRA is a sectarian military and religious group that operates in Uganda and South Sudan. As its leader, Kony recruited child soldiers and committed numerous atrocities include raping and maiming civilians, experts say. Kony is at large.
Ben Keesey, Invisible Children's executive director, told CNN the makers of the first video said they wanted to explain the plight of children affected by the LRA. The video hung its narrative on 30-something American filmmaker Jason Russell, his friendship with a young Ugandan boy who had escaped from the LRA, and Russell's young son, Gavin.
At one point in that video, Russell tells his son on camera that there are bad guys like Kony in the world. The child reacts as any child would – incredibly scared. Russell, who recently had a public meltdown, is not part of the sequel.
Critics blasted the video as overly simplistic.
"We made the first video intentionally for a young Western audience, and therefore it was a priority that the video keep their attention," Keesey told CNN on Thursday. "This (new) video goes deeper. I think people will respond."
The sequel opens with soundbites from critics of the first video. The voices of various pundits and media personalities say "simplified" a couple of times. Mid-sentence soundbites from journalists, several of them on CNN, round out the beginning of the video.
Keesey narrates, explaining the creation of the campaign, its progress and ongoing efforts to stop the LRA. Part two essentially rehashes what was in the first video, but Keesey notes that officials from the United States to Africa have spoken recently about their desire to stop Kony or have signed measures aimed at stopping him. He adds that the African Union recently announced plans to deploy 5,000 troops to hunt down Kony.
The United Nations, meanwhile, said in late March that attacks by Kony's army are increasing.
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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A look at his background tells us that Joseph Kony considers himself 'quite a good Christian'
So why havn't we heard much about this Christian terrorist and atrocities committed by his 'Lord's Army' untill the Kony 2012??
because invisible children is protecting a murderous regime that proposes capital punishment for LGBT ugandans. Invisible children is a neocon propaganda machine making money off the death of innocents. Toobad CNN will never publish this comment
Because you live in a bubble?
Because Joseph Kony and his quasi-Christian terrorism has had no effect or presents on American interests. Why haven't we heard much about Buddhist terrorists in Sri Lanka or Hindu Terrorists in India? Because they don't affect America's interests.
@saywhat: the problem is the locals sweeping it under the rug trying to keep from legitimizing his 'rebellion' against the government of uganda.
and those in a position to turn him in being unwilling or unable to do so.
as is generally the case, it's not the rest of the world victimizing africa. it's the various african leaderships.
they, like the syrians, want the rest of the world to handle their problems. that way, if anything goes wrong, there's someone besides themselves to blame.
Just another RELIGIOUS terrorist/nutbar.
Great point. Perhaps because in the US we've only been taught and shown time and time again that it's only Muslims who are capable of being terrorists; which as you accurately point out, overlook present and past "Christian" atrocities.
Kony has been in the news for years. However, if you are only a headline news watcher, you most likely wouldn't read about him. He's been infamous for awhile now. Invisible Children made him headline news.
I'd heard about a guy abducting kids basically since I was 12. IDK if it was Kony or another warlord, but it's just sad that it's taken this long for ppl to care about catching him.
Good job disabling the comments on the video.
When can we expect to see the naked run through the streets of San Diego?
Willy, the man had a mental breakdown due to extreme pressure placed on him! I don't believe mental breakdowns nor mental illness should ever be made fun of. You should be ashamed of yourself, please do your research before posting comments about people/situations you have very little knowledge of!
Willy, the man had a mental breakdown due to extreme pressure placed on him! I don't believe mental breakdowns nor mental illness should ever be made fun of. You should be ashamed of yourself, please do your research before posting comments about people/situations you have very little knowledge of!
yesss! you can do it Willy B just put some periods behind it..,
INVISIBLE CHILDREN SUPPORTS CAPITAL PUNISHMENT FOR LGBT UGANADANS.
So does CNN. If you spell out a word that starts with G and ends with Y, your comment will not be published.
lol. swing and a miss
I'm not sure being against one side means you necessarily support everything about the other side. You make it seem like Kony supports the LGBT community, which I kind of doubt given his Christian Terrorist nature. Also, I believe that CNN flags "gay" because people use it as an insult (unfortunately) moreso than a bias against the LGBT community.
letmie try...G. A. Y.
gay
gay gay gay
mah-bad willy b don't need the gay green card...
Gunny
See, published
Reblogged this on haleybehre and commented:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_Ue6REkeTA&w=640&h=390%5D
Wait, it took something like 9 years to release the first kony 2012 and less than a month for the second?
Wait...oh, I get it. You're just out to criticize, without even knowing what you are talking about! Kony 2012 is IC's 11th film on the subject. You're awesome!
saywhat:
I have heard of Kony years ago...but with the advent of YouTube and the in-your-face immediacy of the news and the web, many more are hearing about it now, thankfully.
Addendum:
Good Christians, my heiny!
@banasy: tish, you know i go nuts when you talk about your heiny..
i see you heiny soooo black and shiney! it makes me giggle, to see it wiggle!
@leeintulsa:
I forgot, Gomez...
I like STAH WAHRS so much it's my favorite type of STAH WAHRS
I wonder how many times he'll be taking his glasses off and putting them back on in this video.
Anyone who falls for this propaganda again is nothing less than an idiot. It has come out that Kony has not been in Uganda in over six years and that his group is less than 200 men. We have also seen the co-founder drunk and talking about he was going to keep $900,000 of a government grant for himself. And who can forget the founder is still in a padded room probably still masturbating. Plus we have discovered this group is funded by the State Department and their original financing came from our Government and a Soros think tank. This isn't and never was a grassroots organization. It is nothing more than propaganda aimed at gathering public support to invade Africa. All in all anyone who still sees this organization or their cause as legitimate is delusional.
You are mentally ill.
So, what should America do about this problem specifically?
@doc: what *can* we do? we go after our criminals. why don't uganda and their neighbors?
are we talkin' about banasy heiny problem?
I see nothing in the picture.
liar...i see a complexion that is smooth as a baby's behind...qvc and hsn should use him to promo their skin care products...
Phoooey!!!
If you are thinking about donating to Invisible Children, do yourself a favor. Take $100, flush $65 of it down the toilet, because that's how much IC skims off the top, and then send the remaining $35 to a reputable charity.