March 12th, 2012
12:09 AM ET

Invisible Children to address questions in new film Monday

Invisible Children, the nonprofit group that produced a hugely popular half-hour documentary about the notorious African warlord Joseph Kony, says it will release a new film Monday to respond to criticism and questions over its approach.

The group's "KONY 2012" video had been viewed more than 72 million times on YouTube by late Sunday night. Invisible Children, based in San Diego, says it wants to make Kony a household name and drum up global support to end the murders, rapes, abuses and abductions committed by the Lord's Resistance Army in central Africa.

But with the popularity of the video and kudos to the filmmakers for raising awareness of an African tragedy came a flurry of questions about Invisible Children's intentions, its transparency and whether the social media frenzy was too little, too late.

"There's nothing to hide - Invisible Children has been transparent since 2004, when we started," Ben Keesey, the group's chief executive, said in an interview on "CNN Newsroom" Sunday night. "That's our intention and we want to show that this campaign is part of a model and strategy that's comprehensive."

He said the group planned to release a 10-minute video Monday "that clicks through some of the questions."

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Filed under: Africa • Democratic Republic of Congo • Uganda
soundoff (10 Responses)
  1. Scottish Mama

    I think the biggest question is; Where all the money went? Do they address that? For noone every really hearing about them except on the free internet, what expenses have they had?

    March 12, 2012 at 3:02 am | Report abuse |
  2. Ginger

    Goes to show you that no good deed goes unpunished. These people wanted to open a conversation about Africa to stop having their issues ignored. Instead of welcoming the conversation, people are grandstanding with criticism and finge rpointing. They didn't want to make money off of this. They wanted to wake up the World to the LRA! How cares if they got facts wrong?! The people who want to sit around and do nothing. Then, there's interviews from Ugandans who say he didn't depict them with dignity…wow, he's trying to help you and you spit in his face! Nice! And you wonder why the U.S. turned their backs on him for 26 years…If you want help to rid people like him and rebuild your countries, be thankful not ungrateful…Wow, amazes me when people have an opportunity to get help that their pride gets in the way!

    March 12, 2012 at 10:12 am | Report abuse |
  3. banasy©

    How do people expect this message to brought to light?
    Putting a video out is brilliant, and it is no more misleading than any other news report that leaves an editing booth.
    I heard about Kony years ago, from different sources, but with the popularity of You Tube, a whole new generation that might not pick up a news magazine is being reached.
    Perhaps the answer to the question of where their donation money is spent will be answered in the new video.
    Useful to the people who are thinking of donating; if one was never going to donate, shhhhh!

    March 12, 2012 at 10:49 am | Report abuse |
    • BOMBOBOBO ©

      Good morning. Nice to see that unfortunate stutter is gone.

      March 12, 2012 at 10:55 am | Report abuse |
    • banasy©

      That was a joke...a holdover from the "Ahead Of The Curve" thread.
      I was a banana.

      March 12, 2012 at 10:59 am | Report abuse |
    • banasy©

      And, good morning!

      March 12, 2012 at 11:00 am | Report abuse |
    • Scottish Mama

      You were a banana and a canna.lol

      March 12, 2012 at 11:21 am | Report abuse |
    • banasy©

      As I recall, you were, too!
      A bananacanna!

      March 12, 2012 at 11:23 am | Report abuse |
  4. ez

    Bunch of tools and fools if you believe that this was pure, no attempt to line the pockets of IC.

    March 17, 2012 at 3:55 am | Report abuse |
  5. Myraa Tajdaq

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    July 16, 2012 at 10:16 pm | Report abuse |
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