NFT of Tucker Carlson being accidentally pro-choice raises $14K for abortion rights

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—by Protos Staff
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An ironic screenshot of Fox News political commentator and staunch anti-abortionist Tucker Carlson was minted as an NFT and sold for over $14,000 after the Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to an abortion on Friday — proceeds will go to prominent pro-choice groups.

This time last year, Republican Carlson accidentally used a pro-abortion argument to justify why people shouldn’t get vaccinated: “Of course, it’s your body, your choice, as we’ve heard for almost 50 years,” he said on Fox News in response to a senator’s decision not to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

As the Tucker Carlson Tonight segment aired, text appeared at the bottom of the screen that could also be interpreted as pro-abortion: “Making an informed choice regarding your own body shouldn’t be controversial,” it said in all caps.

The striking screenshot made rounds online, and one Twitter user made parallels to the work of artist Jenny Holzer — she creates large text-based installations that feature thought provoking, often feminist messages full of contradictions.

“This is like a Jenny Holzer installation or something right,” Washington DC-based Gillian Branstetter wrote online with the screenshot attached.

Indeed, the completely inadvertently pro-choice message by Fox News reads reminiscent of Holzer’s famous phrases. “Abuse of power comes as no surprise,” her billboard in Times Square read, as part of a series called Truisms from the 80s.

“Killing is unavoidable but is nothing to be proud of,” reads another.

As luck would have it, Holzer spotted Branstetter’s tweet and, with permission, minted the Tucker Carlson NFT, vowing to auction it when the Supreme Court made its decision.

That day was Friday. The New York-based artist listed the NFT at 0.5 ETH or about $600.

  • After three hours, a bid was placed by an unnamed wallet for 4.20 ETH ($5,100).
  • Four more bids hiked up the price to 11 ETH ($13,450) within the next four hours.
  • The initial bidder returned Saturday with a winning bid of 12.10 ETH, worth about $14,800 at press time.

Tucker Carlson NFT bought by a DAO

According to the Washington Post, the new owner is likely the head of operations of PleasrDAO, which refers to itself as an “art collecting empire” that snatches up “culturally significant pieces with a charitable twist.”

The group is most known for its $4 million purchase of a doge meme NFT and another $4 million it dropped on Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, the unreleased Wu-Tang Clan album seized by the Feds from Martin Shkreli, who allegedly used the one-of-its-kind album as a coaster.

The DAO also has a history of charity-related buys, like Edward Snowden’s Stay Free NFT for $5 million, which the whistleblower said will go to the Freedom of the Press Foundation.

Tweets from the reported new owner of Tucker Carlson’s NFT show a penchant for Doge NFT posts and other DeFi projects.

Credit: Jenny Holzer via ArtReview.

“Sad day for the USA,” twitter user @JuanPaDulanto posted when the Tucker Carlson NFT was minted. “NFT peeps plz help me share this relevant auction.”

They have also recently posted their enthusiasm about ChoiceDAO, formed last month in response to the Supreme Court decision leak. It plans to raise $1 million in 26 days “in the fight for reproductive access.”

Yet the notoriety of DAOs — essentially known for being glorified pyramid schemes — is more than enough reason to explain why the fight for reproductive rights doesn’t need DeFi.

You can directly donate to legitimate pro-abortion funds in your area here.

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