North Carolina Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson has filed a lawsuit against CNN, accusing the media outlet of leaking sensitive information regarding his alleged activity on an adult website. The report, which surfaced last month, linked Robinson to a profile on “Nude Africa,” a pornography site, where he seemingly posted controversial comments under the username “Black Nazi.” Robinson, a Republican candidate for North Carolina governor, has vehemently denied any involvement with the site, calling the allegations “tabloid trash.”
The lawsuit, filed in Wake County Superior Court, claims that CNN acted recklessly by publishing the report despite knowledge that Robinson’s personal information, including his name, email, and other identifying data, had been compromised in previous data breaches. Despite his denials, Robinson’s lawsuit does not dispute the compromised information, raising further speculation about the authenticity of the profile.
The report from CNN revealed disturbing comments allegedly made by Robinson, where he not only referred to himself as a “Black Nazi” but also made derogatory remarks about Martin Luther King Jr. and expressed inappropriate thoughts about women and transgender individuals. Among the comments were statements in support of reinstating slavery and descriptions of his arousal from voyeuristic behavior as a teenager.
Robinson, who has a long history of making inflammatory remarks, particularly against the LGBTQ+ community, is no stranger to controversy. His past comments include referring to transgender individuals in derogatory terms and suggesting that they should be forced to use bathrooms outside. Robinson’s rhetoric has often been laced with anti-Semitic and homophobic undertones, positioning him as a deeply polarizing figure in North Carolina politics.
The scandal has led to the resignation of several of Robinson’s top campaign staffers, further damaging his candidacy as the 2024 gubernatorial race heats up. Meanwhile, his Democratic opponent, Josh Stein, currently holds a significant lead in the polls. Robinson has accused Stein of orchestrating the leak, though he has provided no evidence to support these claims.
This latest controversy continues to highlight Robinson’s fraught relationship with the LGBTQ+ community, as he has repeatedly made statements that degrade and dehumanize its members. His anti-LGBTQ rhetoric, which includes calling gay people “maggots” and denouncing marriage equality as a path to pedophilia, underscores the hostile environment that figures like Robinson foster for marginalized communities. Such rhetoric not only alienates LGBTQ+ citizens but also contributes to the normalization of hate speech in political discourse.
As the legal battle with CNN unfolds, Robinson’s standing in the North Carolina gubernatorial race may face further challenges. His denial of the allegations, coupled with the implications of his lawsuit, leaves many questioning his credibility and the future of his political career.