Friendlyjordies’ Producer Arrested By Fixated Persons Unit For Allegedly Stalking John Barilaro

According to an exclusive report from The Guardian, producer of Friendlyjordies’ Youtube channel, Kristo Langker has been arrested for the alleged intimidation and stalking of NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro.

21-year-old Kristo Langker was arrested by the NSW Police Fixated Person’s Investigation Unit at his family home in Dulwich Hill on June 4th, 2021. The Fixated Person’s Investigation Unit was established to deal with lone-actor extremists in 2017, in the wake of the Lindt cafe siege.

There's a bitter irony in John Barilaro suing @friendlyjordies for painting him as a mafia don scarcely weeks before a FJs team member is arrested for his criticising Barilaro

— Michael Tanner (@MichaelTanner_) June 14, 2021

The arrest marks an escalation of an ongoing legal battle between the two parties. Back in May, Barilaro announced he was suing Friendlyjordies’ and their team for alleged defamation. Barilaro’s lawyers allege that Friendlyjordies launched a series of “racist attacks” in their videos, as well as a “smear campaign” that alleged Barilaro was corrupt.

The criminal allegations Langker has been arrested relating to two encounters with Barilaro. In the first incident, Barilaro alleges, Langker and Jordan Shanks (aka, Friendlyjordies) approached Deputy Premier Barilaro at an event. Shanks was dressed as the video game character, Luigi and introduced Langker as his lawyer, shouting, “Why are you suing us, why are you suing us?”

Regardless of what you think of FriendlyJordies, this is one helluva an escalation and may well make you ponder about the steady stream of state and Federal laws designed to curb our rights: Friendlyjordies producer charged with stalking John Barilaro https://t.co/T9RpVdU7kY

— Paul Wallbank (@paulwallbank) June 14, 2021

Aussies: “Russia is so oppressed, I can’t believe they let Navalny go to jail.”
Also Aussies: totally cool with senior politicians like @JohnBarilaroMP suing @friendlyjordies and lying to the police in order to get his staff arrested by an undercover counter terrorism unit. 🤷🏼‍♂️

— Ben Roache (@benroachie) June 14, 2021

have to be honest, i'm not sure i'm ready for the political prisoner phase of friendlyjordies career

— CAMERONWILSON POSTING HIS Ws (@cameronwilson) June 13, 2021

The second incident, Barilaro alleges, occurred hours before Langker’s arrest. Langker allegedly approached Barilaro as he was approaching his car and asked: “Deputy premier, why are you suing my boss?”

In a statement, NSW police allege, “Due to the public reach and offensive nature of the friendly jordies media platform, the victim in his public position is harassed by the followers of Friendly Jordies.”

People might not like the way Friendlyjordies does journalism, but the principle of being able to question those in power for their political decisions is an important one in a democracy. I hope to see all journalists standing up for the right to do that without being arrested. https://t.co/Z87cyc1J0M

— Dr Queen Victoria (@Vic_Rollison) June 14, 2021

NSW state MP Helen Dalton calls the FriendlyJordies arrest "extremely disturbing" and wants for the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission to investigate

"A special unit established to tackle extremists should not be arresting a YouTube comedian" #auspol pic.twitter.com/qnQIg2yJpr

— Josh Butler (@JoshButler) June 14, 2021

According to The Guardian, Langker’s lawyers, Xenophon Davis and partner, Mark Davis allege that a warrant has also been issued for Jordan Shanks’ arrest. They labelled the arrest of Langker “highly alarming…We are highly disturbed by misinformation that police appear to have acted upon,” they said. Davis also labelled the use of the Fixated Persons Unit as “shocking”.

Langker was granted strict conditional bail and will appear at Newtown Local Court on June 24.

Deputy Premier Barilaro, Kristo Langker, and Friendlyjordies were reached out to for comment.