Dan Bilzerian, a popular social media personality, businessman, and poker player, continues to grab spotlight in both the media and legal circles. Known for his extravagant lifestyle, Bilzerian recently sparked a major controversy with a series of harsh statements against Israel. Meanwhile, his company International Brands Ltd, and his father, Paul Bilzerian, have been slapped with criminal charges.
The Instagram King ignited outrage with his posts on X where he referred to Israel as a “terrorist state.”
Bilzerian went further calling Israel the “worst terror organization on the planet,” in another post on X and defending Hamas, writing “Hamas are not terrorists, they’re an army fighting for their country against the worst terror organization on the planet.”
Bilzerian, who often takes to social media to showcase his extravagant life, expensive cars, guns, private jets, luxury real estate and yachts, did not stop there. He wrote, “Jewish supremacy is the greatest threat to America and the world today.”
Dan Bilzerian Clearifies His Stance On Israel
After receiving backlash from the poker community and beyond, Bilzerian came out with a defensive follow-up post to clarify his stance. He said,“To be clear, I am not anti-American. I am a 4-year military veteran and a patriot. I am anti-Israel because supporting those parasites has only hurt our country, and anyone who tells you otherwise is ignorant or on their payroll.”
With this statement, he tried to position himself as a patriot and raised concern over the U.S. support for Israel. While his harsh words may perturb many, his comments align with a broader sentiment shared by some critics of U.S. foreign policy, who argue that America’s allegiance to Israel is harmful to national interests.
Several people supported his views, including former USMC and combat veteran Ken O’Keefe, who wrote, “They are the greatest threat to America in its entire history.”, supporting Bilzerian’s stance.
Social media influencer also supported Belzerian’s view and said “They see America as the big retarded bully they can use to fight their battles.”
This isn’t the first time Bilzerian has made such remarks against Israel. While his exact motive remains unclear, some speculate that his criticism stems from the belief that the US’s excessive commitment to defending Israel is harmful to America as the interests of their country’s people are being compromised.
Some people say that his comments might be a move to gain popularity and increase his fan following in the Gulf region, while others say that it could also be a stance based on humanitarian concerns over the unjustifiable killings of children and women in Palestine by Israel.
Criminal Charges Against Dan Bilzerian’s Company Ignite and His Father
Amid the controversy on his remarks against Israel, Bilzerian’s company Ignite, and his father, Paul Bilzerian, are facing criminal charges. According to Las Vegas Review-Journal, the federal prosecutors have charged his father Paul Bilzerian with fraud, alleging that he funneled money into his son’s business while owing over $180 million in judgments that date back to the 1990s. These fraud charges come after years of Paul Bilzerian claiming poverty to avoid paying his debts to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
ALSO CHECK: Why Dan Bilzerian’s Las Vegas Mansion is Up for Sale at $25 Million
Along with Paul Bilzerian, Ignite’s long-time accountant, Scott Rohleder, was also indicted by a Los Angeles grand jury last week. Despite Dan Bilzerian’s close ties to the business, he has not been charged with any crimes in the case.
Did Dan Bilzerian Make His Fortune Through Poker?
Dan Bilzerian, a former GGPoker ambassador, has claimed several times to have won over $50 million playing poker in private cash games. These claims however have been disputed by people the poker community, with many alleging that he inherited his wealth from his father.
Final Word
Dan Bilzerian’s latest comments and legal charges against his father have placed him in a dual spotlight. On one side, his provocative views on Israel have sparked outrage and division, while on the other, his father’s legal troubles bring serious questions about the legitimacy of his wealth.
More details regarding the criminal charges against his company, his father and insights into how he built his fortune will be detailed in our next article. Keep following PokerProNews.
