Julien Blanc travels the world teaching men how to pick up women. Videos and social media material show that he encourages men to harass, violate and make women feel terrible.
Blanc works with the international pick-up artist collective Real Social Dynamics, and in expensive online courses and free public workshops, he and other pick-up artists instruct men on how to manipulate women into having sex with them.
He has deployed his "techniques" in Denmark, Germany, Greece, and many other countries, posting pictures of himself #ChokingGirlsAroundTheWorld.
Some Australians have now joined together to start #TakeDownJulienBlanc, which calls on venues to cancel events on his tour.
Video from a recent workshop shows Blanc telling a room that in Japan, "if you're a white male, you can do what you want. I'm just romping through the streets, just grabbing girls' heads, just like, head, pfft on the dick." The attendees laugh along.
If there was any doubt about the damaging nature of his methods, Blanc uploaded a domestic violence chart to Instagram with the caption "May as well be a checklist... #HowToMakeHerStay".
Blanc arrived in Sydney last week and has held at least one public workshop. Social media users have rallied to make sure he does not hold another.
A petition quickly gathered thousands of signatures calling for The Como hotel in Melbourne to cancel his workshop.
Destroyers, please help to #takedownjulienblanc - at least from @ComoMelbourne on Thursday night: https://t.co/CywjWtFXld Please RT
How in 2014 can a dude be paid to show men who to be abusers of women? #takedownjulienblanc
Pozible campaign to produce t-shirts saying "Misogynist And Proud" to hand out to attendees at the Julien Blanc event? #TakeDownJulienBlanc
Somayya Shazia was one of the Australians who rallied around the #TakeDownJulienBlanc campaign.
Although, this man is hosting several other events & we're working on finding the venues for them. Meanwhile tweet >> #takedownjulienblanc
"What disturbs me is that he and his company are profiting from promoting rape culture and instructing men how to terrorise and assault women," she told BuzzFeed News.
"The company's attitude towards sexual assault is simply sickening. I want these venues to cancel his seminars as they are designed to actively promote sexual violence."
The petition garnered thousands of supporters, and The Como's owner, Accor, cancelled Blanc's Thursday workshop.
Following an objective review, we are in the process of advising Real Social Dynamics of our decision not to proceed as their event venue.
The next venues are set to be targeted by the #TakeDownJulienBlanc campaign.
Although, this man is hosting several other events & we're working on finding the venues for them. Meanwhile tweet >> #takedownjulienblanc
Sorry @RSDJulien but your repugnant, misogynist, pro-assault seminars are not welcome here. #notsorry #takedownjulienblanc
UPDATE Wednesday 1330 AEST: Other venues and online ticketing website "Event Brite" have cancelled its ties to Julien Blanc and Real Social Dynamics.
Following an objective review, we are in the process of advising Real Social Dynamics of our decision not to proceed as their event venue.
@mjberryman We appreciate the concern. This event has been removed from our platform.