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Gonzalo Lira

From EverybodyWiki Bios & Wiki

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In this article, the first or paternal family name is Lira and the second or maternal family name is López.
Gonzalo Lira
Gonzalo Lira López.jpg Gonzalo Lira López.jpg
BornGonzalo Ángel Quintilio Lira López[1]
(1968-02-29)February 29, 1968
Burbank, California, U.S
💀DiedJanuary 12, 2024(2024-01-12) (aged 55)
UkraineJanuary 12, 2024(2024-01-12) (aged 55)
🏳️ Nationality
🎓 Alma materDartmouth College[2]
💼 Occupation
  • Novelist
  • Film director
  • Financial blogger
  • YouTuber

Gonzalo Ángel Quintilio Lira López (February 29, 1968 – January 11, 2024) was a Chilean-American novelist,[4] film director,[5] financial blogger, YouTuber, and commentator in the manosphere known as Coach Red Pill. A resident of Kharkiv, Ukraine, he started vlogging about the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine from a pro-Kremlin perspective, which has been described as mirroring Russian propaganda.[6][7]

Lira received international attention when he was arrested on May 1, 2023 by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) for creating and distributing material that justified the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which is illegal under Ukrainian law.[8] This followed Lira alleging in April 2022 that he had been detained by the SBU; court documents revealed an investigation into him beginning around this time.[9][10] Lira faced 5-8 years in prison for his activities[11] but died in custody on January 11, 2024.[12][13]

Early life[edit]

Lira was born to Chilean parents in Burbank, California,[14] to Gonzalo Lia Valdés and María Isabel López Hess. Through his mother, he is a direct descendant of José Miguel Carrera.[15] He grew up in the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, New York, Miami and also Guayaquil, Ecuador. He graduated from Saint George's College, Santiago in 1985, and from Dartmouth College in 1995, with a degree in history and philosophy.[16]

Career[edit]

Lira filming Catalina's Kidnapping

In October 1996, Lira signed a book contract with G. P. Putnam's Sons[17][18] to publish his first[19] commercial thriller entitled Counterparts, which follows the exploits of a fierce female Federal Bureau of Investigation agent and her "counterpart", an ambitious Central Intelligence Agency operative.[20][21] In 1997, he published a Spanish-language novel, Tomáh Errázurih. In 1998, he directed a short action film, So Kinky. He published a second English-language commercial thriller, Acrobat, in 2002.[22] In 2005, he filmed Secuestro in Chile, which came in second in the box office in Chile during its opening weekend.[23][24]

Between 2010 and 2013, Lira published his thoughts on economics and other subjects on his blog, sometimes reposting them on the blog Business Insider.[5][25] On four occasions, he reposted them on the blog Naked Capitalism.[26] He also contributed to Zero Hedge, a fringe financial website.[27][28] During this period, Lira contacted Australian economist Steve Keen, proposing him to work together on a project and start a content paid subscription site. According to Keen, Gonzalo "overstated and over-promised what he could do, then under-delivered", and that his demeanor led to the departure of collaborators and employees.[6]

From 2017, Lira was active on YouTube, under the pseudonym Coach Red Pill (CRP). This name is an allusion to Red Pill and Blue Pill symbolism in the Manosphere community. The content was misogynistic[7] and anti-feminist in nature, appealing to incels.[24][29] Lira posted videos with advice such as "never date a woman in her thirties" and argued that all women really only want money, a house, and kids, as child-rearing is the one thing that will biologically validate them.[6] In one video, he advised viewers living in Western democracies to move to "a poor, underdeveloped country" due to the former's "totalitarian" deployment of COVID-19 vaccines.[30] He published over 500 videos, gaining 324,000 subscribers and around 2 million views.[31] In November 2021, Lira deleted most of his CRP content and began posting under his legal name.[24] He lived in Kharkiv, and married a Ukrainian woman with whom he had 1 daughter.[6][32]

Criminal prosecution[edit]

With the Russian military invasion of Ukraine 24 February 2022, Lira shifted the majority of his commentary to be about the conflict. Lira's content was heavily pro-Russian, including praising Russian military actions and denying Russian missile attacks, as well as sharing Ukrainian troop movements and doxxing Western journalists.[33][34][35][36]

On March 3, 2022, the Criminal Code of Ukraine was supplemented by Article 436-2, with title "Justification, recognition as legitimate, denial of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, glorification of its participants". The article, which has been criticized by the OHCHR and other human rights groups,[37][38] states punishment by correctional labor up to two years or imprisonment up to eight years.[39] On April 12, 2022, a secret investigation on Gonzalo Lira was initiated by the SBU.[10] Lira was detained by the SBU three days later, and released on April 22nd. He claimed that he was prohibited from discussing the details of his detention period, and from leaving the city of Kharkov. He was also deprived of the access to his YouTube and Telegram accounts used for distributing his commentary.[40]

On March 29, 2023, the Kiev District Court of Kharkiv (KDCK) ruled, after petition by the SBU and Kharkiv Regional Procecutor's Office, to extend the pre-trial investigation until Oct. 12, 2023.[41][42] On May 1, 2023, the KDCK ruled to detain Lira within the pre-trial investigation period, until June 29, 2023. A bail of 402,600 UAH (US$11,000) was set.[43][44][45]

Upon Lira's arrest, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called on the international journalist community to speak in Lira's defense, and to demand his immediate release.[46] The United States Department of State, upon being questioned in a general press briefing on May 25, 2023, refused to comment whether they would negotiate for Lira's release.[47] This was repeated in June and August press briefings.[48][49][50]

On May 30, 2023, the Kharkiv Court of Appeals dismissed Lira's defense attorney's appeals against detention and size of bail.[51][52] On May 31, 2023, the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office filed an indictment against Lira for criminal offences, on crimes provided in part 2 and part 3 of article 436-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. [10] On June 8, 2023, the Dzerzhyn District Court of Kharkiv (DDCK) sat the date for a preliminary court session to June 26.[53][54] On June 26, 2023, the DDCK ruled to extend the term of the pre-trial detention until August 24, 2023, with alternative preventive measure in the form of bail as previously determined.[55][56] A trial in the form of open court session was set to August 2, 2023.[57][58]

On July 6, 2023, Lira was released upon payment of bail in the amount of UAH 402,600 (USD 11,000).[59] He returned to social media to accuse the Ukrainian government of torture, a contention denied by the SBU.[60][43] Lira attempted to cross the Hungarian border on July 31 to claim political asylum, but was captured and arrested again.[61] On August 2, 2023, the DDCK proceedings noted Lira's unsuccessful attempt and ruled the SBU to deliver Lira to a court session scheduled for August 22, 2023.[59][62]

On August 4, 2023, the DDCK granted the prosecutor's petition for detention of Lira until October 2, 2023, without determination of bail. It further ruled to transfer previously paid bail to the state income. The ruling noted Lira's explanation of his violation of duty to be justified by violent acts and extortion of US$70,000 committed against him during his stay in the pre-trial detention center, and the fear for his life. He also justified it with that fact that the failure of the judge to confiscate his identity documents, and not install an electronic monitoring device, both of which was ruled by the court, was taken by him as a signal that the court wanted him to leave the country.[63][64]

On August 22, 2023, the Kharkiv Slobid District Prosecutor's Office approved and sent to court an indictment against Lira, for distributing materials that justify and deny the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine (Part 2 of Article 436-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).[65][66] On September 12, 2023, Lira's detention was extended until November 11th, 2023.[11][67]

In December 2023, Elon Musk, CEO of X, publicly inquired about Lira's status via his platform, in response to a post by media personality Tucker Carlson calling Lira a political prisoner.[68][69] The SBU responded that Lira had been detained in accordance with the law.[70]

On January 12, 2024, Gonzalo Lira Sr., Lira's father, reported that his son had died in a Ukrainian prison.[12]

es:Gonzalo Lira

Filmography[edit]

  • So Kinky (1998) — writer, director.
  • Secuestro (2005) aka Catalina's Kidnapping — co-writer, co-producer, director.

Publications[edit]

  • Lira, Gonzalo (1997). Tomáh Errázurih (1 ed.). Santiago de Chile: Mondadori. ISBN 956-258-057-1. OCLC 38081261.CS1 maint: Date and year (link) Search this book on
  • Lira, Gonzalo (1998). Counterparts. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. ISBN 0-399-14312-2. OCLC 37300650. Search this book on [71]
  • Lira, Gonzalo (2002). Acrobat (1 ed.). New York: St. Martin's Press. ISBN 0-312-28694-5. OCLC 48515857.CS1 maint: Date and year (link) Search this book on [72]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ "LIRA LOPEZ GONZALO ANGEL QUINTILIO". Genealog. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  2. ↑ Lira, Gonzalo (February 8, 1995). "My Education at Dartmouth". The Dartmouth. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
  3. ↑ Rosen, Evan (6 May 2023). "Misogynist Dating Coach Gonzalo Lira, aka Coach Red Pill, Arrested in Ukraine for Russian Propaganda". New York Daily News. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  4. ↑ "Gonzalo Lira: "Escribir no es ningún misterio"". La Tercera. 2002. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Leonard, Andrew (2010-09-28). ""The Dumbest Attack on Paul Krugman, Ever"". Salon. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Hay, Mark (2022-03-21). "How a Sleazy American Dating Coach Became a Pro-Putin Shill in Ukraine". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Zadrozny, Brandy (June 8, 2022). "Russian Propaganda Efforts Aided by pro-Kremlin Content Creators, Research Finds". NBC News. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  8. ↑ Davis, Julia (2023-05-05). "'Red Pill' Dating Coach Gonzalo Lira, Accused of Shilling for Putin, Is Arrested in Ukraine". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2023-05-07.
  9. ↑ "Missing Chilean vlogger turns up after being held in Ukraine | Cyprus Mail". Cyprus Mail - English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. 22 April 2022. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 "INDICTMENT". Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Resolution - Case No. 638_5519_23". Dzerzhyn District Court of Kharkiv.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "American journalist Gonzalo Lira has died in Ukrainian prison: reports". The Post Millennial. 2024-01-12. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  13. ↑ "The tragic end of Gonzalo Lira: A voice silenced in Ukraine". Helsinki Times. 2024-01-13. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  14. ↑ "Gonzalo Lira: "Escribir no es ningún misterio" [entrevistas] [artículo] : Andrés Gómez Bravo". BND: Archivo de referencias críticas. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  15. ↑ "Familia Lira". Genealog (in español). Retrieved 2022-06-29.
  16. ↑ "El hombre del million de dolares (The million dollar man)" (PDF). Biblioteca Nacional Digital de Chile (National Digital Library of Chile). 1996.
  17. ↑ Colford, Paul D. (17 October 1996). "Two for the Books: Novice Success Stories". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 293396364. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  18. ↑ Smith, Stephen (30 November 1996). "Recalls, Slush Piles and Opening ... Rites". The Globe and Mail. ProQuest 384894544. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  19. ↑ Halpern, Frances (8 January 1998). "Eating-Browsing-Schmoozing Creates a Friendly Climate that Attracts Variety of Discussion Groups to Bookstore". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 421371236. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  20. ↑ Holt, Patricia (11 January 1998). "Some Tough Gals Are Tough to Buy". San Francisco Chronicle. ProQuest 411276576. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  21. ↑ Goldman, Jane (8 February 1998). "New Talents Outwrite Old Favorites". New York Newsday. ProQuest 279085704. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  22. ↑ Anderson, Patrick (5 May 2002). "An Unstable Ex-mercenary, a CIA Mod Squad, an Unenlightened JAG Lawyer and Assorted Baddies". The Washington Post. ProQuest 409324723. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  23. ↑ Tepernam, Johnny (April 27, 2005). "Tras su primer fin de semana de exhibicion cinta chilena 'Secuestro' se ubico segunda en la taquilla" [After its first weekend of release, the Chilean film 'Secuestro' ranked second at the box office]. United Press International (in español) (published 2005-04-26). Retrieved 2022-05-11 – via gale.com.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Fossa, Lissette (2022-04-20). "Qué se sabe de Gonzalo Lira y su misteriosa desaparición en Ucrania" [What is known about Gonzalo Lira and his mysterious disappearance in Ukraine]. INTERFERENCIA (in español). Retrieved 2022-04-22.
  25. ↑ "Business Insider articles written by Lira". Business Insider. 2022.
  26. ↑ "Naked Capitalism articles written by Lira". Naked Capitalism. 2022.
  27. ↑ Codrea, David (2022-03-18). "Conservative Sympathy for Russia in Ukraine War an Exercise in Cognitive Dissonance". Firearms News. Archived from the original on 2022-03-18. Retrieved 2022-05-09. a past contributor to the popular "conservative" website Zero Hedge Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  28. ↑ Young, Cathy (29 April 2022). "The Redpill Grifter Who Became an Anti-Ukraine Propagandist". The Bulwark. Retrieved 9 May 2022. [He] got into the "alternative media" via Zero Hedge, the controversial financial blog that doubles as a far-right, pro-Kremlin conspiracy theory site
  29. ↑ "Todo sobre Gonzalo Lira, el chileno del que se perdió contacto en Ucrania". Mala Espina (in español). 2022-04-18. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
  30. ↑ Codrea, David (2022-03-18). "Conservative Sympathy for Russia in Ukraine War an Exercise in Cognitive Dissonance". Firearms News. Archived from the original on 2022-03-18. Retrieved 2022-05-09. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  31. ↑ "Social Blade statistics for Coach Red Pill YouTube channel". Social Blade. 2022-04-24. Retrieved 2022-04-24.
  32. ↑ "Gonzalo Lira López". Genealogía Chilena en Red. Retrieved 2022-06-29.
  33. ↑ Bowden, John (2023-12-12). "Meet the 'Putin propagandist' Tucker and Elon Musk want freed in Ukraine". The Independent. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  34. ↑ Sonko, Alona (2023-05-16). "SBU nabs blogger sharing Ukrainian army movements on social media". Ukraine News Premier Independent English-language Source — The New Voice of Ukraine. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  35. ↑ "Detaining Gonzalo Lira: Another blow to the freedom of press in Ukraine". Helsinki Times. 6 May 2023.
  36. ↑ "Gonzalo Lira Court Documents - Ukraine". Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office & Kiev District Court of Kharkiv.
  37. ↑ "Report On The Human Rights Situation In Ukraine". OHCHR.
  38. ↑ "Criminal liability for collaborationism: analysis of current legislation, practice of its application, and proposals for amendments". ZMINA. 23 December 2022.
  39. ↑ "Criminal Code of Ukraine - Amendments". Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
  40. ↑ "Anti-Zelensky journalist Gonzalo Lira released by SBU". Al Mayadeen English. 2022-04-23. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  41. ↑ "Decision - Case No. 953_1898_23". Kiev District Court of Kharkiv.
  42. ↑ "Decision - Case No. 953_1898_23" (in Ukrainian). Kiev District Court of Kharkiv.CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (link)
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 Shashkova, Maryna (2023-12-13). "EXPLAINED: Why Tucker Carlson and Elon Musk are Big Fans of Gonzalo Lira". Get the Latest Ukraine News Today - KyivPost. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  44. ↑ "Resolution - Case No. 953_2692_23". Kyiv District Court M.Kharkov.
  45. ↑ "Resolution - Case No. 953_2692_23" (in Ukrainian). Kyiv District Court M.Kharkov.CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (link)
  46. ↑ "Russia calls on int'l community to defend Chilean reporter abducted by Ukraine". TASS.
  47. ↑ "Press Briefing". US State Department.
  48. ↑ "Press Briefing". US State Department.
  49. ↑ "Press Briefing". US State Department.
  50. ↑ "Press Briefing". US State Department.
  51. ↑ "Resolution - Case No. 953_2692_23". Kharkiv Court of Appeals.
  52. ↑ "Resolution - Case No. 953_2692_23" (in Ukrainian). Kharkiv Court of Appeals.CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (link)
  53. ↑ "Decision - Case No. 638_5519_23". Dzerzhyn District Court of Kharkiv.
  54. ↑ "Decision - Case No. 638_5519_23" (in Ukrainian). Dzerzhyn District Court of Kharkiv.CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (link)
  55. ↑ "Resolution - Case No. 638_5519_23". Dzerzhyn District Court of Kharkiv.
  56. ↑ "Resolution - Case No. 638_5519_23" (in Ukrainian). Dzerzhyn District Court of Kharkiv.CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (link)
  57. ↑ "Resolution - Case No. 638_5519_23". Dzerzhyn District Court of Kharkiv.
  58. ↑ "Resolution - Case No. 638_5519_23" (in Ukrainian). Dzerzhyn District Court of Kharkiv.CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (link)
  59. ↑ 59.0 59.1 "Decision - Case No. 638_5519_23". Dzerzhyn District Court of Kharkiv.
  60. ↑ Kanojia, Shivya (2023-08-01). "Scratched my left eye with toothpick, cracked rib: US-Chilean journalist describes torture in Ukrainian prison". Firstpost. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  61. ↑ "Who is Gonzalo Lira? US citizen claimed to be under Ukrainian 'captivity'". The Times of India. 2023-12-10. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  62. ↑ "Decision - Case No. 638_5519_23" (in Ukrainian). Dzerzhyn District Court of Kharkiv.CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (link)
  63. ↑ "Resolution - Case No. 638_5519_23". Dzerzhyn District Court of Kharkiv.
  64. ↑ "Resolution - Case No. 638_5519_23" (in Ukrainian). Dzerzhyn District Court of Kharkiv.CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (link)
  65. ↑ "Spreading theses of propaganda - a fan of 'Russian peace' will be tried (PHOTO)". Kharkiv Region Prosecutor's Office.
  66. ↑ "Поширював тези роспропаганди — судитимуть шанувальника «руського миру» (ФОТО)" (in Ukrainian). Kharkiv Region Prosecutor's Office. Archived from the original on 2023-08-22. Retrieved 2023-09-21. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (link)
  67. ↑ "Resolution - Case No. 638_5519_23" (in Ukrainian). Dzerzhyn District Court of Kharkiv.CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (link)
  68. ↑ Shcherbak, Alla (2023-12-10). "Musk seeks explanation from Zelenskyy over pro-Russian blogger detention". Ukraine News Premier Independent English-language Source — The New Voice of Ukraine. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  69. ↑ Shoaib, Alia (2023-12-17). "Tucker Carlson and Elon Musk have rallied behind an American 'red pill' dating coach turned Russian propagandist detained in Ukraine". Business Insider. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  70. ↑ Shcherbak, Alla (2023-12-10). "SBU responds to Musk's comments on arrest of pro-Russian blogger Lira". Ukraine News Premier Independent English-language Source — The New Voice of Ukraine. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  71. ↑ "Publisher's Weekly review of "Counterparts"". Publisher's Weekly. 1997-12-01. Retrieved 2022-04-24.
  72. ↑ "Publisher's Weekly review of "Acrobat"". Publisher's Weekly. 2002-03-04. Retrieved 2022-04-24.


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