At a July 2021 anti-lockdown demonstration on the steps of Sydney’s Town Hall, 25-year-old Jon-Bernard Kairouz referred to himself as the “people’s premier” and declared, “All we want is freedom.”
Magistrate Emma Manea didn’t find the 45-second speech amusing, despite the defense’s argument that it was just a comedian “saying comedic things” to advance their career.
According to his actions and his words, it doesn’t appear to be a joke, she said on Tuesday.
Ms. Manea found that his demeanor and use of the word “we” to address the estimated 3500-person crowd met the definition of encouraging.
“What is his purpose if he isn’t motivating the crowd?”
She determined that the Belmore man had incited others to violate the pandemic ban on outdoor gatherings.
Without recording a conviction, Ms. Manea sentenced him to a two-year good behavior bond after receiving two guilty pleas to lesser COVID-19 offences.
Followings on TikTok increased for Kairouz in 2021 when he accurately revealed NSW’s daily COVID count hours before it was officially released.
At the time, Kairouz said he didn’t have an inside government source but was anticipating the numbers using mathematics.
The internet comedian was determined to have sincere remorse, excellent chances of rehabilitation, and a clean record of previous offenses by the court on Wednesday.
The judge said that Kairouz had also received further curial punishment for making “vicious racial statements” that were a “very sad monument” to society.
One individual wanted Kairouz would contract COVID-19 and die, while another referred to him as a “filthy f***ing Arab” and advised him to leave the nation and commit suicide because they didn’t want him there.
She warned Kairouz not to do another error, saying that a conviction would be an additional penalty on top of what he had already received.
The double-edged sword of celebrity, according to Ms. Manea, is the reaction on social media to him that is “extremely improper, disrespectful, and horrible.”
The graduate in business and accounting who works as a creative producer for a betting agency, according to his lawyer, became famous after speaking at the demonstration.
The 25-year-old publicly spoke out against breaking lockdown regulations after being charged, according to Daniel Grippi.
Mr. Grippi said, “Mr. Kairouz has done all he can to show he recognizes the importance of what he did.”
The conditional release order, often known as the bond, will run out in November 2024.