Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, has been exposed by the Guardian for recording personalised video messages on the Cameo platform for a fee, with clients including Canadian white supremacists and a man jailed for throwing a bottle during the 2024 summer riots. The messages also included a request to discuss Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's appearance using pornified slang. Farage withdrew his services from the platform on Thursday, citing security concerns.
The scandal highlights Farage's willingness to say anything for money, according to critics. A representative of the Canadian group said they hired him 'for a laugh' to teach him the consequences of being 'lazy and stupid enough to say anything for a dollar'. Farage's Cameo videos also included discussions of antisemitic conspiracy theories, which he claimed not to believe.
Farage's side hustle is part of a broader pattern of self-enrichment, drawing comparisons to Donald Trump's brand politics. The Reform leader reportedly made over £1m in a year from ventures including GB News shows, paid speaking gigs in Washington, promoting gold bullion as a 'tax-efficient' investment, and monetising his X account. His Cameo earnings were at a rate of £79 per video.
The scandal may harm Farage's political standing, especially as Reform's poll numbers have recently declined. The incident underscores the potential consequences of the 'Trumpification' of British politics, where political norms are trampled for profit.
