Is Bored Ape Yacht Club Nazi?

Artist Ryder Ripps has filed a lawsuit against Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC), the popular NFT collection owned by numerous celebrities, alleging that its artwork and symbols include racist elements. The lawsuit was brought against Ripps by YouTuber Philion, who claims that BAYC and Yuga Labs have links to Nazi, white supremacist, and racist symbology. Bored Ape Yacht Club founder Wylie Aronow announced his departure from the company due to health concerns, addressing the allegations of being the target of a disinformation campaign.

The founders of BAYC have refuted allegations of Nazi links made by Ripps and a recently released video. They argue that the Bored Ape logo mimics a Nazi emblem, the name Yuga references an alt-right slogan, and that the Bored Apes have some association with the alt-right. The NFTs are allegedly used to highlight the use of racist, neo-Nazi, and alt-right messages and imagery, which constitutes trademark infringement.

The Bored Ape Yacht Club founders are taking the allegations seriously, as they filed a motion to dismiss the case in June. In June, Yuga Labs, the parent company of the Bored Ape project, sued Ripps in an anti-strategic lawsuit. The founders of Bored Ape Yacht Club branded claims by artist Ryder Ripps and YouTuber Philion that they are Nazis bullshit in a medium.

The Bored Ape Yacht Club founders respond to allegations of neo-Nazi ties, as the art, community, and tech blend continues to evolve.