#FIRSTLOOK: “THE MOST HATED MAN ON THE INTERNET”

By Mr. Will Wong

From Executive Producer Alex Marengo (Bad Sport, Killer Ratings) comes riveting three-part Docu-Series THE MOST HATED MAN ON THE INTERNET. The Series centers on self-proclaimed “Professional Life Ruiner” Hunter Moore, who found notoriety on the web with his now-defunct Revenge Porn site IS ANYONE UP?, launching in 2010. The Website became an overnight phenomenon allowing users to post sexually-explicit photos of others, whereby the photos would be subject to abusive comments from users. The photos were posted without the subjects’ permission, and despite efforts to have these photos taken-down by those seen in the photos, this failed to result in action as Moore continued to reap the rewards of his popularity monetarily and in fame, completing disregarding the pleas. And somehow all of this wasn’t technically illegal.

The boisterous and unapologetic Moore meets his match in Charlotte Laws, whom in a prior life authored a book about her adventures how she was able to crash ultra-exclusive events with celebrities. She finds herself telling another story here in this Limited Series after her daughter Kayla learns of her own intimate photos being hacked from her e-mail account. Despite many attempts to reach Moore, both mother and daughter are unsuccessful getting these photos taken-down. Instead, they are subject to scrutiny and bullying online. They are just one of many, as we meet men and women whose lives were destroyed after having their photos posted on IS ANYONE UP? against their will. We meet one subject who almost ended her own life. We also meet Moore‘s ex-girlfriend who now has clarity after being somewhat oblivious to the damage he caused to the lives of so many people.

The Series over three episodes, builds-up momentum on the back and forth between mother and daughter, and a Goliath in Moore who built a devout cult following, willing to do just about anything for their leader. We see Charlotte and Kayla begin to fear for their safety, the closer they get to exposing Moore for being involved in illegal activities to supply the content on his website, but they can’t be certain without the help of the FBI. Add to that notorious Hacker Group, Anonymous who get involved after being made aware of Charlotte and Kayla‘s struggles. And thus, we see the takedown of what seemed like someone untouchable.

We only vaguely recall the controversy the takedown of Hunter Moore, but this is a satisfying educational journey to justice, worthy of a watch. Admittedly, there is a degree of victim-blaming when it comes to those who take intimate photos of themselves in the first place, but where is that same judgment and scrutiny when it comes to those who post and share unconsented content? THE MOST HATED MAN ON THE INTERNET arrives July 27, 2022 on Netflix.