Sound of Freedom and QAnon: Tabloid Fever Diverts Attention from Child Trafficking
The media attempts to downplay the message of Sound of Freedom through sensationalist and tabloid-style coverage similar to the Jeffrey Epstein case.
The movie Sound of Freedom goes beyond entertainment to highlight a pressing global issue with terrifying implications. The film tells the true story of Tim Ballard, a former U.S. Homeland Security agent who embarks on a dangerous mission to rescue children from the clutches of the child sex trade. It opens with authentic, disturbing real-life footage of children being kidnapped off the streets and being trapped in the networks that are later portrayed.
The story is set in Honduras, where a desperate father, Roberto, unwittingly falls for the fraudulent promises of a former beauty queen called Giselle. She tricks Roberto into believing that his children Miguel and Rocío will work as models, but then they disappear into the dark world of child trafficking. Tim Ballard, stationed in Calexico, California, takes it upon himself to infiltrate the trafficking networks and pose as a predator to capture the traffickers and rescue the children.
While Tim successfully rescues Miguel, Rocío remains in captivity and is sold to Colombian rebels. Undaunted, Tim assembles a team to rescue the missing children, facing many challenges and setbacks along the way. The film underscores the horrific reality of modern-day slavery and highlights the ongoing global fight against child sex trafficking.
The film Sound of Freedom is not afraid to show deeply disturbing scenes that depict the harsh reality of child sex trafficking. While emotionally draining, these scenes show that child sex trafficking remains a lucrative industry that profits from the exploitation of defenseless children. As the film says, “Unlike drugs, which can only be sold once, children can be sold multiple times in a single day,” underlining the urgency of tackling this widespread problem.
Critiques and controversies
Despite its noble intentions, Sound of Freedom has found itself at the center of a storm of criticism and debate, with several aspects of the film coming under scrutiny. One prominent criticism revolves around the film’s alleged association with “QAnon conspiracies”. Critics argue that the film serves as a “QAnon dog whistle”, leading to debates about the film’s underlying motives and messages. This association has raised questions about the film’s ability to resonate with certain conspiracy theorists.
Peter Bradshaw’s review in The Guardian also suggested that Sound of Freedom might appeal to the QAnon community. Bradshaw criticized Jim Caviezel’s performance as Tim Ballard, describing it as wooden. He questioned the film’s underlying intentions, suggesting that it might promote ideas other than child sexual abuse and the need for intergovernmental cooperation.
Owen Gleiberman’s Variety article gives a mixed review of the film. He criticizes its overt Christian overtones and its association with right-wing media, suggesting that the film may appeal to the paranoia of the alt-right, which stems from platforms such as 4Chan and QAnon, which he sees as unfounded conspiracy theories.
Although the film has a few characters of Christian faith, what might be called ‘Christian undertones’ don’t go any further than a few lines like “God’s children are not for sale”.
Another point of contention is the film’s narrative simplicity. Viewers and critics alike have noted that Sound of Freedom takes a straightforward narrative approach, presenting Tim Ballard as an unwavering, incorruptible hero on a mission to fight pedophiles. While this narrative approach is consistent with the film’s goal of depicting real-life events, it has also sparked discussion about the lack of complexity in the narrative.
However, renowned Canadian psychologist, author and media commentator Jordan Peterson praised the film’s unique approach to the complex issue of human trafficking. He emphasized that the script conveys complex ideas through effective particularization, focusing on a specific case to address the broader issue of slavery and human trafficking, particularly child sex trafficking. Peterson praised this approach for giving the film a solid and emotionally engaging narrative foundation.
Criticism also came from various suspicious quarters, including the controversial writer Noah Berlatsky, who articulated his concerns in a Bloomberg article entitled “QAnon and ‘Sound of Freedom’ Both Rely on Clichéd Hollywood Elements”. Berlatsky’s perspective should be viewed with caution, given his affiliation with the “Prostasia Foundation”, an organization focused on destigmatizing “MAPs” (minor attracted people). The sinister aims of this organization include attempts to reframe pedophilia in the context of “sexual orientation”.
Survivors and critics speak out
Some survivors and critics of human trafficking have spoken out against Sound of Freedom, claiming that it misrepresents the grim reality of trafficking and may perpetuate misconceptions among audiences. Jose Alfaro, an expert on the domestic sex trafficking of minors, claims that the film deviates significantly from reality. According to Alfaro, human trafficking primarily impacts marginalized communities, including those living in poverty and people of color. He criticizes the film and others like it for presenting a sensationalized Hollywood narrative, which he calls ‘savior trauma porn’. Alfaro notes that such portrayals often appeal to audiences looking for a superhero story or drawn to tales of extraordinary heroism.
As noted above, the film is based on a true story, and Tim Ballard is technically a “savior.” To characterize the adaptation of a true story for cinematic purposes as “perpetuating a Hollywood narrative of savior trauma porn” downplays the seriousness of the issue and the intended message of the film.
Chris Ash, Survivor Leadership Program Manager at the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking, echoes these concerns. Ash argues that films such as Sound of Freedom give a misleading impression of human trafficking and distract from the real dynamics of the issue. She points out that these films introduce elements that do not match the real experiences of trafficking survivors and professionals working in the field and undermine decades of dedicated anti-trafficking efforts.
It is difficult to understand why some say that what the film shows “does not match the real experiences of trafficking survivors and professionals working in the field”, given that this is an isolated case and that such cases can take many forms. Furthermore, the notion that the film “undermines decades of dedicated anti-trafficking efforts” raises the question of whether the criticism is based on the film’s portrayal of a real and powerful story that has the potential to reach a wide audience and raise awareness, or whether there are other motivations behind these criticisms.
Unmasking the horrors of child sex trafficking
In a recent interview with Prager U, Tim Ballard gave a chilling account of a cartel-controlled region where a child sex trafficking organization had reached unimaginable proportions. This criminal group was involved in trafficking children as young as six. Their sinister method involved recruiting vulnerable children from a charitable foundation ostensibly dedicated to helping the underprivileged, offering food and clothing in exchange for access to these innocent victims. The shocking revelation came to a head during a second undercover meeting when the traffickers arrived accompanied by police. In a shocking twist, the police actively assisted the traffickers by providing them with protection in marked vehicles with blue lights while they negotiated the sale of children. This horrific account underlines the urgent need for continued efforts to combat child trafficking and protect the most vulnerable members of society.
In another interview conducted by Jordan Peterson on his YouTube program, Tim Ballard responded to various criticisms of him and his operations, shedding light on the veracity of certain claims. In particular, he addressed questions about his connection to the QAnon conspiracy theories.
Ballard said: “Over the years, our FAQs have consistently expressed our disagreement with most conspiracy theories. While some of these theories may contain elements of truth, they are often overshadowed by a variety of falsehoods. Our FAQs therefore immediately refute these claims, as they ultimately undermine the credibility of our movement. I would even consider the possibility that certain individuals with vested interests are spreading these conspiracy theories to cast doubt on our cause.”
In the same episode, Ballard recounted a conversation on Capitol Hill in which a congressman asked for advice on how to raise awareness of the problem of unaccompanied minors entering the United States without proper tracking. Ballard replied, “The challenge is that we are not connecting the dots. We need to recognize the different ways in which children are at risk.” Not only are there some 85,000 missing children potentially exposed to the largest child sex market in the world, but we also see groups trying to replace the term ‘pedophiles’ with ‘minors attracted people’. At the same time, there’s a worrying trend towards the sexualization of children. For example, teachers in California and other states are advocating these practices under the guise of sexual liberation or sex education. There are also laws that allow a 13-year-old to consent to sex-altering procedures with potential reproductive consequences.
We’ve been here before?
While Sound of Freedom has sparked discussions about child trafficking and pedophilia, the film has been scrutinized and debated for its message, narrative approach, and potential societal impact. However, some might argue that we have seen this before with the Jeffrey Epstein case. It received a great deal of media attention, but some argue that certain aspects of the media attempted to downplay the seriousness of the case through sensationalist and tabloid-style coverage. Some media outlets focused more on the scandalous aspects of Epstein’s life and his connections to high-profile figures, celebrities, and politicians, rather than the actual allegations of sexual abuse and human trafficking.
Sound of Freedom‘s unflinching portrayal leaves no doubt: the scale of this operation rivals that of the drug trade, and to dismiss it as a mere “conspiracy theory” is a disservice to those who have suffered and continue to be victimized. While the world is plagued by various sinister activities, none compares in scale or moral turpitude to those who seek to diminish the scope and significance of the child sex trade. It is a stain on humanity that demands our unwavering attention and commitment to its eradication.
