Addressing the Smear Campaign against Ryan Kopf
Understanding Smear Campaigns
A smear campaign is an orchestrated effort to discredit someone through the spread of false information, slander, and lies. In today’s digital age, even a single individual can initiate such a campaign using anonymous online platforms.
The assertions made in a smear campaign are often dubious, connecting unrelated dots to create a misleading narrative.
The real impact of a smear campaign lies in the pain and disruption it causes to those associated with the target. My friends and I pour our hearts into organizing conventions that create a safe space for individuals to express their interests and be themselves. Untrue stories and smear campaigns make their efforts more difficult and painful, which is entirely undeserved.
Addressing the Rumors
Rumor: Ryan Kopf is a rapist
Fact: Ryan Kopf has never been arrested for any crime.
A look into Iowa’s court records will show that, like many CEOs and large corporations, I have been involved in a handful of legal matters. None of these are related to sexual assault.
From a minor vehicle registration issue to a lawsuit about a negative review I gave a company, my legal history is entirely unrelated to the accusations being spread.
One legal battle involved a former girlfriend who began harassing me online post-breakup. We counter-sued each other for restraining orders. The court, having heard both sides, granted me the restraining order, agreeing that I needed protection from her, not the other way around.
I am currently pursuing legal action against the anonymous individuals spreading misinformation about me online.
Rumor: All staff resigned from his conventions.
In the wake of the smear campaign, an email was circulated claiming that a group of former staff and 20 others were resigning from my convention staff. While such a mass departure would indeed be a cause for concern, the reality of the situation was quite different.
Several individuals on this “list” contacted me soon after, expressing surprise at their inclusion as they had no intention of quitting.
A majority of the people on the list were unfamiliar to me, having been added surreptitiously prior to the launch of the smear campaign to inflate the numbers.
Among the staff who did resign were three executive-level members, who I had promoted earlier due to their enthusiasm. It later became clear that their aim had been to gain control over the convention, going as far as to make demands of this nature in their emails. They have since started their own convention.
Who is behind this smear campaign?
I am still working to identify the person or persons responsible for creating anonymous social media accounts to discredit me. However, my suspicions lean towards disgruntled former staff, particularly those who were let go due to their attitude and behavior towards our convention attendees. I am currently involved in a lawsuit to unmask these individuals.
My Response to the Situation
While it’s distressing to see such harmful falsehoods spread, I want to assure you that I am taking proactive steps to address this situation. My suspicions regarding the perpetrators point towards individuals who are involved with other conventions or those who have initiated their own. However, I believe in maintaining professionalism and dignity amidst this challenging situation. I’ve chosen not to counter-attack these individuals or to speculate publicly about their motives.
Instead, I’m focusing my efforts on creating positive experiences at our conventions and ensuring they continue to be safe, enjoyable spaces for all attendees. I remain committed to standing up against falsehoods and ensuring that the truth prevails.
Ultimately, it’s my hope that our shared love for the community we’ve built can help us navigate these challenging times together. We should remember to treat each other with kindness, understanding, and respect, even when we disagree. We all share a common passion, and it’s this shared passion that should guide our actions rather than any differences we may have.
I’m grateful for your understanding and continued support. Your trust means a lot to me, and I promise to continue doing my best to live up to it.