There was a mixed bag of reactions on social media after an in-depth News24 investigation revealed the identity of the man behind the @AdvBarryRoux Twitter account.
The investigation unearthed information linking Csho "Shepard" Chilala, 27, a Zambian blogger from the small town of Monze, southwest of Lusaka, to the 500 000-follower parody account, known for Sunday "exposés" – or as his loyal followers like to call it, "dropping files".
The self-proclaimed "Black Twitter CIC", going by Man's Not Barry Roux on the social media platform, came out in strong denial of the investigation's results, claiming it had rehashed information from two years ago.
This News24 journalist is taking chances! The following information was extracted from a fake Twar I had with Daniel Marven back in 2017.. Yet again linking me to people I don’t know pic.twitter.com/N17ZWuVhsB
— Man's Not Barry Roux ? (@AdvBarryRoux) January 16, 2019
Old news Adriaan. We been knowing this for 2 years. @danielmarven exposed him long long ago
— DJ Sbu (@djsbu) January 18, 2019
Clumsy kids like @AdriaanBasson must try and be more disciplined.
— Man's Not Barry Roux ? (@AdvBarryRoux) January 18, 2019
The account itself wields some degree of influence among South Africans on Twitter, and has been known to make allegations without proof and post information that was consequently disproved.
As part of a series of ongoing investigations into fake news, News24 journalist Jean le Roux identified Chilala through several of his social media accounts, including his Instagram, Google Plus, Twitter and Facebook profiles. He was also identified using videos uploaded to Twitter's Periscope platform years before he became famous.
Advovo denied it was him, claiming he and Marven staged the twar for publicity.
— Ad Homonym (@jean_leroux) January 18, 2019
Though the twar revealed many of his pictures, because it was "staged" I didn't rely on any of it for this. All the info was found independent of any tweets about him.
Some commended Le Roux's work, with social media law specialist Emma Sadleir weighing in with, "Don't ever think you're anonymous on the internet…"
Finally, the man behind the Man’s Not Barry Roux Twitter account has been exposed.
— Emma Sadleir (@EmmaSadleir) January 18, 2019
Don’t ever think you’re anonymous on the internet. Sometimes it takes years, sometimes it takes court orders, sometimes a man like @jean_leroux to the digging.
Chapeau!https://t.co/H3SIuzzknY
This guy was tweeting the zambian election for like a month and no one picked that up i always knew he was zambian a lot of people knows that
— Salesperson (@KodisangTello) January 18, 2019
Lol good work done by @News24 here.... their research is spot on
— Ntombekhaya Olz Zibi (@Ntombekhaya_OZ) January 18, 2019
Another great piece of work, Jean. Your tech journalist skills are unmatched. Respect.
— Barry Bateman (@barrybateman) January 18, 2019
If @danielmarven can did it why can't @jean_leroux did it,I mean we knew this on #AdvBarryRouxVsDaniel twar in 2017 it's nothing new.. hello " Black Twitter CIC " Mr Adv Barry Roux @AdvBarryRoux we welcome you again,are you shaken by this? ?????? pic.twitter.com/wXngCVyFuO
— Simtho Biyela ?? (@Simtho_Biyela) January 18, 2019
As much as I want to believe this but I just can't I mean we saw this Adv Barry Roux 's face in 2017 on #AdvBarryRouxVsDaniel twar??does this mean @jean_leroux is finishing what @danielmarven started two years back? Ngena la Daniel ?????? https://t.co/Kqm408dXdI
— Simtho Biyela ?? (@Simtho_Biyela) January 18, 2019
Heyi !! we don't care who the real @AdvBarryRoux is, he stays giving black twitter life.
— LalaM_Real_Kumkanikazi (@LalaM_25) January 18, 2019
Viva Barry, viva !!! ?????? pic.twitter.com/QJ71ZVNZmt
A Zambian who can speak and write all south african languages??he would be a genius if this article wasn't fake
— Tintswalo (@Tintswa29509584) January 18, 2019
How can a Zambian man speak all 11 languages of ????
— ?ρ?σ ρι??ι???? (@mpho_pitsi_SA) January 18, 2019
Am I the only one who is not phased about the Black Twitter CIC being exposed? We've seen this pic when there was a Twar between @AdvBarryRoux and @danielmarven ?? pic.twitter.com/lbyU3GTpxx
— Ricky Mthembu (@RICKYMTEMBU) January 18, 2019
Riaan, tell us how did this Zambian boy got hold of South African highly classified information. Why is that he is fluent in writing almost all South African languages? The account might've been created by him but it is clear that he is not running the account.
— Kwetlas Mbiza (@KwetlasM) January 18, 2019
Here is a white man who CLEARLY doesnt follow black twitter, if this really is advovo we been knew looooong ago. But i dont believe it is him! no Zambian man can be so fluent in South African languages no matter how hard he tries seriously.. Back to the drawing board Mr Basson!
— Snowflake ? (@King_Snoo) January 18, 2019
This account is privy to high profile information, it rarely misses when it predicts or breaks stories. Considering all that, it's hard to believe it's run by an ordinary person, someone with access to info at high offices should be involved.
— The Big RED (@thamiebrian) January 18, 2019
In summary y'all want to tell me that our security system is that weak? That our country affaires are ran in another country by someone sitting behind a shack?
— IG:Karabo Mano (@Oleteng) January 18, 2019
I mean this guy has been raising a lot of SA intense issues. pic.twitter.com/UnX5PfcpdG
@News24 @AdriaanBasson please note, @AdvBarryRoux remains undefeated forever. Black Twitter is real and going nowhere. Watch the space! #DropThemFiles
— Man's Not Barry Roux ? (@AdvBarryRoux) January 18, 2019
so what must happen to him now????.. Leave Advovo alone! pic.twitter.com/PQKnQW8P0p
— NobuhleMaseko (@NobuhleMaseko6) January 18, 2019
On Friday afternoon #HandsOffBarryRoux was trending on the social media site.