A heated altercation occurred outside the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, Illinois, on Tuesday involving George Chidi, a reporter for The Guardian, and Sidam, a correspondent for Channel 5.
The conflict quickly intensified into a heated argument filled with profanities and was recorded on video, subsequently garnering significant online interest.
The confrontation commenced when Chidi, who specializes in political and democratic coverage for The Guardian, approached Sidam outside the convention.
Introducing himself as a journalist from the esteemed London-based publication, Chidi proceeded to question Sidam about his own qualifications.
“I’m a journalist, I write for The Guardian,” Chidi stated. In response, Sidam, who was wearing a knit mask, appeared skeptical. “The Guardian?” he asked, prompting Chidi to clarify, “Yeah, big paper, London, ninth largest English language publication in the world, The Guardian. I’m a legitimate journalist. Who are you?”
Sidam identified himself simply as “Sidam from Channel 5,” a response that seemed to frustrate Chidi further.
When asked if Channel 5 was a local station, Sidam clarified that it was a YouTube channel. This revelation appeared to irritate Chidi, who responded aggressively, asking, “What’s your f*cking problem?”
Sidam maintained that he had no problem, however, Chidi persisted, showing doubt that Sidam was a journalist and declining to disclose further details about his identity.
“You’re a f*ck up. Legitimate journalists will take issue with this and once I’m done with all of this shit, I’m going to find out what the hell this bullshit is about,” Chidi said before Sidam encouraged him to do so.
The video captured the exchange and then cut away, only to return to a longer rant from Chidi.
“This is f*cked up, your people are f*cked up, the folks who are listening to this shit are f*cked up. You should be ashamed of yourself if you’re giving this guy clicks,” Chidi ranted.
After the initial confrontation, Sidam reflected on the encounter, saying, “I got, uh, verbally assaulted by The Guardian.” Later in the video, the two encountered each other again, with Chidi interrupting another interview Sidam was conducting. Chidi’s remarks grew even more hostile as he cursed at Sidam before walking away.
George Chidi your wonderful journalist who likes to say things like “fuck you, fuck your mother. In fact I got twenty bucks, I’ll go fuck your mother! Maybe she’ll give me ten bucks back so that her husband can go fuckin watch.” Nice pic.twitter.com/WJ6TyWpWN5
— SLC Beav (@GoBeavvs) August 21, 2024
A bystander observing the exchange commented on the conduct, exclaiming, “That’s wild. People from The Guardian acting like that? That’s crazy as f*ck.”
George Chidi’s X account is now private in the wake of the incident.
According to The Guardian’s website, Chidi is a politics and democracy reporter for their U.S. division.
Channel 5, where Sidam is employed, is recognized for its distinctive combination of journalism and humor.
Founded by Andrew Callaghan, Channel 5 has amassed a substantial online following, boasting 2.72 million YouTube subscribers.
The outlet’s approach is marked by its unconventional guerrilla-style reporting and ironic comedic style, often blurring the boundaries between traditional journalism and satire.
The clash between Chidi and Sidam underscores the escalating conflicts between individuals from traditional media organizations and emerging internet-based journalism platforms.
As the video continues to circulate online, it prompts inquiries about journalistic ethics, the role of independent media, and the tensions that can emerge in an age where digital platforms challenge established media practices.
