Posts and conspiracy theories turned after John McAfee’s death

The reported suicide of notorious tax evader, Bitcoin advocate, and antivirus software pioneer John McAfee has fueled today’s wave of tributes and conspiracy theories.

After years of tax evasion and US authorities, a Spanish court ordered the extradition of McAfee just hours before his death, and the 75-year-old is expected to receive life imprisonment if extradited in the United States.

Former National Security Agency (NSA) employee and whistleblower Edward Snowden, be reprimanded The global reach of the US Enforcement Agency and warned that the inopportune timing of McAfee’s end may not be unique as “Julian Assange’s story might as well end”. He tweeted:

“Europe should not extradite people accused of nonviolent crimes to such an unfair judicial system – and such a cruel prison system – that native-born defendants would rather die.

Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson, praise McAfee’s contributions to computer science describe him as “one of the most enigmatic and interesting people in the cryptocurrency space and in the history of computers”. Hoskinson added, “He is also a deeply problematic person, known for McAfee’s well-documented personal trauma and substance abuse problems.

RIP John Mcafee https://t.co/Rc4u3eXX6C

– Charles Hoskinson (@IOHK_Charles) June 23, 2021

“The reason for the suicide seems obvious – McAfee is 75 years old and extradited to the US, considering more than 30 years in prison if convicted, and possibly convicted.” […] it seems that he decided to end his life there in a Spanish prison instead of an American prison. “

Bitcoin influencer and podcaster Anthony Pompliano remembers McAfee as “friendly, funny, and incredibly smart,” and shared a picture of him with antivirus pioneer and wife Janice Dyson wielding heavy grenades from the houseboat it was using Couple had evaded the authorities for years.

I had the chance to spend the day with the legend once @officialmcafee on his boat in the Bahamas.

He’s nice, funny, and extremely intelligent.

I will always remember this day. RIP for one of the most unique personalities in the world. pic.twitter.com/B5FnvDBRYK

– Pomp (@APompliano) June 23, 2021

Kim Dotcom, an internet entrepreneur fighting its own delivery charges from New Zealand through its file-sharing network Megaupload, lamented McAfee’s drug abuse that is wasting its potential.

“Pioneer in the field of data security. I always thought he was playing too much, should have stayed away from drugs and focused on using his clear mind forever. When he’s clear-headed, it’s all about freedom. “

QAnon and conspiracy theories

Despite the fact that McAfee legal representatives in Spain told Reuters that McAfee hanged himself instead of facing a life sentence, the Internet could have foreseen that conspiracy theories would claim that McAfee did not die at his hands.

The fire started shortly after his death was reported when the official McAfee Instagram account shared a picture of the letter “Q”, causing a stir among conspiracy theorists at QAnon. Business Insider reports that QAnon influencers on Telegram share posts with “hundreds of thousands of followers” who suspect suicide stories.

McAfee’s private tweets were retweeted repeatedly today, including one dated December 2019 alleging the government is threatening to assassinate him and does not believe any version of the facts he committed. However, the tweet advertises its crypto token “WHAKD”, which alludes to Jeffrey Epstein’s death and is linked to a website where the token can be purchased.

Indeed, receive the subtle message from US officials saying, “We are here for you, McAfee! We’re about to commit suicide. “I got a tattoo today just in case. If I were to commit suicide, I wouldn’t. I was crazy. Look at my right arm.$ WACKD only available on https://t.co/HdSEYi9krq pic.twitter.com/rJ0Vi2Hpjj

– John McAfee (@officialmcafee) November 30, 2019

Other conspiracy theorists began a June 2019 post claiming he had a treasure trove of “more than 31 terabytes” of evidence of government corruption that he allegedly charged with “a CIA agent” and “two Bahamian officials” who he would reveal if he was ever arrested. However, McAfee was arrested in October 2020 and no such evidence was released.

Every eccentric millionaire associated with governments claims they have evidence of corruption and that everything will be made public if tragedy strikes them.

Tragedy eventually hits her, but the dead man’s switch never goes on and the evidence is never delivered.

– Non-fungible token (@eldeezo) June 23, 2021

It is worth remembering that McAfee is no stranger to making bold and outlandish statements, including the promise that he would devour his own penis on national television if the price of Bitcoin did not exceed $ 1 million in 2021 that he had sex with a whale and that he had synthesized a new drug in Belize.

McAfee’s tweets from prison have also taken on an increasingly gloomy tone in recent weeks. In May he announced that he had spoken to a fellow inmate about suicide.

Today a man in a difficult situation asked me if I knew how to kill myself painlessly. Since I have little experience with this, I can’t help much.

What was amazing was that the tone of the discussion sounded like talking about the weather.

The prison is a strange environment.

– John McAfee (@officialmcafee) May 27, 2021

He also spoke of “being an old man lost in an almost endless verse on Twitter – like tears in the rain” and admitted “having a bad day”.

McAfee Spanish attorney Javier Villalba told Reuters that he believes McAfee just can’t stand being jailed:

“This is the result of a cruel system that has no reason to keep this man in prison for so long.”

For assistance in the United States, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, call Lifeline at 131114 or find the service closest to you.