Konstantin Kisin

In this article we will address the topic of Konstantin Kisin, which has raised interest and debate in different areas. Since its emergence, Konstantin Kisin has captured the attention of experts and fans alike, generating a wide variety of opinions and viewpoints. Over the years, Konstantin Kisin has evolved and acquired a prominent place in today's society, influencing different aspects of daily life. In this article, we will analyze in depth the different aspects related to Konstantin Kisin, as well as its impact in different areas. Furthermore, we will focus on the possible future implications of Konstantin Kisin and the perspectives it offers for the future.

Konstantin Kisin
Kisin in 2021
Born
Konstantin Vadimovich Kisin

(1982-12-25) 25 December 1982 (age 42)
Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Nationality
  • Russian
  • British
EducationClifton College
Occupations
  • Comedian
  • writer
  • translator
  • podcaster
  • political commentator
Notable workTriggernometry podcast
An Immigrant's Love Letter to the West (2022)
Spouse
Alina Kisina
​
(m. 2003)​
YouTube information
Channel
Years active2018–present
Subscribers1.2 million[1]
(19 December 2024)
Views235 million[1]
(19 December 2024)
Silver Play Button100,000 subscribers
Gold Play Button1,000,000 subscribers
Website

Konstantin Vadimovich Kisin (/ˈkɪsɪn/; Russian: Константин Вадимович Кисин; born 25 December 1982) is a British–Russian satirist, author, translator, pundit, and co-host with Francis Foster of the Triggernometry podcast. Kisin has written for a number of publications, including Quillette, The Spectator, The Daily Telegraph and Standpoint; he has also appeared on the panel of the BBC political programme Question Time and been interviewed on TV media such as the BBC, Sky News and GB News. He speaks and writes on issues relating to tech censorship, comedy and culture war.

Early life and education

Kisin was born in Moscow under the Soviet Union to parents Marina and Vadim, then 18 and 20 years old, respectively, and grew up in the USSR. His experiences in the country inform much of his own political worldview today.[2] He is of Russian, Greek, and Jewish descent.[3][4] Kisin's parents were semi-practising Orthodox Christians, though his paternal grandfather was a secular Jew.[5][6] Kisin has previously identified as Jewish.[7][8] At the age of 11, he moved to the United Kingdom.[9] He attended Clifton College boarding school, and subsequently Edinburgh University, which he left before finishing a degree.[10]

Career

Translation and interpreting

Kisin has worked as a Russian-English legal, financial and video game translator, and interpreter, and has regularly given talks about the business side of translation.[11]

Podcasting

Since April 2018, Kisin has been co-presenter with Francis Foster of Triggernometry, a YouTube channel and podcast. The primary format of the channel is the prerecorded interview; the channel brands itself as holding "honest conversations with fascinating people",[12] and has been described as "anti-woke" by The Times and "hard-right" by openDemocracy.[13][14] Guests have included Reform UK leader and Brexiter Nigel Farage,[15] Jordan Peterson,[16] Ben Shapiro,[16] Stephen Fry[17][18] and Sam Harris.[19] A 2023 interview with Neil deGrasse Tyson on the subject of "Have We Lost Trust in Science?"[20] was widely reported upon both by other YouTube channels and the mainstream media because of Tyson's statements on the subject of transgender rights.[21][22][23]

Stand-up comedy

In 2019 Kisin took his show Orwell That Ends Well to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to mixed reviews. The Daily Telegraph included the show in its list of best comedy shows of the Edinburgh Festival,[24] The Student described it as "hilarious and refreshing,"[25] while Fest Magazine called it "ill-considered, reactionary nonsense,"[26] and The Jewish Chronicle described Kisin as an "antagonist" and rated the show 2 out of 5.[27][28][29]

Dispute with SOAS student group

In 2018, Kisin made headlines when he refused to sign a "behavioural agreement" form explaining a "no tolerance policy" concerning racism, sexism, classism, ageism, homophobia, biphobia, xenophobia, Islamophobia, anti-religion, and anti-atheism,[30] when asked to perform, free of charge, at a fundraising gig for UNICEF at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. The form explained those topics were not banned, but stated the topics should be discussed in a "respectful and non-abusive way", and presented in a way that is "respectful and kind".[30][31]

After Kisin refused to agree to those terms and chose not to perform, the UNICEF on Campus society at SOAS apologised and clarified they did not wish to "impose that guests would have to agree to anything they do not believe in". The SOAS Students' Union said it did not require external speakers to sign any contract before appearances, and that the UNICEF on Campus society had been "overzealous" in interpreting the guidelines.[32][33][34][35]

After it was claimed that Kisin had agreed to similar restrictions for a different gig in 2017, he stated he was "absolutely certain there was nothing about religion, atheism, respect or kindness in the rules . Had there been, I would not have agreed."[36]

Politics and punditry

Konstantin Kisin speaking at Alliance for Responsible Citizenship 2023 in Greenwich, London, UK, 31 October 2023

In March 2022 Kisin appeared as a panellist on the first edition of BBC Question Time following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He described feeling shame for his birth country Russia and discussed the bombardment that his family in Ukraine was undergoing.[37]

Kisin's 2023 speech at the Oxford Union student debating society in favour of the motion that "Woke Culture HAS Gone Too Far" went viral.[38][39] An article by Will Lloyd in the New Statesman, praised Kisin's speech as "not banal, not weighed down by predictable culture-war talking points", while concluded that "way from his targets, Kisin’s observations on politics and history are relatively banal".[10]

In a keynote speech in London in late 2023 at the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship, Kisin argued that the moment for restoring Western civilisation is at hand, describing it as "the fight for our lives".[40] In September 2023, the New Statesman named him as the 46th most influential right-wing figure in British politics.[41] Kisin has repeatedly rejected his characterisation as right-wing, instead describing himself as a "Remainer with liberal and centrist views who has only voted Lib Dem or Labour" and criticised the use of the "right-wing" label as a "smear for those we disagree with".[42]

In February 2025, Kisin interviewed Fraser Nelson on his Triggernometry podcast. During the interview, Nelson discussed Rishi Sunak and said "He is absolutely English – he was born and bred here". Kisin responded by saying "He’s a brown Hindu; how is he English?"[43] before stating that he himself as a Russian immigrant could similarly never be English, nor could his British-born son, which Nelson later described as a "perfectly fair point".[44] Kisin's remarks about Sunak were criticised by Sangita Myska, Dan Hodges, and David Aaronovitch.[43] Kisin insisted he was making a distinction between the British nationality and the English ethnicity.[45] Rishi Sunak affirmed that he does consider himself English, saying that he found Kisin's position "ridiculous".[46]

Author

Kisin is the author of An Immigrant's Love Letter to the West, which became a Sunday Times bestseller in the first week of its publication.[47] A review in The Daily Telegraph in July 2022 had Douglas Murray writing: "Kisin asks why people in the West so often spit on their luck."[48]

Bibliography

References

  1. ^ a b "About Triggernometry". YouTube.
  2. ^ Manzoor, Alex (2 February 2020). "Comedy and Controversy: Interview with Konstantin Kisin". The Cambridge Student. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  3. ^ Kisin, Konstantin. "Kisin Tweet (2021)". Twitter.
  4. ^ Kisin, Konstantin. "Konstantin Kisin Tweet (2022)". Twitter.
  5. ^ @KonstantinKisin (7 October 2024). "Having listened to the arguments of both sides over the last year, I'm no longer on the fence about Israel's war. Here is why" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 9 October 2024 – via Twitter. This depends on what you mean by "Jewish". I am an agnostic raised by two barely practicing Orthodox Christians, one of whose parents was a militant atheist Soviet Jew.
  6. ^ Kisin, Konstantin (14 August 2024). "Konstantin Kisin EXPOSES Pro-Palestine YouTuber in Heated Debate (1:01:16 mark)". Youtube. Triggernometry.
  7. ^ Sugarman, Daniel. "Comedian Konstantin Kisin drops out of Unicef charity gig over 'safe space' contract". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  8. ^ Newhouse, Alana, ed. (11 August 2011). "Why Don't They Believe Us?". Tablet Magazine.
  9. ^ Kisin, Konstantin (10 December 2020). "I came to the UK from Russia aged 11. I was picked on at school for not speaking English and not fitting in. One boy in particular orchestrated a lot of it. It was confusing – I didn't know what to do. I felt anger towards him but didn't want to get into a fight either. Then..." (Tweet). Archived from the original on 16 January 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023 – via Twitter.
  10. ^ a b Lloyd, Will (27 January 2023). "Konstantin Kisin: "Being anti-woke isn't making you happy" The podcaster is the viral man of the moment. But does he really have anything to say?". New Statesman. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  11. ^ "Living in the Present, Preparing for the Future – a translator's guide to Productivity and Wellbeing". Chartered Institute of Linguists. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  12. ^ "TRIGGERnometry". AudioBoom.
  13. ^ Thévoz, Seth (16 May 2023). "Assault rifles, wind farms, immigration and hormones: Inside NatCon". openDemocracy. Someone who worked for the hard-right YouTube channel Triggernometry complained ... .
  14. ^ Marriott, James (5 August 2022). "Revisionist History podcast review — Malcolm Gladwell takes the scenic route to common sense". The Times. Archived from the original on 12 January 2023.
  15. ^ Marx, Willem; Kurtzleben, Danielle (15 June 2024). "Known for his role in Brexit, Nigel Farage is gaining prominence in the U.K. elections". NPR.
  16. ^ a b Smith, Lauren (22 May 2023). "Now the banks have joined the war on free speech". Spiked. The Triggernometry podcast is just the latest victim of financial deplatforming.
  17. ^ Perry, Sophie (20 December 2024). "Stephen Fry slammed for saying he no longer supports Stonewall: 'Another celebrity disappointment'". PinkNews.
  18. ^ Clark, Malcolm (1 January 2025). "The cowardice of Sir Stephen Fry". The Critic.
  19. ^ White, Flat (19 August 2022). "We need to talk about Sam Harris". The Spectator.
  20. ^ "Have We Lost Trust in Science? - Neil deGrasse Tyson. Podcast Episode". IMDb. 2023.
  21. ^ Grossman, Hannah (27 September 2023). "Neil deGrasse Tyson explodes during debate about trans women competing in women sports". Fox News.
  22. ^ Imamovic, Faruk (28 September 2023). "'Scientist' Neil deGrasse Has Meltdown Over Trans Women in Sports Debate". Financial World. Archived from the original on 13 October 2023.
  23. ^ Condon, Ali (28 September 2023). "Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson stands up for trans women in sport: 'Rise to the occasion'". PinkNews.
  24. ^ Monahan, Mark; Saunders, Tristram Fane; Cavendish, Dominic (30 August 2019). "Best comedy shows at the Edinburgh Fringe 2019: reviews of 40 of this year's must see-comedians, including Jordan Brookes, Catherine Cohen and Laura Lexx". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  25. ^ "Konstantin Kisin: Orwell That Ends Well – The Student". studentnewspaper.org. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  26. ^ "Review: Konstantin Kisin: Orwell That Ends Well". Fest Magazine. 3 August 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  27. ^ "Snowflakes, lizards and baseball caps: Edinburgh Fringe round-up". www.thejc.com. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  28. ^ "The Wee Review : Konstantin Kisin". theweereview.com. 27 August 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  29. ^ "Comedy Review: Konstantin Kisin: Orwell That Ends Well, Gilded Balloon Teviot (Venue 14), Edinburgh". The Scotsman. 10 August 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  30. ^ a b "Comedian refused to sign 'behavioural agreement' before gig". BBC News. 12 December 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  31. ^ Kisin, Konstantin (10 December 2018). "I just received an invitation to perform *comedy* at a university... The title of this "contract" nearly made me puke. @UnleashedComedy https://t.co/4tUPCFwTLG" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 20 December 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2023 – via Twitter.
  32. ^ Loughrey, Clarisse (12 December 2018). "Comedians asked to sign 'behavioural agreement' for London university gig". The Independent. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  33. ^ Hill, Amelia (11 December 2018). "Comedians asked to sign 'behavioural agreement' for Soas gig". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  34. ^ "Students ask comedian to sign safe space contract". The Week UK. 12 December 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  35. ^ Wills, Ella (12 December 2018). "Comedian pulls out of charity show at SOAS over 'safe space' contract". Evening Standard. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  36. ^ Bennett, Steve. "When the safe-space row comedian WAS prepared to watch what he said". Chortle. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  37. ^ "Russian-British Comic Says He Feels 'Nothing But Shame For My Country'". HuffPost UK. 4 March 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  38. ^ "Konstantin Kisin: debates for the Motion: Woke Culture HAS Gone Too Far". Oxford Union. 12 January 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  39. ^ "BBC Question Time - 26 Jan 2023". BBC. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  40. ^ "ARC: to boldly say what the elites dare not". The Spectator Australia. 4 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  41. ^ "The New Statesman's right power list". New Statesman. 27 September 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  42. ^ Kisin, Konstantin (5 May 2019). "How 'right wing' became the smear for those we disagree with". The Spectator. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  43. ^ a b Leonard, Ralph (19 February 2025). "Of course Rishi Sunak is English". New Statesman. Retrieved 20 February 2025.
  44. ^ Nelson, Fraser (21 February 2025). "Is Rishi Sunak English? It used not to be a question". The Times. "He's a brown Hindu, how is he English?" asked Konstantin Kisin, the interviewer. By being born and bred here, I replied. Kisin disagreed: he said that he, as a Russian immigrant, could never be English and nor could his English-born son. It was a perfectly fair point — he meant ethnicity — but it blew up online, with four million views.
  45. ^ Malik, Kenan (23 February 2025). "Can a brown Hindu be English? Most Britons say yes. Why do so many on the right say no?". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  46. ^ Allegretti, Aubrey (5 March 2025). "Rishi Sunak: Suella Braverman saying we're not English is ridiculous". The Times. Archived from the original on 5 March 2025. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  47. ^ Hamilton, Matthew. "'An Immigrant's Love Letter To Love West' by Konstantin Kisin goes into the Sunday Times bestseller list at No 5 | The Hamilton Agency". Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  48. ^ Murray, Douglas (3 July 2022). "Take it from a Russian – the alternative to Western democracy is far, far worse". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
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