Ben Roberts-Smith partners with influencer gym brand over pre-workout row

Australian soldier Ben Roberts-Smith, who is currently awaiting trial on war crimes charges, has recently collaborated with a gym supplements company run by right-wing influencer Chris Katelaris, The Guardian has reported.

The collaboration links Roberts-Smith's apparel brand, Epic 1 Two, with Zero Limits supplements, which Katelaris co-owns. It came after an October social media video in which both brands were presented as collaborators during a gym workout, with on-screen graphics reading Zero Limits Supplements x Epic 1 Two.

Roberts-Smith also launched an apparel brand earlier, Epic 1 Two, producing t-shirts and gym wear. In October, he appeared in a social media video collaboration between his brand and Zero Limits. Months earlier, Zero Limits had posted online about a product titled War Crimes, an energy supplement in the flavour Kill or Capture Cola. Its label depicted a hooded captive on a chair in a room with an Australian flag on the wall, and a tall figure wearing a balaclava and military-style clothing.

In a video on 26 July, Katelaris promoted the product while holding a tub at the gym. He said that fans could drink out of a prosthetic leg, re-enact a Sparta kick, or execute their workout. He called War Crimes the pre-workout for them.

Zero Limits, which says it is veteran owned and operated, does not currently list the War Crimes product on its website, and Roberts-Smith is not shown endorsing, referencing or using that particular product. Roberts-Smith has praised another product from Zero Limits, posting an Instagram story from Epic 1 Two's Instagram page of himself drinking a separate pre-workout drink. He gave the brand a massive shout out and told followers to get on their website and take a look, sharing a link to its website. He also last week appeared on the Zero Limits podcast, hosted by another founder of the supplements company of the same name.

Roberts-Smith was in April arrested and charged with five counts of war crime – murder, in relation to three incidents stemming from his service in Afghanistan in 2009 and 2012. He has denied the charges, saying in a statement after his arrest that he categorically denies all of these allegations and will be taking this opportunity to finally clear his name. He said he was proud of his service in Afghanistan.

The three incidents allegedly involved Afghan nationals being shot dead by Roberts-Smith, or a subordinate under his command, while he was present, the AFP commissioner, Krissy Barrett, said in April. Roberts-Smith was previously found in a defamation suit, using the civil standard of the balance of probabilities, to have murdered unarmed civilians while serving in the Australian Special Air Service Regiment in Afghanistan. The federal court found to the lower civil standard that Roberts-Smith kicked Afghan man Ali Jan in the chest, sending him falling backwards over a cliff before he landed on the ground. The court found that Roberts-Smith then ordered another soldier to shoot him dead.

Roberts-Smith was also accused in media reporting of shooting an unarmed prisoner who had a prosthetic leg. The leg was later used as a drinking vessel by soldiers.

Zero Limits, Katelaris and Roberts-Smith were contacted for comment. In a statement via a lawyer, Zero Limits did not respond to specific questions, only answering that the products are great and to make sure to check them out. In a statement via the same lawyer, Katelaris did not respond to specific questions, but said that if readers thought this was wild, they should wait until next week's campaign drops.

Katelaris lists himself as a co-owner of the supplements brand in his Instagram bio. He also promotes a range of merchandise under his own name in support of Roberts-Smith, including I stand with BRS t-shirts, hats, hoodies and stubby coolers.

Source: The Guardian.