{"id":22809,"date":"2025-04-19T08:16:47","date_gmt":"2025-04-19T08:16:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dogewisperer.com\/?p=22809"},"modified":"2025-04-19T08:16:47","modified_gmt":"2025-04-19T08:16:47","slug":"base-creator-admits-sharing-base-is-for-pimping-art-was-a-mistake","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dogewisperer.com\/?p=22809","title":{"rendered":"Base creator admits sharing \u2018Base is for pimping\u2019 art was a mistake"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\"Base<\/p>\n

The creator of Ethereum layer 2 blockchain Base, Jesse Pollak, has apologized following backlash over posting digital artwork that controversially played on Base\u2019s tagline, \u201cBase is for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Several social media users found the artwork offensive and inappropriate.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a single phrase among many, but I\u2019ll own this was a mistake and apologize,\u201d Pollak said<\/a> in an April 18 X post referring to his decision to reshare a GIF image that featured the phrase \u201cBase is for…\u201d followed by a rotating sequence of words, including both controversial terms like \u201cpimping\u201d and \u201csquirting,\u201d as well as more neutral ones like \u201cart,\u201d \u201cminting,\u201d and \u201cideas.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pollak says he appreciates \u201cprovocative art\u201d<\/h2>\n

Pollak emphasized that the artwork was made by a creator, not him, and specifically apologized for the image featuring the phrase \u201cBase is for pimping.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pollak said that while he wants to support artists building on Base and admits he appreciates \u201cprovocative art,\u201d he recognizes the need to be mindful of his shared messages, especially when they appear to come directly from him.<\/p>\n

\"Coinbase,
Source: <\/em>Jesse Pollak<\/em><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It comes after criticism from several crypto industry participants who took to social media to voice their disappointment over Pollak\u2019s endorsement of the image, calling out the use of the word \u201cpimping.\u201d<\/p>\n

Crypto commentator \u201cKristel\u201d said<\/a> in an April 18 X post, \u201cso we\u2019re just casually platforming pimping now?\u201d \u201cI get pushing boundaries, but this isn\u2019t it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis isn\u2019t provocative and \u2018edgy,\u201d she added. Kanto Labs founder said<\/a> it is an \u201cabsolute PR nightmare.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, crypto commentator David Z. Morris said<\/a> this \u201cdoesn\u2019t just hurt Base, it hurts crypto.\u201d Morris added:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe specific allusion to sex trafficking (not \u201csex work,\u201d pimping is pretty fundamentally exploitation) is specifically bad for a sector that needs to advance the narrative that open finance is a net social positive.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

However, many praised Pollak for the apology and his continued efforts to push boundaries in the crypto industry. \u201cLove the honesty. We all make mistakes, but it\u2019s about how we grow from them,\u201d crypto commentator Zuri said<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Bankless co-founder David Hoffman said<\/a>, \u201cI respect the leadership here.\u201d Milk Road co-founder Kyle Reidhead said<\/a>, \u201cDo and share whatever you want without apology.\u201d<\/p>\n

Base was at the center of controversy only days ago when the official X account shared a post promoting a memecoin with its marketing tagline<\/a>, \u201cBase is for everyone.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Related: <\/strong><\/em>Base creator Jesse Pollak to join Coinbase exec team and lead wallet charge<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

It also shared a link to a token of the same name on Zora, a social network<\/a> where users can make posts into tokens for others to speculate on.<\/p>\n

In just over an hour after it was created, the Base is for everyone token hit a peak market capitalization of $17.1 million \u2014 then dropped by nearly 90% over the next 20 minutes to a market value of $1.9 million, according to DEX Screener data<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A Coinbase spokeswoman distanced Base<\/a> from the token, telling Cointelegraph on April 17, “Base did not launch a token.\u201d \u201cThis is not an official Base token, and Base did not sell this token. Base posted on Zora, which automatically tokenizes content,\u201d the spokeswoman said.<\/p>\n

Magazine: <\/strong><\/em>Make Ethereum feel like Ethereum again: Based rollups explained<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n