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A Minnesota influencer known for filming himself helping homeless people has been banned from city parks after officials accused him of harassing the very individuals he claims to assist.
In a letter seen by the Daily Mail, Josh Liljenquist, who boasts nearly 18 million followers across his social media accounts, was barred from all St. Paul parks on April 6 by Parks and Recreation Director Andy Rodriguez.
Liljenquist was barred from the parks until October 3 for routinely breaching the peace within Pig's Eye Park 'by going to the site to harass, record and profit from vulnerable adults residing there without said individuals' permission.
The note also alleged that the influencer held an unlicensed event at the park on April 11 and had denied a request for information from the Deputy Director of Safety.
However, Liljenquist denied the accusations in a statement to the Daily Mail.
'At no point did I deny providing information. I clearly stated I had no involvement and offered to help look into what they were hearing,' the content creator said.
The influencer denied being in the state during the time of alleged event on April 11.
'I was out of state from April 8 through April 15,' said Liljenquist. 'That trip was my Christmas present from my parents, and the flights were booked on January 2, well before any of this.'
Josh Liljenquist, who has nearly 18 million followers across his social media accounts, was banned from all St. Paul parks for 180 days
Liljenquist's content is almost entirely made of interactions with those in need. However, some online believe his videos take advantage of vulnerable people which he uses to profit off of
He added that no specific incident or example of wrongdoing has been cited by the city.
'For them to say I harass and do all this stuff, that's just insane,' said the influencer to the Minnesota Star Tribune.
'It's just not true. There's absolutely nothing I've done. Every single thing that they've claimed, where is it coming from?'
Multiple users online accused Liljenquist of hiding his predatory intentions behind his uplifting content.
'I cannot get over the fact that people think this guy is a great person because he buys homeless individuals' meals when it's obvious, he's just using them for content,' one user wrote.
'Unfortunately, this doesn't stop him from harassing people elsewhere.'
Liljenquist's content is almost entirely made of interactions with those in need, which he then provides food or money through GoFundMe, local businesses, or himself.
'I work with the people down at Pig's Eye encampment,' another added. 'Josh dangles money in front of these people and literally stages the videos he records. We do not have people sleeping in dumpsters, and all the people in his videos are current or past occupants of the encampment. Some of the people in his videos are not cognitively able to make sound decisions, which he knows.'
'Can't stand the guy, his fake persona, set-ups, and endless profit taken from people. I'd love to find out how much money he's pocketed from all these GoFundMe's over the years that are meant for folks in specific videos,' a third wrote.
A letter sent on April 6 by Parks and Recreation Director Andy Rodriguez, accused Liljenquist of going to parks 'to harass, record and profit from vulnerable adults residing there without said individuals' permission
Liljenquist's helps those in need by providing food or funding, through GoFundMe, local businesses, or himself
Despite accusations of underlying ill intent, Ben Steine, a videographer who works with Liljenquist, told the Daily Mail that many in the homeless community support the work he is doing.
'When Josh received this letter, we were shocked,' said Steine. 'I questioned at first whether the letter was even real or if someone had just kind of thrown it together with AI, but it turns out it was indeed a real letter from the City of Saint Paul's Parks Department.'
The videographer added while working with Liljenquist they have never filmed anybody and posted them online without their consent or knowledge.
'We certainly have never harassed anybody at the park, harassed anybody in general when doing outreach, that's just not what we're about,' Steine added.
Liljenquist said he is currently going through the appeal process and is looking forward to having the full context reviewed.
However, he added he no longer feels welcomed in St. Paul.
Liljenquist's agent, Warren, who did not give his last name, told the Daily Mail that all accusations levied against his client are false and 'have yet to be presented without any information'.
Clare Cloyd, a parks spokesperson confirmed to the Daily Mail that the influencer was banned from St. Paul parks but had no other comment because the case remains ongoing.
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