. BYU, a private university in Provo, Utah, is affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.says that people or businesses cannot film on campus for “promotional marketing, commercial, advocacy, or similar purposes.” This extends to anyone filming work that generates income through ads, music sales or other means. Stewart-Johnson told NBC News that he does not make any money off ad revenue on Black Menaces’ videos.
The Cougar Chronicle, a conservative, student-run newspaper that is unaffiliated with the university,that its editor-in-chief, Jacob Christensen, was the man following Stewart-Johnson and that he was encouraged to do so by the unidentified staff member. Neither the Cougar Chronicle nor Christensen responded to a request for comment.
The Black Menaces’ social media posts received national attention last year, and today the group has more than 700,000 followers on TikTok.posted from his car shortly after the interactions with the faculty member and the student, Stewart-Johnson said he believes the incident would not have happened to a white student conducting similar interviews. He said he felt so frustrated and unsafe after the incidents that he left campus. He said that he did not return for two days.
“We want to help all BYU students feel a sense of belonging and community on our campus,” Hollingshead said in an email to NBC News.