Meet Lee Barrett, a British vlogger who’s gone viral for calling out what he calls ‘baseless allegations’ about cotton production in China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. In his latest video, Barrett tackles the controversial ‘forced labor’ narrative, asking: ‘Who’s really pulling the strings here?’ 👀
When ‘Research’ Meets Geopolitics
Barrett zooms in on two key players: the U.S.-based Newlines Institute and the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI). He questions their neutrality, pointing out how their reports have fueled boycotts while ignoring his on-the-ground experiences in Xinjiang. ‘I’ve seen the cotton fields myself,’ he says. ‘Where’s the proof?’ 🕵️♂️
The vlogger compares the situation to a Netflix thriller plot — ‘except this misinformation affects real people’s livelihoods.’ With over 500,000 likes on Chinese social media, his take is resonating with Gen-Z audiences tired of one-sided stories. 💥
