Ben Roberts-Smith Zero Limits supplements collaboration, Digi Mart USA News (Australia): Ben Roberts-Smith has collaborated with a gym supplements company run by a rightwing influencer that recently sold a pre-workout product called “war crimes.” Roberts-Smith, one of Australia’s most decorated living soldiers who is currently awaiting trial on war crimes charges, recently launched an apparel brand, Epic 1 Two, which produces T-shirts and gym wear.
In October, he appeared in a social media video collaboration between his brand and Zero Limits supplements, which is co-owned by rightwing podcaster and fitness coach Chris Katelaris, also known as “Big Chocky.” Roberts-Smith, Katelaris and others were filmed during a gym workout, with on-screen graphics reading “Zero Limits Supplements x Epic 1 Two.” Both brands were labelled “collaborators” on the video, which is also published on the Instagram grids of both brands.
Months earlier, Zero Limits had repeatedly 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.
“You wanna drink out of a prosthetic leg? You wanna re-enact a Sparta kick?
You wanna execute your workout?” he said.
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. The former soldier has praised another product from Zero Limits, posting an Instagram story, since shared by the brand, of himself drinking a separate pre-workout drink.
Roberts-Smith 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 arrested and charged in April 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: “As I’ve always maintained: I categorically deny all of these allegations … I will be taking this opportunity to finally clear my name.
I’m proud of my 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, 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 (SAS) 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: “The products are great, make sure you check them out.” In a statement via the same lawyer, Katelaris also did not respond to specific questions, but said: “If you thought this was wild, 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.
