Hasan Piker expresses support for taking from large companies on a podcast.

Hasan Piker Discusses Views on Theft from Corporations

Far-left commentator Hasan Piker shared his thoughts with the New York Times recently, expressing a “pro-theft” and “pro-piracy” stance regarding large companies. He emphasized his belief that stealing from major corporations is justified since those corporations often exploit their workers.

“I’m all for stealing from big corporations because they steal so much from their own workers,” Piker stated, suggesting that the very systems these companies establish often undercut their own financial integrity. He pointed out that the losses from theft are “priced in” to these companies’ bottom lines.

Piker elaborated on this idea, explaining that as businesses continue to automate processes, they effectively increase profit margins by reducing the need for cashiers. This, he implied, allows for a more efficient stealing process—one that benefits the thief without adversely affecting the corporation’s profitability.

During a discussion on the podcast, moderated by Opinions culture editor Nadja Spiegelman and New Yorker writer Gia Tolentino, Piker engaged with the concept of “micro-looting,” where individuals steal as a form of protest. While he didn’t endorse all theft, he expressed a level of acceptance towards it, especially when people are in difficult situations.

“Yeah, I’m all for piracy. Pirate cars? Yes, if possible,” he quipped, signaling a rather cavalier approach to the topic.

Piker admitted he doesn’t condone theft from government-funded entities, like libraries or community services, asserting instead that his support for “theft” is reserved for businesses. He critically remarked on how systems funded by taxpayer dollars shouldn’t be targets.

His recent remarks come after years of other controversial statements aligning with socialist and anti-capitalist views, which have gained traction in certain circles of the Democratic Party. For instance, he recently traveled to Cuba alongside left-wing activists, showing solidarity with the communist government there and downplaying existing issues like blackouts.

Piker has previously labeled communism as the “honorable end goal” of socialism and argued for a vision of a stateless, moneyless, classless, and borderless society. He noted the irony of people claiming that “real communism has never been tried,” suggesting it has never existed at all.