Ben Roberts-Smith launches clothing brand ahead of two-hour interview
Ben Roberts-Smith has launched a clothing brand shortly before a lengthy interview about his military career, arrest and time in custody is due to air. The developments mark a more public-facing period for the former soldier, who has largely kept quiet during court proceedings and is facing five war crimes murder charges.
The brand, EPIC 1 TWO, takes its name from Roberts-Smith’s Afghanistan radio callsign and is intended to help support his family and legal costs. The 47-year-old says he has struggled to find conventional work; the brand’s first collection will offer discounts to military personnel and first responders. His interview with 2GB presenter Ben Fordham runs for more than two hours and is scheduled to air over two days, with a YouTube release also planned. Roberts-Smith has not entered pleas and maintains his innocence.
- Roberts-Smith has launched a clothing brand called EPIC 1 TWO.
- A two-hour interview about his career and arrest will air on 2GB.
- He faces five war crimes murder charges and maintains his innocence.
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Ben Roberts-Smith is a former Australian soldier who served in Afghanistan and became one of the country’s most decorated living service members. He was later involved in a civil defamation case over reports about alleged unlawful killings by Australian troops; the case concerned a different legal question from the criminal charges he now faces.
Australian prosecutors have charged Roberts-Smith with five counts of war-crime murder relating to his service in Afghanistan. He has not entered pleas and says he is innocent. The case concerns allegations about the conduct of Australian forces during the war, and the charges have not been proved in court.
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The case for
Supporters could see the clothing brand and interview as legitimate ways for Roberts-Smith to support his family and meet substantial legal costs, particularly if he has struggled to find other work. A public interview also gives him an opportunity to explain his position and maintain his innocence while the charges remain unresolved.
The case against
Critics could argue that turning a military callsign into a commercial brand, alongside a high-profile interview, risks using a contested public image for personal gain while serious charges are before the courts. They may also worry that a prominent media platform could shape public opinion before the legal process has reached a conclusion.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Ben Roberts-Smith has a lot to say. Now it’s time for him to say it: How Australia’s most decorated soldier and accused war criminal is set to spill in ‘gobsmacking’ two hour interview – as he launches EPIC 1 TWO brand”.