Richard Charles Kyanka (May 11, 1976 – November 9, 2021), known by his username Lowtax (a reference to Byron (Low Tax) Looper),[1] was an American internet personality who created the website Something Awful.[2]
Richard Kyanka | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Richard Charles Kyanka May 11, 1976 |
| Died | November 9, 2021 (aged 45) |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Lowtax |
| Known for | Creator of Something Awful |
Other endeavors
editIn 2001, Kyanka was entered into the Entertainment Weekly (EW) Entertainer of the Year online poll, and went on to receive "thousands of votes", but was disqualified because EW judged they were the result of an email campaign.[3]
In 2006, Kyanka accepted Uwe Boll's challenge to a boxing match, which Boll had issued to all his online critics. The match took place on September 23 in Vancouver; Boll knocked Kyanka out in less than two minutes.[4]
On October 9, 2020, following a backlash from the community in response to allegations that Kyanka was a domestic abuser, Kyanka sold Something Awful to a fifteen-year member and moderator known under the pseudonym of Jeffrey of YOSPOS.[5] Kyanka was subsequently banned from the site.[6]
Death
editKyanka died by suicide on November 9, 2021.[7]
References
edit- ^ "Fark.com forums post". 2003-02-20. Retrieved 2024-01-05.[self-published source]
- ^ Stanton, Rich (November 11, 2021). "Richard 'Lowtax' Kyanka, founder of Something Awful and onetime king of the internet goons, dead at 45". PC Gamer – via www.pcgamer.com.
- ^ Entertainment Weekly, "Fan Flare" Archived 2006-11-28 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Baker, Chris. "Raging Boll". Wired. Retrieved 2007-03-05.
- ^ Gault, Matthew (2020-10-13). "Something Awful, a Cornerstone of Internet Culture, Is Under New Ownership". Vice. Retrieved 2023-06-12.
- ^ "Something Awful founder Richard Kyanka dies at 45". Engadget. 11 November 2021. Retrieved 2023-06-12.
- ^ "Richard 'Lowtax' Kyanka, Founder of Something Awful, Is Dead at 45". Vice. 11 November 2021.
