The latest episode of The Nine Club got into some real talk when Jerry Hsu stopped by and the conversation turned to Gifted Hater.
Gifted Hater’s been talking a lot of sh*t about skating and skaters, and somehow that made him one of the most talked-about names out there.
Some people can’t stand him. Others think he’s on to something. Hsu made it clear he’s in the second crew.
When Hsu first came across him, he didn’t even know about the YouTube channel. He just saw the skating and thought it was good.
Later, once he found out about the commentary and opinions, he was surprised but still became a fan. Chris Roberts, Jeron Wilson and Kelly Hart all mentioned how many skaters have a problem with Gifted Hater, but Hsu didn’t seem too concerned.
Hsu said he thinks Gifted Hater is challenging how people talk about skateboarding. He made it clear that his rider isn’t relying on any secret information or inside connections.
Everything comes from what he sees and how he sees it. Hsu said he respects that. He also said people can decide for themselves if they like him or not.
Another thing Hsu pointed out was that people need to remember there is a bit of a character involved. He believes Gifted Hater is testing what people in skating will accept and that some skaters are just naturally sensitive.
Hsu said that is completely understandable too.
Roberts agreed and added that Gifted Hater is smart and usually backs up what he says with clear points.
Wilson, however, was not feeling it at first. While Hsu was talking, Wilson got a little frustrated and tossed his hoodie on the ground before cracking a joke. “I’m about to throw that thing dude,” he said, then all of them started laughing.
Then Roberts brought up the whole sponsorship angle. Gifted Hater had once said he didn’t want to be sponsored because it might complicate things with the stuff he says online.
Still, now he’s officially riding for the Sci-Fi Fantasy brand. That brings even more attention and more pressure.
Hsu agreed that Gifted Hater is under a lot of pressure by being so public with his opinions. That’s when Wilson stepped in with a reminder about how things used to be. “Back in the day, if you talked about somebody, somebody would pull up on you,” he said.
He explained that people today might not act on it as quickly, but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen. “You talk about the wrong person, and you can get approached,” he said.
Basically, Wilson was saying if you run your mouth too much, you might catch hands. Still, Hsu stood by his rider.
He said Gifted Hater has already been confronted a few times, mostly online, and he’s handled it pretty well.
What matters to Hsu is that Gifted Hater actually knows how to explain himself and isn’t just talking nonsense for the sake of getting attention.
“He’s not just someone yelling at a camera,” Hsu said. “He has a good reason for the stuff he talks about.”
“I’m kind of defending him,” Hsu continued. “But I think everything he does speaks for itself.”
By the end of the conversation, even Wilson gave him some credit. He said his first impression was all about the trash talk.
But once he saw the skating, his attitude changed. “Ah, he can say what the f*ck he wants,” Wilson said with a grin.
The whole thing showed that there is still a real divide between how older skaters and younger voices look at things. But no matter which side skateboarders land on, it is clear Gifted Hater has people paying attention.