Apollo Braun

Doron Braunshtein (born May 2, 1976), better known by his pseudonym Apollo Braun, is an Israeli-born musician, author, and former owner of two boutique shops in the Lower East Side of New York City, both named Apollo Braun.[1] The provocative, politically charged slogans of his self-designed T-shirts brought his boutiques public attention on numerous occasions before the eventual closing of his second boutique in 2009. He released his debut album in 2001 and has since released many more.[2] His song "Party in My Pants" appeared in the soundtrack of the film Religulous.[3] In 2015, Apollo appeared on the Israeli TV show HaKokhav HaBa (English: The Next Star), where he sang two original songs.[4] Braunshtein's music consists primarily of spoken word, and often references or sexualizes celebrities, politicians, and religious figures. He began writing books in 1999 and has since published 7 books in English, and 5 more in his native language Hebrew.[5] The content of his writing includes philosophical essays, plays, poems, and frequently concerns sexuality (Braun is himself openly biseuxal).

Boutiques

In 2003, Braun opened two self-named boutiques in the Lower East Side of New York City. One at St. Marks Place closed in 2004, while the second on Orchard Street remained open until 2009.[6] The boutique garnered attention for its flamboyant provocativity: NYMag described it as a "wonderland for the sexually (and stylishly) uninhibited." [1]

In 2008, Braun released a series of T-shirts with highly provocative slogans concerning presidential candidate Barack Obama, including "Obama = Hitler," "Obama is my Slave," "Jews Against Obama," and "Who Killed Obama?"

In July 2008, Metro New York ran a cover article about a 25-year old Manhattan graduate student who was allegedly assaulted by a group of four teenagers while wearing Braun's "Obama is My Slave" T-shirt.[7] When Braun refused to allow the student to return the $69 shirt, she threatened to bring Braun to court, but never did. The media outlet Gawker later questioned the veracity of the story.[8]

In 2009, Braun closed his last boutique. He denied having financial difficulties, instead telling Racked New York he was "fleeing endless death threats" and that he is "just terrified from big black penises and [is] sure that Obama has a huge black penis." [6]

Discography

Books and plays in English

References

  1. 1 2 "Apollo Braun".
  2. ↑ "Doron Braunshtein - Album Discography - AllMusic".
  3. ↑ "Religulous". 3 October 2008 – via IMDb.
  4. ↑ Mako Israel
  5. ↑ "WorldCat Identitiers".
  6. 1 2 Grinspan, Izzy (15 January 2009). "Discontinued: Apollo Braun Proves There's an Upside to the Recession".
  7. ↑ Metro, N. Y. (25 July 2008). ""Obama Is My Slave" Shirt Sparks Lawsuit Threat In New York".
  8. ↑ Nolan, Hamilton. "Race-Baiting Media Whore Is A Credible Source To One Dumb Paper".

External links

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