Man Arrested for Threatening to Kill Babylon Bee Founder Seth Dillon
Florida authorities have arrested 28-year-old Nicholas Ray for allegedly making death threats against Babylon Bee founder Seth Dillon, marking a troubling escalation in politically motivated threats targeting conservative media figures.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the arrest on Tuesday, revealing that his Office of Statewide Prosecution was alerted last week to “multiple death threats made to Jewish conservative media members who live in Florida.” Prosecutors quickly secured an arrest warrant, and Ray was taken into custody without incident.
Ray, known online by the handle “zionistarescum,” now faces serious charges, including extortion, written threats to kill, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device. According to law enforcement, one of Ray’s messages directly threatened Dillon’s life.
A review of Ray’s alleged online activity revealed a disturbing pattern of posts attacking Israel, President Donald Trump, and prominent Republican figures. The arrest comes amid an alarming wave of political violence across the country.
Just days before the arrest, Dillon had authored a piece for the Free Press warning against the dangerous rhetoric and dehumanization fueling ideological extremism. “We all need to take a hard look in the mirror,” Dillon wrote, urging restraint and respect across the political divide.
Founded in 2016, the Babylon Bee has grown into a cultural phenomenon, boasting over 2.2 million followers on Instagram and more than 5 million on X. The satirical site is known for poking fun at progressive politics and woke culture, often drawing the ire of tech platforms and liberal watchdogs.
Before Elon Musk purchased Twitter in 2022, Dillon’s account was suspended over a satirical post targeting USA Today’s “Woman of the Year” selection. Musk later reinstated the account and lifted similar bans on several other conservative users.
More recently, the Babylon Bee secured a legal victory against a California law that sought to restrict so-called “deep fake” political content. After prevailing in court, the Bee’s attorney hailed the ruling as a win for free speech, stating, “The court was right to rein in California’s blatant censorship.”
The arrest of Ray comes amid growing concerns about politically charged violence nationwide. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) announced Tuesday that he will convene a Senate hearing to examine the rise in attacks targeting public figures.
“This summer alone, we’ve seen the murder of two Democrat lawmakers in Minnesota and the assassination of Turning Point’s Charlie Kirk,” Schmitt said. “The rise of political violence on the left is deeply disturbing and antithetical to American values.”