Cloud Engineer Fired After Jubilee “Fascist” Comments: Inside Connor Estelle’s Cancel Culture Controversy

The digital world erupted this week when Connor James Estelle, a 24-year-old cloud engineer known online as “Pinesap,” was terminated by employer VeUP following his controversial appearance on Jubilee Media’s debate series. Estelle’s self-proclaimed fascist views during a July 2025 episode featuring journalist Mehdi Hasan ignited fierce debates about political discrimination, cancel culture, and employment consequences for personal beliefs.

Connor Estelle Fired: The Viral Jubilee Interview Fallout

Estelle’s participation in Jubilee’s “Middle Ground” series took a dramatic turn when he openly identified as a fascist and expressed admiration for Francisco Franco’s regime. The episode rapidly gained millions of views, with clips flooding social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter). Within days, VeUP—a cloud solutions provider where Estelle worked since February 2025—terminated his employment. In a statement to The Rift TV, Estelle framed his dismissal as political discrimination: “This is cancel culture in action—punishment for voicing legal traditional right-wing views.”

The fallout intensified when Mehdi Hasan himself tweeted about Estelle’s termination, writing: “This self-proclaimed fascist dude is apparently saying he was fired from his job.” Critics like Julien Hoez countered Estelle’s narrative, highlighting his on-camera statements about being “against free speech” and “fine with people being killed.” VeUP has not issued an official public statement, but screenshots shared by Twitter user Zeke Martinez show a LinkedIn message from the company acknowledging Estelle’s departure “effective immediately.”

Fundraising and Online Backlash: The $17K Safety Net

Facing sudden unemployment, Estelle launched a GiveSendGo campaign with a $15,000 goal to cover living expenses while job hunting. He emphasized its legitimacy in the description: “This is the ONLY legitimate campaign. I will NOT DM or email you asking for money.” The fundraiser surpassed its target within hours, raising $17,656 at the time of writing. Estelle directed supporters to verify the campaign through his X account (@FeelsGuy2003) or via @TheRiftTV.

The online response split sharply along ideological lines. Supporters rallied behind Estelle’s right to free expression, while detractors cited his controversial statements as justification for professional consequences. Digital sleuth Eric Levai uncovered Estelle’s identity and Colorado roots, amplifying the scrutiny. Estelle appeared on The Rift TV to discuss his experience and is scheduled for a podcast interview on July 23, 2025.

Who Is Connor “Pinesap” Estelle? Background and Career Timeline

Education & Early Career:

• Graduated from the University of Denver, Colorado
• Worked as Communications Specialist at Most Precious Blood Catholic Church (June-November 2024)
• Served as Marketing Coordinator at MedGeo Ventures (November 2024-January 2025)

VeUP Tenure:

• Hired as Cloud Engineer in February 2025
• Terminated in July 2025 following Jubilee appearance
• Estimated net worth: $100,000–$150,000 (based on finance/tech roles)

Online Presence:

• X handle: @FeelsGuy2003 (20.1K followers)
• No verified information about marital status or children

This case forces uncomfortable questions about where personal belief ends and professional consequence begins—a cloud engineer’s political comments cost him his livelihood but funded his survival through polarized crowdsourcing. As cancel culture debates intensify, verify facts at Jubilee’s official channel and scrutinize employer policies before expressing contentious views publicly.

Must Know

What did Connor Estelle say on Jubilee?
Estelle identified as a fascist, expressed admiration for Francisco Franco, stated opposition to free speech, and indicated comfort with political violence. These remarks during a debate with Mehdi Hasan went viral, leading to his termination from cloud engineering position at VeUP.

Why was Connor Estelle fired?
VeUP terminated Estelle shortly after his Jubilee appearance went viral. While the company hasn’t publicly detailed reasons, Estelle claims it was due to political discrimination. Critics argue his comments violated professional conduct standards.

Is Connor Estelle’s GiveSendGo legitimate?
Yes, Estelle confirmed his GiveSendGo campaign is the only legitimate fundraiser. He warns against impersonators and advises verification through his X account (@FeelsGuy2003) or via @TheRiftTV. The campaign exceeded its $15K goal.

What is Connor Estelle’s background?
The 24-year-old University of Denver graduate worked in communications and marketing before becoming a cloud engineer at VeUP. His estimated net worth is $100K–$150K. He maintains an active X presence with 20K+ followers.