A Cornell student already under fire for antisemitic remarks claimed a 5G cell tower near his Ithaca apartment was causing headaches and ringing in his head.
A Cornell University student at the center of controversy has now turned his attention to a 5G cell tower, claiming a box outside his new Ithaca apartment is sending harmful radiation into his head just days after his parents forced him out of their Virginia mansion.
On Aug. 2, Austin Franco, 19, posted a late-night rant on X saying his head had been ringing for an hour and that he had a severe headache. He said the device outside his window was emitting radiation at a level he described as far above normal. Franco also said he would not be staying at the apartment much longer and asked whether anyone nearby had a room where he could crash. He added that he would have to absorb the cost and figure out another plan in the meantime.
Franco had launched a GiveSendGo fundraiser on July 29 after saying his parents evicted him because of what they called his “repugnant” views. The campaign quickly drew support from far-right donors and had already brought in more than $10,000. That total came on top of roughly $26,000 from a separate fundraiser titled “Fund Austin Franco after Jewish doxxing,” which was set up by far-right English YouTuber Miles Routledge.
The student’s clash with his family followed a message he sent in June to VryfID’s Jewish co-founders, Gabe and Aiden Einhorn, through the job board site Handshake. Since then, Franco has continued to lean into the attention around his comments and online posts. One donor gave him $100 and wrote that “our oppression as free white men and women calling it out for what it is ends now,” while another $100 contribution came from Lee Whitnum, the 2018 Connecticut Democratic gubernatorial candidate.
“A Cornell student already under fire for antisemitic remarks claimed a 5G cell tower near his Ithaca apartment was causing headaches and ringing in his head.”
Whitnum, who said she has been called antisemitic in the past, compared her own experience to Franco’s and recalled former Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy, then mayor of Stamford, appearing on television to call her antisemitic and deranged. She said she had never made comments about Jews or Israel. Whitnum has also made unsuccessful runs for the Senate and House.
Franco’s parents previously said their son had been influenced by extremist online content and that the beliefs he has expressed are his own. Their comments came as the family split became public after the eviction from the Virginia home, which was described as a $1.75 million mansion.
Psychotherapist Jonathan Alpert, author of Therapy Nation, said the internet can accelerate radicalization by surrounding people with messages that frame anger as justified and enemies as deserving contempt. He also cautioned against blaming the algorithm alone, saying people still make choices about what they embrace and repeat. He said it is troubling that someone like Franco can raise money after becoming notorious, because donations can reward the behavior as much as support the person. For American readers, the story is a reminder of how online extremism, fundraising platforms, and public outrage now collide in plain view — and it shows how quickly hateful behavior can become a spectacle with a price tag.
Frequently asked questions
What did Austin Franco claim about the 5G tower?
Franco said a mysterious 5G box outside his Ithaca apartment was blasting harmful radiation into his brain. He complained of a ringing head and a massive headache.
Why was Franco living away from his parents' home?
He said his parents evicted him from their Virginia mansion because of his repugnant views. His parents said his beliefs were tied to extremist online content.
How much money has Franco raised online?
He had raised more than $10,000 through a GiveSendGo campaign. That was in addition to about $26,000 from a separate fundraiser created by Miles Routledge.
Who defended or supported Franco financially?
Among the donors named were Lee Whitnum, who gave $100, and another donor who gave $100 and praised his remarks. The article also says the fundraisers drew support from far-right supporters.
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