What is the John Barr video?

An experiment with AI Chatbots

What is the John Barr Video?

Each episode of my Manchester Arena Incident series opens with a clipped segment from camera phone footage which has become known as “The John Barr video.” It is an important piece of primary evidence which exposes holes in the official narrative of the Manchester Arena Incident.

The best commentary I have found about the John Barr video is by “UK Critical Thinker” (UKCT) who was quick off the mark in collecting a great deal of publicly accessible evidence in 2017-2019. UKCT no longer produces material for an Internet audience, having exited the scene in early 2020, but I recently attempted to make contact with him by email to ask permission to upload his video to Substack. As yet, I have not received a reply, but all of his work is now archived and available on the RichPlanetTV website.

UK Critical Thinker: Show Ref 836 “The Video”

In Show Ref 836* (entitled “Manchester Arena Bombing, The Video”) UKCT gives us the low-down on the John Barr video, including a full, unedited run-through of the 43-second footage, as well as information of when and where it was uploaded to the Internet, and why it is of such importance as a piece of primary evidence.

*UPDATE: RichPlanetTV has removed this video, so I have uploaded it to Odysee and Substack. See my next post “Saving the John Barr video” for links.

After re-watching it recently, I then tried to distil the essence of the John Barr video into succinct, accurate sentence which I could trot out to people unfamiliar with this particular piece of evidence. It wasn’t an easy exercise, and after struggling with it for a while, I had the idea of feeding a question about it to an AI chatbot.

Being unfamiliar with this new tool, the first thing I did was pull up a list of potential online AI bots via a search engine. To my surprise, it returned a fantastic number of results, many dozen, possibly hundreds. I had no idea it was such a huge industry. And so, I selected a few at random, and had a fun 20 minutes or so feeding them the following question:

“What is the John Barr Manchester Arena video?”

The results were an education, ranging from Babbling Baloney (I’m looking at you, ChatGPT) to Bang on the Money, complete with accurate references to active links from RichPlanetTV and articles by Iain Davis. You can try it for yourself, but here’s a sample of five results, from worst to best. I present the results verbatim from the ChatBot – emphasis (bold italics) added by me.

Disclaimer: I do not endorse any of the following sites - it is just a fun exercise.

Out to Lunch: Merlin, DuckDuckGo and ChatGPT

Merlin, Duck,DuckGo and Chat GPT are all powered by “ChatGPT 4o mini”. Their replies differ, but they all generate random yammer from Cloud-Cuckoo Land, and none of them offer any links to references.

Merlin

Merlin’s 1st answer: “The "Manchester Arena John Barr video" refers to footage featuring John Barr, a member of the venue's security staff, who was on duty during the tragic” [no further text]

2^nd answer: “The "Manchester Arena John Barr video" refers to a video featuring John Barr, a British businessman, speaking about the aftermath of the Manchester Arena” [no further text]

Duck-Duck-Go

“The John Barr Manchester Arena video refers to a viral video featuring John Barr, a journalist, who was reporting live from the Manchester Arena shortly after the tragic bombing that occurred during an Ariana Grande concert on May 22, 2017. In the video, Barr is seen delivering a report while being interrupted by the chaotic scene around him, including emergency responders and distressed concertgoers. The video gained attention for its raw portrayal of the aftermath of the attack and the challenges faced by journalists covering such events. It highlights the emotional impact of the incident and the importance of accurate reporting in times of crisis.”

Chat GPT

Chat GPT: “The John Barr Manchester Arena video refers to a controversial clip that surfaced following the tragic bombing at the Manchester Arena in May 2017. In the video, John Barr, a journalist, expressed strong emotions and criticisms regarding the coverage of the attack and the media's handling of the situation. The video garnered attention for its raw and unfiltered perspective, highlighting themes of grief, loss, and the impact of such tragic events on communities. If you're looking for more specific details or context, feel free to ask!”

Me: Give me more specific details and context about the John Barr video.

Chat GPT: “The John Barr video emerged in the wake of the Manchester Arena bombing, which occurred on May 22, 2017, during an Ariana Grande concert, resulting in 22 fatalities and many injuries. In the video, Barr, who identifies himself as a journalist, expresses his outrage at the media coverage and the way the tragedy was reported. He criticizes the sensationalism often associated with such events and emphasizes the importance of focusing on the human impact rather than just the news cycle.

Barr's passionate delivery resonated with many viewers, as he called for compassion and understanding in the face of tragedy. His remarks served as a reminder of the personal stories behind the statistics and the need for sensitivity in reporting.

The video sparked discussions about the responsibilities of journalists and the ethical considerations surrounding coverage of traumatic events. Barr's candid emotions struck a chord, leading to widespread sharing on social media and prompting conversations about media ethics and the portrayal of victims. If you’re interested in more specific reactions or discussions that followed, let me know!”

Close, but no cigar: NinjaTech AI

NinjaTech starts well, but trips up in the second paragraph by confusing the John Barr video with a similar video which was shown during the BBC documentary “The Night of the Bomb.” Brownie points to Ninja for supplying links to accurate references, including the UKCT video on RichPlanetTV mentioned above, and an article by Iain Davis published on The Burning Platform entitled “The Manchester Arena False Flag”.

NinjaTech AI

“John Barr's Manchester Arena Video: Unreleased and Shrouded in Controversy

John Barr's unofficial video of the Manchester Arena attack has not been shown to the public, sparking controversy and questions about its contents 1. The video, taken minutes after the blast, allegedly shows no damage to the building or broken glass, according to Mr. Hall's written evidence 234.

Despite efforts to obtain the video through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, the source cannot be revealed, as journalism is not covered under the FOI Act 5. This has led to speculation and conspiracy theories surrounding the attack, with some claiming that the attack was staged 6.

It is worth noting that John Barr did film the scene and posted it on social media, providing a documentary record of the physical evidence observable in the aftermath of the attack 9. However, the unreleased video remains a topic of interest and debate, with many seeking answers about its contents and why it has not been made public.”

Runner-Up: Felo.AI

Not a bad account, with accurate references and photos, including RichPlanetTV and the UKCT video.

Felo.ai

“The John Barr Manchester Arena video refers to footage filmed by John Barr during the aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing on May 22, 2017. This incident occurred at an Ariana Grande concert and resulted in the tragic deaths of 22 people and injuries to over a thousand others.

Key Points about the Video:

Content and Context: Barr's video captures the scene shortly after the explosion. It has been described as unofficial and has not been widely shown to the public. The footage reportedly shows a lack of visible damage, injuries, or urgent activity typically expected in the aftermath of such a serious incident. (2, 3)

Controversy: The video has become a focal point in discussions surrounding conspiracy theories about the bombing. Richard Hall, a former television producer, has claimed in court that the video supports his assertion that the bombing was staged and that there was no bomb or genuine injuries. He argues that the video shows no signs of chaos or emergency response, which he believes contradicts the official narrative of the event. (4, 5, 8)

Legal Proceedings: Hall is currently involved in a civil harassment trial brought by survivors of the bombing, who dispute his claims and assert that the attack was real and devastating. The legal case has highlighted the contentious nature of the video and the broader implications of conspiracy theories surrounding the bombing. (5, 8)

In summary, the John Barr Manchester Arena video is significant not only for its content but also for its role in ongoing debates about the legitimacy of the bombing and the narratives surrounding it.”

And the winner is… Perplexity

Perplexity gives the most accurate, detailed, balanced and useful account of the John Barr video. Overall a better summary than Felo.ai, and hat-tip to Perplexity for the use of the term “alternative theories” rather than “conspiracy theories”.

Images from Perplexity

Perplexity

“The John Barr video is a controversial piece of footage related to the Manchester Arena bombing incident that occurred on May 22, 2017. (1) (4).

This video, which has not been widely shown to the public, has become a subject of debate and speculation regarding the events of that night. (4)

According to some claims, the video was reportedly taken minutes after the blast at Manchester Arena. (2, 3) Proponents of alternative theories about the incident suggest that this footage shows no apparent damage to the building or broken glass, which they argue is inconsistent with the official account of the bombing. (2, 3)

It's important to note that the interpretation and significance of this video are highly contested. While some individuals, like Richard D. Hall, have used the John Barr footage to support claims challenging the official narrative of the Manchester Arena attack (5), these assertions are not accepted by mainstream sources or official investigations.

The video remains a point of contention, with some viewing it as potential evidence of inconsistencies in the official account, while others dismiss such claims as unfounded conspiracy theories. As of 2024, the debate surrounding the John Barr video and its implications continues to be a topic of discussion among those interested in the Manchester Arena incident.”

So, that’s it. There are many more AI chatbots to try, but I think this selection gives a good flavour of what’s on offer. It will be interesting to try the experiment again following the Hibbert v Hall judgement to see if the results change.