Crime & justice

Judge Revokes Bond of 'Chud the Builder'

Does Chud the Builder represent the spread of racism or did political tribalism create the "chud" identity?

Published JUN 18

Judge Revokes Bond of 'Chud the Builder'

Story

Above: The Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville on July 17, 2022. Image credit: Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Getty Images

The Facts

Davidson County, Tenn., Judge Melissa Blackburn revoked the bond of Dalton Eatherly, known online as "Chud the Builder," on Wednesday at a hearing held at the Justice A.A. Birch Criminal Justice Building in Nashville.
TMZ
The Tennessean
Eatherly had been released on a $1,000 bond in Davidson County on charges of theft of services, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest after police say he walked out on a restaurant tab of nearly $400. His later arrest in a Clarksville shooting case violated the bond's conditions.
WZTV
TMZ
Blackburn said her decision to revoke the bond was "based on what I've seen on social media and Mr. Eatherly's behavior." Eatherly is set to appear before a Nashville judge on July 26 and will be returned to the Montgomery County Jail.
WZTV
News Channel 5 Nashville
The May 13 shooting occurred outside the Montgomery County Courthouse in Clarksville, where Joshua Fox — a disabled veteran and father of three — had arrived with his wife for a child support hearing. Seven shell casings were recovered from the scene.
News Channel 5 Nashville
The Times of India
Fox was transported by helicopter to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he underwent emergency surgery. Eatherly also sustained a gunshot wound to his arm and now faces charges including attempted murder, carrying a potential sentence of more than 60 years.
The Times of India
News Channel 5 Nashville
More than $300,000 was donated to Eatherly via a GiveSendGo account following his arrest. Montgomery County Judge Bill Goodman capped the amount each bond company can contribute as collateral at $100,000, meaning Eatherly would require 10 bondsmen to cover his $1 million bond.
Reuters
News Channel 5 Nashville

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

Chud the Builder spent years livestreaming racist harassment of Black people, and his arrest for attempted murder is the inevitable result of that behavior. Hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations from online racists went toward bankrolling someone who ultimately shot himself along with his victim. This is what happens when hate gets a platform and a fanbase.

Power to the People on X

Jared Holt on X

Narrative B

Chud the Builder is responsible for his own behavior, but his rise also reflects a broader cycle of polarization. For years, left-wing influencers used "chud" as a catch-all slur for ordinary working-class men with unfashionable views, encouraging a culture of ridicule rather than persuasion. This background should help explain how extreme identities can be reinforced and embraced online.

Theory Underground on Substack