The Ohio State University’s (OSU) recent commencement ceremony took an unexpected and controversial turn when the guest speaker, Chris Pan, an OSU alum and self-described social entrepreneur, delivered a speech heavily promoting Bitcoin and engaging in unusual behavior.
The speech, which Pan claimed he wrote under the influence of ayahuasca, a psychedelic brew from South America, was met with boos and groans from the audience of 60,000 graduates and guests.
TLDR
- Chris Pan, a social entrepreneur and OSU alum, gave a controversial commencement speech at Ohio State University, where he heavily promoted Bitcoin and engaged in unusual behavior like singing and encouraging dancing.
- Pan claimed he wrote the speech under the influence of ayahuasca, a psychedelic brew, and referred to it as “AI (Ayahuasca Intelligence)”.
- The speech was met with boos and groans from the audience of 60,000 graduates and guests, with many criticizing Pan for promoting his business and not providing an inspiring message.
- Pan later acknowledged there was a “misunderstanding” and apologized, stating he was trying to share “truth” about stopping wars and bloodshed.
- Tragically, a person died after falling from the stands during the ceremony, adding to the controversy surrounding the event.
According to reports, Pan began his speech by encouraging the crowd to keep an open mind, before launching into a pro-Bitcoin rant. “I see Bitcoin as a very misunderstood asset class,” he said, praising the cryptocurrency’s decentralized and finite nature.
His comments were quickly met with boos and groans from the audience, with one attendee heard saying, “This is embarrassing.”
Pan’s unconventional approach extended beyond his Bitcoin promotion. At one point, he walked away from the lectern and sang a karaoke rendition of the song “What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes, further perplexing the crowd. He also reportedly attempted to encourage the audience to dance along to music.
In the lead-up to the event, Pan had taken to LinkedIn to acknowledge that he had written the speech with the help of what he called “AI (Ayahuasca Intelligence),” referring to the psychedelic substance ayahuasca.
This revelation drew criticism from many who felt that a commencement speech should be focused on inspiring and uplifting the graduates, rather than promoting personal business interests or agendas.
Crowd reactions to pro-bitcoin remarks at OSU's commencement are telling. Bitcoin is a brand. And to this audience, an annoying or possible grifty one.pic.twitter.com/HinpbdMEup
— Andrew M. Bailey (@resistancemoney) May 6, 2024
Following the controversial speech, Pan faced backlash from attendees and OSU alumni, with some expressing disappointment and embarrassment over the situation.
One graduate commented, “I’m extremely upset I didn’t get a better speech. It was clear you were just trying to promote your business and didn’t care about providing a good message for the graduates.”
In the aftermath, Pan acknowledged that there had been a “misunderstanding” and apologized for making people feel the way they did.
He also claimed that he was trying to share “truth so we stop funding wars” and “stop the bloodshed,” though the connection between his Bitcoin promotion and these broader goals was unclear.
Christopher Pan mentions #Bitcoin at @OhioState during the Ohio State University 2024 Spring Commencement. You can hear the crowd's reaction. We are so very early.
full speech can be found here https://t.co/R3eRRF2EAU pic.twitter.com/gHDZhrnqvC
— Columbus Bitcoin PhD (@ColumbusBitcoin) May 5, 2024
Adding to the controversy surrounding the event, a tragic incident occurred during the ceremony, with reports of a person falling from the stands and dying.
Some felt that the decision to continue the ceremony without acknowledging the situation was distasteful, further compounding the negative perception of the event.
