Josh Liljenquist, a social media influencer dedicated to spreading kindness and helping others, has millions of followers.
However, despite his efforts to help the homeless, Liljenquist was briefly banned from St. Paul parks. The ban was rescinded but has damaged his reputation—as he explained to Liz Collin on her podcast.
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Back in April, Liljenquist was banned from St. Paul city parks and recreation properties after he was accused of “disturbing the peace and park operations” and supposedly harassing, recording, and profiting from vulnerable adults without their permission. He received a notification by text that he would be banned for 180 days.
“When I got the text, I thought it was a scam … I’m like, it’s a joke … It was never brought to my attention by anybody from the parks or from sheriffs, police, nobody. Just came out of left field,” he added.
Liljenquist asked for an attorney to attend the hearing with the city. He recorded the conversation.
That’s when Liljenquist learned the actions by the city were all based on anonymous complaints. He also pointed out in the hearing that he has permission first from anyone who he records on camera.
‘Still confused to this day’
The ban went into effect on April 6 and was eventually rescinded on April 22 after Liljenquist denied the allegations and appealed.
He also mentioned how the ban left him curious about the evidence and confused about the accusations: “I still to this day am really confused as to everything in the letter … And then I get half a year from every city park. It doesn’t make any sense to me,” Liljenquist said.
He also added that with due process, “you’re supposed to give me, I mean, at least something that I can respond to, a name, a date, a time, something. And I never received anything.”
The damage to his reputation was done
After Liljenquist pleaded his case, St. Paul officials reversed their decision and rescinded the ban against him. But in many ways, the damage to his reputation—perhaps the most important asset for a social media influencer—was already done.
Headlines published by numerous media outlets, from local Twin Cities news stations to national outlets like People, mentioned in some way that Liljenquist “harassed” vulnerable adults and homeless people or was taking advantage of them.
“I’ve lost a lot of partnerships and a lot of opportunities,” he said.
And while the ban may have been temporary and rescinded, the damage to Liljenquist’s reputation has been lasting.
“When you look my name up now, that’s all you see. I’m being accused of harassing homeless people … I knew there was no substance because I would never harass anybody,” he said.
Liljenquist gives back to injured firefighter featured on Liz Collin Reports
Despite the damage to his reputation, Liljenquist remains undeterred and committed to helping others.
He also spoke about his efforts to help Tom Bever, a retired St. Paul fire captain, and his family. As featured in an episode of Liz Collin Reports, Bever was injured in the line of duty. Instead of getting help, he had to battle with Minnesota bureaucracy. The lack of help left Bever with little choice but to move his family into a barn so he could afford to pay the staggering medical bills.
After hearing about the story of Bever and his family, Liljenquist took action and decided to help.
In speaking about what happened to Bever, Liljenquist said, “It was wrong. It wasn’t fair. He didn’t get what he deserved. First responders go through a lot. They see a lot. They deal with a lot mentally. I know that because my dad was in the fire department for 18 years.”
“I know he battles with anxiety, mental health. And he never got physically injured on the job. But if he would have, I would hope that they would pay for the damage that he got during the job. And I would hope everybody else would feel the same way,” Liljenquist added.
Carrying on a family tradition of kindness
For Liljenquist, caring and kindness have been an important part of a family tradition.
He told Collin about how his grandfather would help others by fixing plumbing or HVAC problems free of charge to those who couldn’t afford to pay.
Liljenquist explained that when he was younger, he would help his grandfather, and it influenced him more recently to help others and lift their spirits.
“It started around COVID time. I did some stuff with my dad and was just messing around. And then I found that I have a deep passion for … making people feel some sort of emotion … Then I started to see money coming, and I’m like, well how could I turn this into something that could also benefit other people, not just myself?” Liljenquist said.
“So I started just giving money away and I saw other people who were doing it as well. And so I drew inspiration from them,” he added.
“People were messaging me. I got emails, people in the comments were saying, you inspired me to go out and do something,” Liljenquist said. “And the feeling that you got knowing that you inspire somebody to go out there and do something good for somebody else is a feeling that you can’t really explain. It’s a beautiful thing.”
Liz Collin
Liz Collin is a multi-Emmy-Award-winning investigative reporter, news anchor, and producer who cares about Minnesota. She is the producer of The Fall of Minneapolis and Minnesota v We the People documentary films, and author of the Amazon best-selling book, They’re Lying: The Media, the Left, and The Death of George Floyd. Her work has prompted important state laws. Yet perhaps most of all, Liz has been giving a voice to the truth—and helping others tell their stories—for more than 20 years.
Dr. JC Chaix
Dr. JC Chaix is an editor, educator, and an expert in media studies. He wrote and directed the Alpha News documentary "The Fall of Minneapolis" and "Minnesota v We the People."
