Greg Mortensen’s book and charity is a lie
Published: April 18, 2020
Greg Mortensen has sold millions of copies of his book Three Cups of Tea and raised millions for his charity Central Asia Support, and incidentally made millions for himself as well, whilst becoming a household name.
However, after 60 Minutes broadcast last night, his stories, that were said to be based on his experiences, appear to have more in common with bullshit.
“It’s a beautiful story, and it’s a lie,” said Jon Krakauer, author of the excellent Into The Wild who was bamboozled into backing the charity with $75,000 of his own money.
Mortenson claims that he attempted to climb to the summit of the second tallest mountain on earth, was then nursed back to health in a small village in Pakistan before being rudely kidnapped by the Taliban for eight days. (It’s not two weeks in Cancun with a free trip to Aquaworld thrown in.)
So is Mortensen a philanthropist, with a penchant for story telling gone a bit wayward; or is he a bullshitting swindler concealing his heinous duplicity behind a beneficial cause?
60 Minutes researchers found there was no recovery visit to Korphe (in Pakistan); they talked to the men Mortensen claims kidnapped him (and whose photographs were published in the book) who denied being in the Taliban and further denied the alleged kidnapping, but could produce a photo of the author posing with them whilst holding an AK-47.
Ok, so he’s exaggerated the truth a little and fabricated an anecdote or two in the name of storytelling – that’s what writers do, yeah. But at least he used some of his gains to improve the lives of others and benefit his charity.
Mortenson refused to be interviewed by 60 Minutes although he did release a statement to the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, denying allegations that he was a dirty charlatan misrepresenting the truth in order to make money and renown for himself in the guise of philanthropy.
What a shit human being!
Please leave a comment with your thoughts on Mortensen’s lies.
Read about some more honest explorers and writers like Richard Branson, Ernest Hemingway, Ernest Shackleton, Yuri Gagarin and Eddie Aikau.
images: flickr.com; plantwhateverbringsyoujoy.com
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julie
27. Apr, 2011
Here is another report from a very reputable news agency:
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/04/24/112726/us-authorities-probe-facts-of.html
Ryan Campbell
21. Apr, 2011
As someone who has worked in media for over 10 years, I have seen a lot of embellishment and construction to give a story a certain slant. 60 Minutes and CBS certainly do their share (remember Dan Rather?) But if you do read supporting information surrounding this controversy, such as Jon Krakauer’s piece it really paints a potrait of a man who appears to lie and manipulate. I swallowed Greg’s story hook, line and sinker because I wanted to believe that it could be possible. Did I think it was overdramatized? Of course, but that’s just a writers’ prerogative…I still think the man deserves some credit for what he has done and think that the CAI shouldn’t be dissolved. However, I think it behooves Mr. Mortensen to come clean, step down as director and allow the CAI to perform its mandate.
Michael Albert
18. Apr, 2011
While I have no first-hand information, for my money I’m still betting on (and donating to) Mortensen’s organization. It’s quite possible that his tale of being lost on K2 is fictionalized, and as a newly established organization they will make a few mistakes, but Mortensen’s organization is one of the few which will work in places where one can have “friendly” meetings with people who will let you pose with their AK-47′s, so unless there are more significant revelations I will still support his group.
Sea Chan
18. Apr, 2011
So called journalist Steve Kroft should be ashamed of himself. I know paparazzo like to build their careers through slandering the struggles and lifework of others, but he’s attacking a person who has devoted his life to impoverished children now? Honestly, pundits/douche-bags like him should stick to the tabloids. It is far too dangerous to let this breed of half-hearted researchers and so called reporting to influence legitimate mainstream news… otherwise nowadays 60minutes is all it takes to potentially ruin decades of hard work and progress.
Mary Ann Milinazzo
18. Apr, 2011
I think someone should do an expose on 60 minutes. I do not believe their story. Yes, Mortensen may have embellished, but I don’t really believe 60 minutes talked to many of the people in the book who have benefited from his work in Pakistan and Afghanistan. I do not believe that 60 Minutes truly did an in-depth study of the situation.