Jon Ronson and Louis Theroux – friends or foes?
Jon Ronson talks about his former rivalry with fellow documentary-maker Louis Theroux
Documentary-maker Jon Ronson has revealed that he used to reference his former rivalry with Louis Theroux in his work as he did not want to sound like he was “beyond reproach”.
The 55-year-old writer and broadcaster has produced podcasts, programmes and books which tell stories about people on the fringes of society, similar to Theroux’s work.
Speaking on Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, he confirmed he is now friends with Theroux, but at times he stills like to let people know that he feels he was exploring these topics before his fellow filmmaker.
He said: “I’ve never wanted to be high up in some kind of hierarchy. I’ve never wanted to be the representative of righteous society, going into the world of the crazy people and being the right person.
“Like I’m right, they’re wrong. I’ve never wanted to be that. Hence, the fact that I’ve quite often put in my own absurdities into stories.
“In the 1990s, me and Louis though had a bit of a rivalry. And even though it was kind of embarrassing that we had this rivalry I would talk about it because it was so absurd. I used to have this joke on stage that me and Louis were like conjoined twins and for one of us to grow stronger, the other one had to die. But I would deliberately put those things in for that reason, like I didn’t want to be the sensible one who’s beyond reproach.”
Ronson has produced a number of works that investigate controversial figures and groups including his books Them: Adventures With Extremists and So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed.
Theroux has also had a 25-year career. exploring topics from the world of neo-Nazi cults to the Church of Scientology.
Broadcaster Ronson said that he now thinks the world of Theroux following the years of rivalry. He said: “I luckily matured my way out of that destructive thought spiral. And it’s so nice to sit and watch one of Louis’ documentaries and not feel anything other than just joy watching it.”
However, he admitted that at times he has reminded people that he believes he was exploring these topics before Theroux, including one time to a British Embassy member.
He recalled having to call the embassy once when he was being followed by the Bilderberg Group and when they did not understand what he meant by calling himself a humanist journalist, he had to say: “I’m a bit like Louis Theroux”.
Ronson noted that when that provided the embassy with clarity, he told them: “But actually, I was doing it first.”
He joked: “I thought this could be the last conversation I have, I could die, I was going to use my last breaths on earth (for this)”.
The full interview with Jon Ronson on Desert Island Discs will air on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds on Sunday at 11am.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
