Criticism of Todd Standing Continues after 'Discovering Bigfoot'

A promotional image of Standing from the 2017 Sasquatch Summit

Criticism of Todd Standing following his documentary Discovering Bigfoot continued last weekend, with some questioning the motives behind the film's creation, along with Standing's efforts to remove videos critical of his work from YouTube.

Cryptozoologist and author Denver Michaels posted a screenshot to The National Cryptid Society's Facebook group on January 19th from Standing's website, sylvanic.com, in which Standing offers "exclusive expeditions" in search of Bigfoot.

"People need to understand the publicity he is getting from these lawsuits is for himself, not 'protecting' Sasquatch," Michaels said.  "Making money is fine; promoting fake movies is his right.  But keep the courts out of it!"

The image was posted along with a quote from Standing which read: “Don’t take my word for it. Come out with me and I will show you a sasquatch in the field,” he said. “I challenge you to come out on an expedition with me in Alberta, in your own backyard, I will show you a sasquatch.”

The National Cryptid Society shared the image, along with a prepared statement, on January 20th.  Their statement called into question Standing's credibility in light of recent events, including the paid tours and requests to remove videos from YouTube that he claimed violated copyright. 

"Food for thought: YouTubers are being hit with copyright infringement removals and strikes from T.S.'s distribution company filing complaints against creators for FAIR USE analysis and reviews of an event that allegedly ACTUALLY HAPPENED.

Meanwhile, T.S. is asking $4800 to go in the field with him on a guided tour of the area.

Also meanwhile, T.S. hopes to use the footage from the documentary as evidence in a Canadian court of law to demand government protection for Sasquatch as a species.

So which is it? Are the Sasquatch in T.S.'s "Discovering Bigfoot" characters in a fictional account and therefore subject to image copyright, or are they living, breathing creatures captured on film for the first time in crystal-clarity; therefore making the event a scientific discovery and images thereof protected by the fair is doctrine and available to use for comment, criticism and /or educational purposes?"

The YouTube channels referenced include Restricted Access, Lordanarts, and Mattsquatch Presents, as reported January 17th.  So far, Restricted Access has rereleased their video on Facebook, as well as having it hosted on The Singular Fortean Society website.

In addition to the civil lawsuit Standing filed in British Columbia's Supreme Court last October, a similar lawsuit to recognize the existence of Bigfoot was filed in early January, 2018, with the State of California.  Standing said he intends to use the footage from his documentary as evidence in court to prove the cryptid's existence.

Neither lawsuit is reportedly being taken seriously by authorities, but both are set to cost the taxpayers of Canada and the United States an undisclosed amount of money in court costs.

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