Base Creator Jesse Pollak Apologizes After Backlash Over Controversial “Pimping” Art Post

Base, the Ethereum layer-2 network incubated by Coinbase, found itself in hot water after its creator, Jesse Pollak, came under fire for resharing a controversial piece of digital artwork featuring the phrase “Base is for pimping.”

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on April 18, Pollak publicly apologized for resharing the art, acknowledging it was a misstep and taking full responsibility.

“It was a single phrase among many, but I’ll own this was a mistake and apologize,” Pollak wrote.

The animated GIF, created by an independent artist, featured the tagline “Base is for…” followed by a rotating list of words — some innocuous, like “minting,” “ideas,” and “art,” but others, such as “pimping” and “squirting,” triggered widespread backlash for being inappropriate and offensive.

Community Reaction: “This Isn’t Provocative — It’s Regressive”

The crypto community was quick to respond. Many commentators, while generally supportive of bold creativity in the Web3 space, argued the specific inclusion of terms like "pimping" crossed a line.

“So we’re just casually platforming pimping now?” wrote crypto influencer Kristel. “I get pushing boundaries, but this isn’t it.”

Kanto Labs founder called the situation an “absolute PR nightmare,” while journalist David Z. Morris criticized the implicit messaging:

“This doesn’t just hurt Base, it hurts crypto,” Morris wrote. “The specific allusion to sex trafficking — not ‘sex work’ — is particularly damaging for a sector that’s working to prove its legitimacy and social value.”

Source: Jesse Pollak

Pollak: I Support Art, But Should Have Been More Careful

Pollak clarified that while he values provocative digital art and wants to support independent creators building on Base, he understands the impact of sharing such content — especially when it appears to come directly from him as a leader in the space.

“The artwork wasn’t mine, but I chose to reshare it — and I should have known better,” Pollak said. “I appreciate edgy, thought-provoking content, but I also have to be thoughtful about how it’s perceived by the broader public.”

Some users praised Pollak for his openness and willingness to admit fault. David Hoffman of Bankless said, “I respect the leadership here,” while Zuri, a fellow crypto creator, added: “We all make mistakes, but it’s about how we grow from them.”

More Base Controversy: The “Base is for Everyone” Token

This is the second PR controversy for Base in recent days. Earlier this week, the official Base X account shared a post linking to a tokenized post titled “Base is for everyone” on Zora — a social Web3 platform where posts are automatically minted as tokens.

Within an hour of launch, the token skyrocketed to a $17.1 million market cap — only to plummet by nearly 90% to $1.9 million, according to DEX Screener data.

Coinbase quickly clarified that it had no involvement with the token itself.

“Base did not launch a token,” a Coinbase spokesperson told Cointelegraph on April 17. “This is not an official Base token, and Base did not sell this token. Base posted on Zora, which automatically tokenizes content.”

Bigger Picture: Balancing Art, Messaging, and Responsibility

As crypto platforms like Base increasingly intersect with mainstream culture, creators and leaders are being held to higher standards — not just for technical execution, but also for the messages they endorse.

Pollak’s apology was well-received by some, but the incident highlights the tightrope public figures in crypto must walk between creative freedom and cultural sensitivity, especially in an industry still fighting for mass acceptance.

“Base is for everyone” — but the message has to resonate with everyone, too.