Innocence of Muslims
Nakoula has been identified as a key figure behind "Innocence of Muslims", an anti-Islamic video posted on YouTube that disparages Islam's prophet Muhammad, and that has been blamed for sparking demonstrations and riots in the Middle East, North Africa, and other regions. After protests against "Innocence of Muslims" began on 11 September 2012, a man who identified himself as "Sam Bacile", the YouTube poster of the videos, called the Associated Press and "The Wall Street Journal". He claimed he had produced a movie titled "Innocence of Muslims", which was being promoted on YouTube. He falsely claimed the movie had been funded by $5 million collected from 100 Jewish donors, and that he himself was an Israeli Jew.