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White Smoke: America's Chemsex Killer

By: Patrick Strudwick
Narrated by: Patrick Strudwick
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  • Summary

  • When the body of a young, gay, Black man, Gemmel Moore, was pulled out of the West Hollywood apartment of Ed Buck - a white, millionaire donor to the Democratic party — the coroner called it an accidental overdose. The police didn’t arrest Buck. And the media refused to report on it.

    But just 18 months later, when a second Black man, Timothy Dean, was found dead in the same apartment from the same drug, the police still didn’t arrest Buck, sparking a series of terrifying questions. Why was Buck still free when two men had died in his home surrounded by drugs? How much were his wealth and political connections protecting him? And how many more men might have been harmed in that apartment?

    In White Smoke: America’s Chemsex Killer, investigative journalist Patrick Strudwick uncovers the secret world behind this explosive Hollywood scandal. Through original reporting, we discover how a cocktail of power, racism, sexual exploitation, and drug abuse had been detonating in Buck’s apartment for years. And how it’s connected to a wider chemsex scene playing out in queer communities all around the world — one that provides the perfect hunting ground for predators.

    But those communities are fighting back. In this series, we meet the men who lived a nightmare inside Buck’s apartment, the friends of the men who died, and the activists who triggered a movement to get Buck off the streets.

    White Smoke: America's Chemsex Killer is a Whistledown Production for Audible.
    ©2023 Patrick Strudwick (P)2023 Audible Originals, LLC
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LGBTQ+ Studies Murder
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Episodes
  • Trailer

    Trailer
    Apr 27 2023

    When the body of a young, gay, Black man, Gemmel Moore, was pulled out of the West Hollywood apartment of Ed Buck - a white, millionaire donor to the Democratic party - the coroner called it an accidental overdose. The police didn’t arrest Buck. And the media refused to report on it.

    But just 18 months later, when a second Black man, Timothy Dean, was found dead in the same apartment from the same drug, the police still didn’t arrest Buck, sparking a series of terrifying questions. Why was Buck still free when two men had died in his home surrounded by drugs? How much were his wealth and political connections protecting him? And how many more men might have been harmed in that apartment?

    In White Smoke: America’s Chemsex Killer, investigative journalist Patrick Strudwick uncovers the secret world behind this explosive Hollywood scandal. Through original reporting, we discover how a cocktail of power, racism, sexual exploitation, and drug abuse had been detonating in Buck’s apartment for years. And how it’s connected to a wider chemsex scene playing out in queer communities all around the world - one that provides the perfect hunting ground for predators.

    But those communities are fighting back. In this series, we meet the men who lived a nightmare inside Buck’s apartment, the friends of the men who died, and the activists who triggered a movement to get Buck off the streets.

    White Smoke: America's Chemsex Killer is a Whistledown Production for Audible.
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    4 mins
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  • Episode 1: Escape

    Episode 1: Escape
    May 4 2023
    Los Angeles, 2019. When a drugged Black man escapes the home of Ed Buck — a white, gay millionaire donor to the Democratic party — his only thought is survival. But by fleeing and phoning 911, the man sets in motion a dramatic chain of events that uncovers many more victims and an entire secret world of sex, meth, and racist predators.
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    34 mins
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  • Episode 2: Gemmel

    Episode 2: Gemmel
    May 4 2023
    The first man to die in Ed Buck’s apartment from a meth overdose was a 26-year-old gay Black man named Gemmel Moore. But Buck was not arrested and the media didn’t pay much attention. His friends and family feared that Gemmel’s race, sexuality and class meant that no one in power would care — and that the wealth, whiteness and political influence of Buck was stopping the police from investigating. So they launched a protest movement that makes Ed Buck an international news story.
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    1 hr
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About the Creator and Performer - Patrick Strudwick

About the Creator and Performer

Patrick Strudwick is a multi-award-winning investigative journalist from London. In 2015, after years writing for several leading newspapers, he became the first LGBTQIA+ specialist reporter in a British newsroom when he was appointed LGBTQIA+ Editor of BuzzFeed UK. In addition to his groundbreaking investigations into conversion therapy, Patrick's reporting on chemsex and the crimes surrounding it has led the way internationally-and in 2019 he presented and produced a film for Britain's Channel 4 about the drug GHB being used to rape and kill gay men.
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What listeners say about White Smoke: America's Chemsex Killer

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Profile Image for Jenny

A difficult story told with empathy

This isn’t an easy listen, the trigger warnings are there for a reason. I admit that I had to push myself to work through the series but I’m so glad I did. This feels like an important story which is told with care and empathy. As the narrator says at one point, this isn’t about judging a lifestyle but about the vulnerable men who were exploited within it. Extraordinary.

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An important story

..... told with respect and compassion.
More than recommend. A hard listen that must be heard.

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Very moving

It was a very sad subject but necessary for people to know and understand.

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Important journalism

A hard listen but sensitively handled by the journalist. It’s mind boggling what some people will do to others. My love to those who lost their lives and their families and friends. I hope this podcast will bring light to what happened and help inform others of the dangers.

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Superb

Incredible Podcast.
The dark side of the depravity of man and drugs is shown in all its debased glory.
The best Podcast I have ever listened to.
A World few are in and few leave.
Not for the faint hearted.

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Essential listening

The best podcast I’ve listened to in ages. Patrick did an excellent job at sensitively handling a dark story with a heavy subject matter. The contributions are honest and moving. I was left with a number of emotions but there is an overwhelming sense of respect for all those who spoke out and helped stop Ed Buck.

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A hard but necessary listen

This podcasts content was shocking, upsetting and harrowing to listen to. As a white privaled Christian lady I was deeply moved by the dignity, bravery and strength of victims of these horrific crimes and I praise Patrick Strudwick and team and all involved for bringing this tragic , continuing injustice to the fore in an informative, professional and sensitive way which was not an easy task with the nature of its content..I pray it's legacy is that it helps the worldwide Black LGBTQ+ community to be aware of the dangers of chemsex and all that's associated with it and that authorities wak up to the meet for prevention and intervention! I applaud all involved in producing this brilliant piece of journalism

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Heartbreaking.

Thank you for sharing this podcast. Buck is a Monster. Thinking about those who lost their lives their families and friends. Sending love and support to all those who suffered and continue to live through the suffering he caused. To those who came forward you truly are heroes. Stand tall with pride for speaking out. x

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a Harrowing Story Brilliantly Told

This is such a compelling listen, well-paced and sensitivity narrated by the writer himself who is clearly passionate about telling this important story. PLEASE NOTE: This is a difficult listen with explicit discussion of sex, drug addiction and racism. These subjects iare handled adeptly and those interviewed are treated with kindness and respect.

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The weaponising of meth

Patrick is thorough, fair, considered and most of all compassionate. This is a masterpiece of investigative journalism.The braveness of the witnesses and families and friends of Buck’s victims finally brought justice.Highly Recommend

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