Ben Roberts-Smith has collaborated with a gym supplements company run by a right-wing influencer which recently sold a pre-workout product called âwar crimesâ. Roberts-Smith, one of Australiaâs most decorated living soldiers who is currently awaiting trial on war crimes charges, has recently launched an apparel brand, Epic 1 Two, producing t-shirts and gym wear.In October, he also appeared in a social media video collaboration between his brand and Zero Limits supplements, co-owned by right-wing podcaster and fitness coach Chris Katelaris, also known as âBig Chockyâ.Roberts-Smith, Katelaris and others were filmed during a gym workout, with on-screen graphics reading âZero Limits Supplements x Epic 1 Twoâ.
Both brands were labelled âcollaboratorsâ on the video, which is also published on the Instagram grids of both brands.Months earlier, Zero Limits had repeatedly posted online about a product titled âwar crimesâ, an energy supplement in the flavour âkill or capture colaâ. Its label depicted a hooded captive on a chair in a room with an Australian flag on the wall, and a tall figure wearing a balaclava and military-style clothing.In a video on 26 July, Katelaris promoted the product while holding a tub at the gym.âYou wanna drink out of a prosthetic leg?
You wanna re-enact a Sparta kick? You wanna execute your workout?â he said.âWar crimes, itâs the pre-workout for you.âZero Limits, which says it is âveteran owned and operatedâ, does not currently list the âwar crimesâ product on its website, and Roberts-Smith is not shown endorsing, referencing or using that particular product.The former soldier has praised another product from Zero Limits, posting an Instagram story â since shared by the brand â from Epic 1 Twoâs Instagram page of himself drinking a separate pre-workout drink.Roberts-Smith gave the brand a âmassive shout outâ and told followers to âget on their website and take a lookâ, sharing a link to its website.
Roberts-Smith also last week appeared on the Zero Limits podcast, hosted by another founder of the supplements company of the same name.Roberts-Smith was in April arrested and charged with five counts of war crime â murder, in relation to three incidents stemming from his service in Afghanistan in 2009 and 2012.He has denied the charges, saying in a statement after his arrest: âAs Iâve always maintained: I categorically deny all of these allegations ⊠I will be taking this opportunity to finally clear my name. Iâm proud of my service in Afghanistan.âThe three incidents allegedly involved Afghan nationals being shot dead by Roberts-Smith, or a subordinate under his command, while he was present, the AFP commissioner, Krissy Barrett, said in April.Roberts-Smith was previously found in a defamation suit â using the civil standard of the balance of probabilities â to have murdered unarmed civilians while serving in the Australian Special Air Service Regiment (SAS) in Afghanistan.The federal court found to the lower civil standard that Roberts-Smith kicked Afghan man Ali Jan in the chest, sending him falling backwards over a cliff before he landed on the ground.
The court found that Roberts-Smith then ordered another soldier to shoot him dead.Roberts-Smith was also accused in media reporting of shooting an unarmed prisoner who had a prosthetic leg. The leg was later used as a drinking vessel by soldiers.Zero Limits, Katelaris and Roberts-Smith were contacted for comment.In a statement via a lawyer, Zero Limits did not respond to specific questions, only answering: âThe products are great, make sure you check them out.âIn a statement via the same lawyer, Katelaris also did not respond to specific questions, but said: âIf you thought this was wild, wait until next weekâs campaign drops.âKatelaris lists himself as a âco-ownerâ of the supplements brand in his Instagram bio.
He also promotes a range of merchandise under his own name in support of Roberts-Smith, including âI stand with BRSâ t-shirts, hats, hoodies and stubby coolers.

