Milo Yiannopoulos Eyeing Bid for 4chan Social Media Site

4chan is an imageboard Internet site that allows users to post anonymously.

Milo Yiannopoulos, an alt-right hero known for his banishment from Twitter, is preparing a bid to acquire his own social media firm: 4chan.

Launched in 2003, 4chan is an imageboard Internet site that allows users to post anonymously. Its roots were in anime and manga, though it has evolved into much more and has facilitated some controversy, including allegations that it allows for cyberbullying.

The Hollywood Reporter has learned that Yiannopoulos, with the help of a wealthy backer, is preparing to approach 4chan owner Hiroyuki Nishimura, a Japanese entrepreneur, with a bid this week.

Contacted Saturday, Yiannopoulos confirmed plans for a possible acquisition but did not offer details.

"As a free-speech fundamentalist and a student of Internet culture, I appreciate how fragile and precious the 4chan ecosystem is and how much it gives to the wider Internet — even if some corners of it, such as /pol/, don't always approve of me very much," Yiannopoulos said.

/Pol/ is a reference to 4chan's political discussion board. It was created in 2011 to replace /new/, which was deleted after it became a haven for self-loathing, misogyny and racism.

"I spoke to my lawyer this morning about purchasing the business," said Yiannopoulos. "I intend to approach the current owners in the next few days with an offer. My philosophy as owner would be very simple: free-speech central, no ifs, no buts."

Yiannopoulos was banned from Twitter after he engaged in a war of tweets with Ghostbusters actress Leslie Jones.