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Defense & Security · Asia Pacific

Ben Roberts‑Smith launches Epic 1 Two brand and posts promo video as war‑crimes trial looms

Ben Roberts‑Smith posted a professionally produced promotional video to an account called Epic 1 Two while facing criminal charges over alleged war crimes. The video markets a personal brand tied to an Epic 1 Two website and an ASIC business registration and includes Roberts‑Smith’s voice saying he will “always be in the fight.”

AI-assisted synthesis · Based on 2 independent reports from 3 outletsHow it's made

3 outletsLatest reporting 4 min read
Coverage: Too few ratedL 0 · C 2 · R 0 · 1 unrated
Updat3 graphic: Asia Pacific
Updat3 graphic · Map data: Natural Earth Natural Earth (public domain)

What happened

Key facts

  • Ben Roberts‑Smith posted a promotional video to an account called Epic 1 Two that shows him training in a gym and sitting on a beach (per The Sydney Morning Herald, ssbcrack.com).
  • The video includes voice‑over clips describing Roberts‑Smith as a decorated soldier and includes his quoted line: “I’ve never run from a fight in my life, I will never give up, and I will always be in the fight.” (per The Sydney Morning Herald, ssbcrack.com, watoday.com.au).
  • Roberts‑Smith stands accused of executing or directing fellow soldiers to execute Afghan prisoners between 2006 and 2012, and he denies the charges (per The Sydney Morning Herald, ssbcrack.com).
  • Roberts‑Smith was arrested at Sydney Airport in April following a joint investigation by the Office of the Special Investigator and the Australian Federal Police (per The Sydney Morning Herald).
  • Australian Securities and Investments Commission records show Epic 1 Two was registered as a business name in August by BS Group Australia, which lists Sarah Matuli (per The Sydney Morning Herald).
  • Roberts‑Smith’s lawyer said the Epic 1 Two brand represents underdogs and that the venture would include selling branded clothing with a veterans’ discount and help fund his legal defence (per The Sydney Morning Herald, ssbcrack.com).

The brief

Ben Roberts‑Smith has launched a personal brand called Epic 1 Two and posted a high‑production promotional video to an account carrying that name while criminal charges alleging war crimes remain pending. The video, which the reporting says was posted to an account called Epic 1 Two and is tied to a newly registered website, shows Roberts‑Smith lifting weights at a gym and sitting on a beach with voice‑over clips that portray him as a decorated soldier. It also inserts a news clip noting his arrest for war crimes and includes Roberts‑Smith’s voice saying, “I’ve never run from a fight in my life, I will never give up, and I will always be in the fight.”

The war‑crimes allegations against Roberts‑Smith, detailed in multiple reports, accuse him of executing or directing fellow soldiers to execute Afghan prisoners between 2006 and 2012; he denies the charges. The reporting states he was arrested at Sydney Airport in April after a joint investigation by the Office of the Special Investigator and the Australian Federal Police. Sources say Roberts‑Smith has registered an Epic 1 Two website this year and that Australian Securities and Investments Commission records show Epic 1 Two was registered as a business name in August by BS Group Australia, which lists Sarah Matuli. Roberts‑Smith’s lawyer provided a statement saying the Epic 1 Two brand is meant to represent “underdogs” and those facing hardships, and that the venture would sell branded clothing with a veterans’ discount and contribute to funding his legal defence. One report adds that the website currently asks visitors to sign up for a newsletter and does not yet provide detailed information about the business model. The promotional post was captioned “#underdog,” according to the reporting. The coverage notes that the Epic 1 Two name references Roberts‑Smith’s military radio call sign; that connection is presented in both outlet accounts as part of the brand’s identity. One outlet also reported that Roberts‑Smith took part in a two‑hour interview with broadcaster Ben Fordham that had not yet aired at the time of publication. Reporting does not provide evidence that Epic 1 Two had completed any sales or shipped products at the time the promo video was posted. The launch and promotional material have a direct link to publicly filed records: the ASIC business registration listing BS Group Australia and an individual named Sarah Matuli. The articles present Roberts‑Smith’s statements about the brand and his lawyer’s description as claims from the defendant and his representative; they present the criminal allegations and the arrest as matters pending before authorities. The reporting does not include independent confirmation that proceeds from the brand will be used for legal fees beyond the lawyer’s statement, nor does it include evidence about investor backing or commercial partners beyond the ASIC entry and the registered website. This development places a public commercial effort in parallel with ongoing criminal proceedings: the brand promotion references his military service and the arrest for alleged war crimes in the same video. The outlets differ in emphasis but converge on the main facts: Epic 1 Two exists online, a promo video featuring Roberts‑Smith was posted, ASIC records show a registration linked to BS Group Australia, and Roberts‑Smith remains accused of alleged conduct in Afghanistan while denying the charges.

Why it matters

  • Victims of the alleged incidents in Afghanistan: the public relaunch of Roberts‑Smith’s profile via Epic 1 Two may affect their ability to influence public perception while criminal charges remain before prosecutors and courts.
  • Court process and defence funding: the reported plan to sell branded clothing and to use proceeds to help fund Roberts‑Smith’s legal defence establishes a mechanism (commercial revenue from Epic 1 Two) that could materially affect the resources available to the accused, as documented by his lawyer’s statement and the ASIC registration.
  • Veterans and consumer transparency: Australian veterans targeted by a reported veterans’ discount and potential customers face reputational and financial stakes because the venture leverages Roberts‑Smith’s decorated service for marketing, per the promotional video and the lawyer’s description.

What to watch next

  • Whether the two‑hour interview Roberts‑Smith gave to Ben Fordham is broadcast, as reported, and how its content relates to the promotional material already posted.
  • Whether ASIC records show further business filings, ownership changes, or trading activity for Epic 1 Two or BS Group Australia following the August business name registration.
  • Whether Epic 1 Two’s website begins to list products for sale or processes transactions, as the current reporting says the site invites newsletter sign‑ups but lacks business detail.

How it's being covered

Coverage analysisShow details
3 source articles · 3 unique outlets · 2 distinct reports
Coverage mix: Too few rated· 2 Center
Where the outlets are based: Asia 67% · Global 33%
Coverage mix
Too few rated
Left
Center
Right
0 outlets
2 outlets
0 outlets
The marker shows coverage balance: each unique outlet counts once. 1 unrated outlet is not included.
Geography
Where the outlets covering this story are based.
3 unique outletsDominant coverage: Asia
How we measure coverage

How outlets' accounts compare

3 framing differences · 3 uncorroborated claims · 3 information gaps
Sources broadly agree on the core facts but frame the story differently.Compared across 2 reports whose full text Updat3 used.
Framing / emphasis differences
Sources agree on the facts but emphasise different angles, actors or consequences.
  • The Sydney Morning Herald frames the brand and video as a publicised commercial effort tied explicitly to legal defence funding and lists ASIC registration details; news.ssbcrack.com emphasises the promotional nature of the video and notes the website lacks specifics, without reporting the ASIC registration details.
  • Both sources report the promotional video and the brand launch occurring while criminal charges are pending, but neither source establishes that the brand launch was triggered by a specific recent legal event.
  • The Sydney Morning Herald attributes the business registration details to Australian Securities and Investments Commission records and attributes the lawyer’s statement to Roberts‑Smith’s lawyer; news.ssbcrack.com attributes claims about the website’s lack of specifics to its own reporting.
Updat3: The underlying facts agree; only the emphasis differs.
One-sided or uncorroborated claims
Claims that come from one party or one source family and are not independently corroborated.
  • The Sydney Morning Herald links the video’s news clip to Roberts‑Smith’s arrest in April; news.ssbcrack.com notes the video precedes the upcoming trial but does not link the posting to a specific triggering legal action.
  • From The Sydney Morning Herald: Roberts‑Smith is quoted in the video: “I’ve never run from a fight in my life, I will never give up, and I will always be in the fight.”
  • From The Sydney Morning Herald: Roberts‑Smith’s lawyer said the brand represents underdogs and described planned branded clothing with a veterans’ discount and funding for his legal defence.
Updat3: Not independently corroborated yet — treat as a claim, not an established fact.
Not established by the reporting
Information the available reporting does not contain or confirm. This is a gap, not a disagreement.
  • No report Updat3 read in this pack provides verified information on whether Epic 1 Two has completed any sales or generated revenue.
  • No report Updat3 read reports court dates or trial scheduling related to the war‑crimes charges.
  • No source describes independent verification that proceeds from Epic 1 Two will fund legal expenses beyond the defendant’s lawyer’s statement.
Updat3: Updat3 cannot conclude anything about this from the current sources.

How we got here

The immediate backdrop is Roberts‑Smith’s arrest at Sydney Airport in April 2026 following a joint investigation by the Office of the Special Investigator and the Australian Federal Police. That arrest occurred amid allegations that he executed, or directed the execution of, Afghan prisoners between 2006 and 2012, allegations he has publicly denied.

In August 2026 Australian Securities and Investments Commission records show a business name, Epic 1 Two, was registered by BS Group Australia with Sarah Matuli listed in company filings; Roberts‑Smith’s legal team has said the venture would help fund his defence and sell branded clothing.

Original sources

1 of 3 articles · Global · Show all

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