Invisible Children answers critics after video hit

Kony 2012
A video making its way across the Internet criticizes African warlord Joseph Kony and his Lord's Resistance Army.
Photo Courtesy of kony2012.com

The chief executive of a group that produced a wildly popular video about African warlord Joseph Kony is answering critics.

Ben Keesey said in a video released Monday that he understands why some people might think Invisible Children is a slick, fly-by-night ``slacktivist'' organization. He says those characterizations are untrue.

In a video that runs more than eight minutes, Keesey addresses questions about the San Diego-based group's finances and criticisms that it oversimplifies or misunderstands Kony and his Lord's Resistance Army.

He denies travel expenses are for managers to stay in nice hotels. Instead they are used to pay for 3,000 film screenings a year.

Kony 2012 has received nearly 75 million views on YouTube since its release last week. Its overnight success has won widespread praise and heightened scrutiny.