Ron Watkins Denies He Is QAnon Leader Ahead of 'Into the Storm' HBO Show

Ron Watkins, the former administrator of controversial messageboard site 8Kun, has again denied that he is the shadowy figure behind the QAnon movement ahead of the premier of a six-part HBO docuseries on the conspiracy theory.

The first episode of Cullen Hoback's Q: Into the Storm is due to air on Sunday, March 21. The series looks into how the radical movement evolved from the fringes of the internet in late 2017 to become a major influence on conservative politics and help inspire the deadly January 6 attack on the Capitol.

One of the major talking points ahead of the series being broadcast was the claims that it identifies Ron Watkins, son of 8kun's founder Jim Watkins, as the mysterious figure known as "Q."

Many of the extreme beliefs and theories behind QAnon stem from thousands of coded and cryptic messages which began appearing on 4chan—a forerunner of 8chan—before moving to 8kun.

The coded messages or "drops" would be interpreted by QAnon followers to form what would evolve into the radical claims made by the movement involving satanic pedophiles and the "deep state."

During the trailer of the show, Ron Watkins asks Hoback: "You're going through a possible list of who Q might be?"

"That's right. You're on the list," Hoback responds.

"Well, let's continue then," Ron Watkins replies.

Ron Watkins confirmed earlier in March that he would be taking part in the series and was filmed for it around three years ago.

More than a week later, as media coverage about the HBO series increased, Ron Watkins posted another statement on Telegram denying that he is Q.

"I've noticed that the fake news media is FALSELY reporting that I am Q. It is simply not true," he wrote.

"Here are the facts: I am not Q. I've never spoken privately with Q. I don't know who Q is."

There has previously been speculation that Ron Watkins is at least one the people who is behind "Q."

Despite thousands of "drops" appearing on 8chan and 8kun down the years, there has only been a handful of posts since QAnon's savior-like figure Donald Trump lost the election in November, with none appearing at any point in 2021.

On Election Day, Ron Watkins announced that he was stepping down as the 8kun administrator.

After Trump failed to carry out the mass executions of satanic pedophiles at Joe Biden's inauguration on January 20—a highly anticipated prophecy from the conspiracy theorist known as "the storm"—Ron Watkins appeared to cut off all ties he had with QAnon, telling supporters on Telegram to "keep our chins up and go back to our lives as best we are able."

Fredrick Brennan, the creator of 8chan who sold it to Jim Watkins before becoming a business associate of his, said in September that Ron Watkins must play a major role on who is behind the QAnon movement.

"If he's not 'Q' himself, he can find out who 'Q' is at any time," Brennan, who also appears in the HBO series, told ABC News.

"And he's pretty much the only person in the world that can have private contact with 'Q.' He's the only person that—through the board that 'Q' started on 8chan—can send 'Q' a direct message and get into private contact with basically the leader of this political cult that everybody wants to hear from right now."

Both Jim and Ron Watkins have previously denied being Q.