The exposé, which highlighted alleged police brutality and civilian casualties following the recent elections, sparked widespread debate across East Africa.
Some of the footage in the report showed civilians being injured, while other clips appeared to depict mass graves, fueling strong reactions online.
Following the report, Larry became a controversial figure in Tanzania, with some praising his bravery and others accusing him of bias.
In response to accusations that he had been paid to smear the Tanzanian government, Larry posted a video on his social media, firmly denying the claims.
“I have not been paid by anyone to damage the reputation of any country. Bongo (Tanzania) has not refuted our report, so they chose to attack me instead. Do not be misled by lies,” Larry said.
He also dismissed a false AI-generated image circulating online that claimed to show him meeting with individuals to plan the report.
Larry called on the public to stay vigilant and focus on facts rather than rumors.
The report led to mixed reactions online. Supporters thanked Larry for his fearless journalism, with some even updating their profile pictures in his honor.
Others criticized him, questioning why international media focus on negative events.
Meanwhile, the Tanzanian government denied claims that it blocked journalists during the October elections.
Government spokesperson Gerson Msigwa said Larry did not request the government’s input while producing the documentary, which relied on crowdsourced footage and satellite images to investigate alleged atrocities.
Larry emphasized that his reporting aimed to highlight the truth and urged the Tanzanian authorities to respond to the findings rather than attacking his credibility.
This controversy highlights the challenges journalists face in covering sensitive political events.
In an era of misinformation, accurate reporting is often met with skepticism, and reporters can face personal attacks for revealing uncomfortable truths.