In a bizarre plot twist in the Maria Athens scandal, Andy Kriner is now part of the story. Not long after Athens posted her insane video on Facebook, in which she made wildly unsubstantiated claims against Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz, a Twitter thread appeared that shed more light into what happened. In the thread, the daughter of Molly Blakeley explains that two years ago her mom discovered she was working as a non-sexual escort. When questioned about it she told her mom that her favorite client was a short man that worked for the State of Alaska, and provided no further details.
Okay alaska, there’s a huge story about the Mayor Ethan Berkowitz going around today and I need to tell you what actually happened.
— redhead rae ✨ (@angelbbx2) October 10, 2020
Here is where it gets real weird. According to the daughter, who asked that I not use her name, Athens was doing a story on her mom’s booze-infused cookie business on Friday. At one point Athens had voiced her disgust with Ethan Berkowitz. This is when Blakeley told Athens her crazy and untrue conspiracy theories about Berkowitz. And this is where Andy Kriner comes in. Kriner is the half-brother of Blakeley. They have the same mother, Sally Blakeley, who was previously married to Kriner’s dad. Recall that in August Andy Kriner defied Berkowitz’s order that shut down restaurants to dine-in service for one month. Kriner became a symbol of opposition to Berkowitz.
Athens’ dislike for Berkowitz is evidenced in interviews she has done. In a video Athens posted on October 8, she started off asking Anchorage mayoral candidate Mike Robbins, “As Alaska is primarily a conservative state, how did our biggest city of Anchorage, Alaska end up with a liberal mayor from San Francisco?”
The situation continued to get weirder. After Athens posted her crazy video on Friday, she was arrested for assault. She was arraigned on Saturday.
I spoke with the daughter of Blakeley, who now lives in Oregon, today over Zoom. You can listen to our conversation below. The daughter says her mom is an attention seeker who does this kind of thing often. She also said that her mom called her to tell her about what she told Athens, and that she immediately told her mom she had never met Ethan Berkowitz. She asked her mom to call the news station and tell them the truth. She stated that her mom “didn’t want to get involved because it would make her business look bad.” She also said her mom “hates Ethan Berkowitz” and “wants him out of office.” Another interesting tidbit her grandfather is Norm Blakeley, who is a member of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly. Overall a hyper loose situation.
Update: One other part of the interview. According to the daughter, after the interview about the cookie business, they both went to Kriner’s Diner. Athens called Berkowitz and made unsubstantiated claims. Her mother told Athens it was not true but Athens said, “I can make it true and ruin his life.”
A previous version of this story incorrectly stated Molly Blakeley and Andy Kriner had the same father. It has been updated to show they have the same mother.
Update: I messaged Molly Blakely before the story was published. After the story came out she responded by asking for my contact information, and then told me her lawyers would be in touch. She then sent me this statement:
This past weekend there has been numerous rumors and allegations shared on public media. These false allegations are causing harm to my friends and family and as a result I want to clarify this situation: I have not nor ever was a source for any allegations/statements/conspiracies made by Maureen “Maria” Athens. I do not have an association with Ms. Athens and disavow any rumors which attempt to make a veiled connection with her and my family. These are misguided attempts to make connections which simply do not and have never existed. These allegations appear to be the result of inappropriate attention seeking and inaccurate information. They are slanderous to my personal and professional integrity and are categorically false.
But text messages between her and her daughter, provided by the daughter, paint a different picture.
I was also contacted via email by Lucy Kriner Hollenbeck who also told me her lawyers would be contacting me.
Update: The daughter of Molly shared a voice memo that she says is her mom left her on Saturday. In the memo she admits she spoke to the police, said what she told Athens triggered her, and said she made an assumption that was wrong. You can listen to the memo here:
LOOOOOOOOSE
First of all, my mom was never married to Park Kriner. She was married to my biological dad Ron Kriner. Secondly I had nothing to do with any of this. Mollies my sister and I haven’t seen her daughter in over a year. I’m sure people would like to think I do but I don’t. Pretty crappy of this magazine to try and make a connection that doesn’t exists
Fuck you and your shitty restaurant. Hope you die of covid
Dude, no. I’m clearly on your side of the covid and mask issue but you just don’t say stuff like that to people. Please. Don’t give up your humanity.
Why thankyou😉
yo your tots are pretty good one love vote biden wear a mask
Yo, come over and shampoo my tots. Fucking Loser!
#woke
WOW. Not very often you find a Dick who can type.
You must be a tough guy, hiding behind your screen and telling people you hope they die.
What do you propose i do fucktard? Go down to his restaurant, drag him out and beat the fuck out of him?
Jfc you are a moron. Its clear he’s a selfish cunt that’ll put his own self interest in front of his customer’s and his community’s in the name of profit. So yes I hope he contracts this virus and I hope it hurts.
Why are you so triggered? What did he do that made you want him dead? You are unstable.
He was demonstrating how Ms. Athens could have become over-excited and said a very similar thing, only from anger, not really meaning anything by it. It was sort of an object lesson. Of course, in her situation it was an affair of the heart. In his it was just politics. So it is not an apt comparison. She had much more reason to lose her composure.
He’s a looooooser, so
Not sure how he is putting self over customers- Isn’t it up to his customers to come or not come to his restaurant?
If you had a sack, but you don’t.
Back to “would you like fries with that”
Gonna have to do better then that. There is no wu flu! But its the thot that counts
Typical dem response..
He seems nice.
Be careful what you say it will come right back to you!!
WonTom, what’s wong? LOL
Sounds like in your nieces interview (posted in this story) with Jeff, that your half sister Molly and Maria went to your diner on Friday and that’s where Maria called Mayor Berkowitz to accuse him of what Molly told him. Sounds like Maria may have been in love with the Mayor and lost her mind over this unsubstantiated claim (which makes sense since she was half crazed in her video).
Then why did the lovely mayor of anchorage resign if it wasn’t true? Where there’s smoke there’s fire. Better google the meaning of that.
Sucks to see you guys get drug in the middle of this shot storm. As for people wishing Ill on you and your establishment, that’s a disgusting and vile way to take things pretty shitty of them.
Kriner’s is lucky that the municipality was so reasonable and offered to forgive their fines. Andy Kriner has no training in public health and had no right to continue operating illegally during the pandemic while other businesses followed the law. Andy’s behavior was illegal, childish, greedy, and unbelievably selfish.
Ironic that the Kriners claim to be such staunch conservatives, because a real law-and-order administration would have Kriner’s shut down for operating illegally, and Kriner would be in jail with the other miscreants and lawbreakers.
Hahaha oh yeah we need more government. People can do what they want. If you are compromised, don’t go to a restaurant. If you are aware of the risks and choose to proceed that is on you. Why the hell to you liberals need the government to tell you how to wipe your own ass? What a joke.
we need government to tell you libertarian/conservative types not to fucking go out and enable the spread of a deadly virus you absolute chodes
What did “fucking” add to your argument? What did “chodes” add to your argument? They added hatred and hatred implies an urge to violence. In fact, totalitarian governments, in the Soviet Union, in China, in Kampchea, etc. etc. have killed more people that this virus can reasonably be expected to kill. The efficacy of the the shut downs in slowing the spread of virus is subject to serious question. Look to the death rates in, for example, Texas as compared to New York. So, try to hold back your hatred and think in logical terms and looking at evidence.
“Fucking” added effect and emphasis, something you’re surely intelligent enough to understand, so don’t be obtuse. “Chode” is a word used to imply idiocy, basically says you’re a ding dong. Is that pleasant enough for you Gladys? Be a grown-up and don’t say nonsensical things like using the word fucking or chode is equivalent to wanting to hurt you. And thanks for your helpful facts and the perspective they provide. I understand now: since other bad people have killed a larger amount of innocent people, we should just relax and not worry about other dangers since they don’t kill as… Read more »
Did the Municipality base its emergency orders on any sort of deep understanding of public health, and how it applies to this virus? Have you noticed the frequent changes in position on masks, on shut-downs from the WHO? Was the municipality being reasonable in settling – or did it know that the basis of its fines was subject to legal challenge? “Childish”,” greedy”, “selfish”, miscreant” and the like add nothing, other than to communicate your hatred. Injecting hatred and strong emotions into an argument seldom helps people arrive at a useful conclusion.
You people who believe everything on tv are so brainwashed you don’t know nothing about nothing! Do some research for once in your lazy existence why dontcha! 1st clue: the hospitals were NOT anything like the media portrayed! Msm is 90% propaganda yet you hang on every word!
Andy – you just waged (and lost) a very public war against Mayor Berkowitz, and now your sister has invented and spread a vile and disgusted conspiracy theory about the mayor. Moreover, important events in the story even happened AT Kriner’s Diner! Is this all just a coincidence? Yeah.. maybe. But I think the readers here can make up their own minds.
The mayor of Anchorage has huge overreach!! I will definitely continue eating at Kriner’s Diner!
We belivevand support you Andy. And your food is the bomb.
If you can’t follow simple instructions about not having dine-in service, due to a public health emergency, what other health code violations do you not follow?
Why don’t you ask Berkowitz that? His establishments weren’t subject to the same rules as other establishments, like Kriner’s.
This site is a partisan rag sheet that doesn’t tell the whole story. Berkowitz is a shit mayor and they’re glossing over what a POS he is – oh wait…WAS a shit mayor. 😂 be mad about it some more.
Of course they’re going to try to bring you into it, Andy. You and all of us who oppose the Tiny Dicktater’s rule over Anchorage. Nevermind the Mayor’s crappy decisions all around… gotta throw shade somewhere! You keep doing you, and you’ll keep getting customers, and people who hate you can just suck on a lemon at home.
Your headline is absolutely misleading – at no point in the article does Andy Kriner play any part in the story disturbing story. What is your purpose in trying to drag his name into a publicity stunt? He is a business owner who wants to go to work, serve customers and be a good citizen. Why create drama? You are now another “news” source I will disregard.
By “be a good citizen” do you mean defy public health orders and operate illegally during a pandemic? Andy isn’t a “good citizen,” he’s a greedy and reckless scofflaw.
No small business should have been shut down for a fake pandemic. In retrospect it is no more deadly than the flu.
You are clearly uneducated, but worse than that, you are an idiot that doesn’t care to learn. Very un-American. Shameful. Embarassing.
Isn’t it amazing how Leftists cannot argue logically, or logically present an argument without anger, insult? This is the mentality of the rioters in Portland, an invincible sense of infallibility, and that those who disagree with them are not misguided, but evil. Your post is full of your own emotional reactions, but is useless in advancing toward rational public policy.
Wow, you sure love throwing out red herrings ….. you stretched this argument all the way to Portland. Just dumb and illogical.
The rioters are for the most part homeless drug addict idiots whom are getting paid by sorros to riot as a job.
Fake is rite. Most are successfully brainwashed unfortunately.
I like how suddenly it’s greedy to not want your hard earned small business to go under. When you’re one of the lucky ones, it’s easy to say it’s greedy. You’re not the one watching your employees go broke, unable to support themselves. You’re not the one losing your livelihood. So many small businesses have died out during Covid, only to make large corporations fatter and government pricks more powerful. And what did it truly accomplish? This is my opinion. I am one of the young millennials that’s chosen to open my eyes to the bullshit, red and blue. Thanks… Read more »
It is the current administration’s ineptitude and lack of care for small businesses that has us in this mess right now. VOTE. Vote for someone that represents you and not big business or the top 1% of wealth in this country.
The vast majority already tried that and look what happened. Awfully suspicious how a babbling idiot who cudn get 10 ppl to show up at his rallies got in when the rightful winner had packed house every time!
Isn’t it amazing how difficult it is for you to form a – comment, not really argument, without evincing hatred and anger, insult?
You know Andy? I’ve known him for 35 years he’s a excellent citizen and he’s standing up for his rights! He’s raised children to be great citizens! He’s very responsible and would never put anyone in dangers way!
So if you don’t know someone don’t be so harsh!! Go Andy Kriner!!
And you’re a mindless drone that worships authority.
And they’re coming to take me away ha-haaa
They’re coming to take me away ho-ho hee-hee ha-haaa
To the happy home with trees and flowers and chirping birds
And basket weavers who sit and smile and twiddle their thumbs and toes
And they’re coming to take me away ha-haaa
If this is in fact slander and nonsense, why blow up tweeter with a private conversation between a mother and daughter? Why the inflammatory comments about Maria to further the discussion regardless of true or not those are comments that shouldn’t have been repeated unless by a true eye witness. Here say, allegations that are alleged and either you know what city your mom lives in or not! Your times lines hopefully get investigated. Sad that you said such horrible comments about your mom.
You have no idea what you are talking about or what this woman has put her children and many many others through. She has every right to share the messages between her and her mother.
No I don’t know what she has put her children through! You don’t go out on tweeter or social media to resolve this issue. My advise to anyone to get a lawyer and keep your comments private until all evidence is reviewed and examined. Very inflammatory to all that’s involved. the statement in her interview over zoom that her mother told her (the mother that she stated no one should believe) That Maria was engaged in or had a affair with the Mayor of Anchorage!! That’s hear say allegations against the Mayor!! Well too much information!!
She has said that she doesn’t know if the affair allegations are true or not. She’s trying to help the mayor by clearing up where this allegation came from. With some back story and information about how her mother is notorious for attention seeking, lies and false allegations. Lawyers and court take years and years. The public will have already formed their opinion about what has happened and moved on By the time this would play out in court.
Have you pondered, that hmmm, that whole dialogue was staged on the text between mother and daughter? Like why would she not call her daughter first (she probably did) and told her what happened. Then her daughter probably told her I’m going to get compensation for saving the mayor’s ass, so we’re going to text some dialogue, were going to make you seem crazy, and Maria seem like a crazed basket case, and mayor doesn’t go to jail. And it’ll be worth it for you mother. 🤔 I mean that’s not to far of a stretch, I mean businesses he… Read more »
Why would mayor goto jail?
If it wasnot true, why then did he resign ? Answer that, genius.
You are taking the word of one of the parties over the other. The one person is in business. The other is a paid “escort”, which has ups her mother, as it would with probably most women (going and meeting strange men for money is very dangerous activity.) . Just on those facts- that one is in business and apparently successful, and the other is a paid escort who has fled the state, I would impute more credibility to the mother. But yes, there is an implicit social contract that things said in private will be kept in private. But… Read more »
I’m not sure what Andy Kriner has to do with any of this. How is that even relevant to the story?
It’s not relevant. It’s fringe press trying to discredit by loose association a political enemy of the muni. This will continue at higher volume and more frequency from the Anchorage Press, the Landmine, etc.
Or the Kriner family tried to get a story into the news through their reporter friend as revenge against the mayor. They thought that it would work because she’s a little crazy. What they didn’t realize is she’s not a little crazy, she’s a lot crazy.
Curious, when and who notified the Police? Where does that fall in the timeline? Did the FBI actually get involved and when?
Jeebus. I want to thank you all for taking the crazy heat off the MatSu! This is going to make one hell of an opera! Fortunately, Anchorage has the perfect venue at the PAC and a crack Opera company. Now. Who’s going to write the libretto? Mike Doogan? Is Satch Carlson under a floorboard somewhere? I’d kill to see Elvira Voth direct… will there be a shoot out? Wait. Maybe Mr. Whitekeys can help..
Doogan can go eff himself. Never forgive.
I like turtles
The most shocking part about this whole thing to me is that I didn’t know you 12th century hicks had access to the internet up there! What next, deodorant?!
What, you Think we live in igloos and kill seals for food?
What people really want to know… Does Maria Athens have an onlyfans? I could fap to that.
None of this refutes the accusation. Why isn’t that being addressed instead of chasing side drama?
Mental note: Don’t move to Alaska.
Yes please don’t!
Weird. Because he resigned. Since when do they resign over adult relationships? There is more to this for sure
My thoughts EXACTLY!
You and your ilk exhibit the intelligence, intellect, knowledge, and logic of gnats. Modern history is littered with politicians, both guilty and innocent of illicit adult relationships, forced to resign because in politics public approval is everything. So inane questions like that inspires an eye-roll so intense, it almost hurts. Such brain-wastelands, yet you have the right to vote and influence the lives of all the rest of us.
The Landmine? More like a dumpster fire… great quality reporting. Is this a school paper at The Derek Zoolander Center for Kids Who Can’t Read Good and Wanna Learn to Do Other Stuff Good Too? For fuck’s sake… nice job Molly, you’re famous again, for being a self-serving wretch.
That Molly Blakely woman is as crazy as loon and absolute trash. So very trashy.