Equidem: The World Cup Whistle-blower

Uncovering the human cost of a global spectacle. Ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Equidem conducted a major investigation into labour exploitation in Qatar. Fat Rat Films partnered with their team to produce over 15 pieces of visual content from short documentaries to viral social assets, which brought the facts to life through the lived experience of migrant workers and testimonies of Equidem investigators. At the heart of the campaign was Anish, a Nepali whistleblower who bravely spoke out on camera.

Key outcomes:

3 flagship documentaries
15+ original video assets including short docs and viral clips
20M+ global views across platforms
Broadcast on PBS NewsHour and HBO’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Featured in The Guardian, Bloomberg, USA Today, Washington Post, and more
Played a central role in Equidem’s global advocacy and fundraising campaign

Challenge and approach

Challenge
As testimonies of abuse poured in from migrant workers in Qatar, Equidem faced the complex task of translating a vast body of evidence into something emotionally resonant and strategically effective. As scrutiny of Qatar’s labour practices intensified in the lead-up to the 2022 World Cup, the opportunity and urgency was clear. Equidem needed an emblematic story, something the public could connect with, and the media could run with. The challenge was to find and elevate voices that captured the scale and injustice of the crisis, and to produce a suite of adaptable, multi-platform assets to reach both policymakers and global audiences.

Approach
Working with trusted local crews, we travelled with Equidem to Nepal to film with Anish and other migrant workers. Through a carefully conducted four-hour interview, we surfaced multiple threads and details of Anish’s story such as frozen water bottles used to limit rest breaks. Information gathered through multiple interviews with migrant workers became the basis for a rich content ecosystem, designed to fuel press coverage, digital engagement, and donor outreach. Collaborating closely on distribution strategy, we supported high-profile placements to ensure the story reached both policy influencers and the global public.

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Impact

The content we produced became a visual engine for Equidem’s global campaign. Anish’s story aired on PBS NewsHour and HBO’s Last Week Tonight, and was adapted into social clips, media packages and explainer content for maximum reach. Together, the films achieved over 20 million views, prompting widespread coverage and public engagement.

Released alongside Equidem’s report If We Complain, We Are Fired, the campaign elevated the issue of migrant worker abuse from headlines to policy agendas. By building a flexible and far-reaching content strategy, we helped Equidem turn data into visibility, and visibility into action.