There was so much to talk about during the second presidential debate between two highly controversial candidates. Yet amongst the chaos of personal attacks and foreign policy, hope emerged. Ken Bone, regular human being, was thrust into the national spotlight after asking a dull question while dressed for a teddy bear’s picnic, and became world-famous, quite literally overnight.
This election cycle has been long, painful and highly divisive. Who would’ve guessed that a red sweater would unite us all? The amusing visual distraction was a welcome respite from the venomous political rhetoric, and as soon as he made his appearance, Ken’s likeness began circulating around Twitter, gathering praise and love. In hours, he was no longer human but meme. A grandfatherly sense of fashion, a round face adorned with a mustache, and a name ripe for sexual metaphor; it’s as though Ken was destined for internet fame.
His image was photoshopped into the Barack Obama “Hope” poster, Ken Bone Halloween costumes were bought and sold out, and his Twitter followers skyrocketed from 7 to 249,000. Adored, gently mocked and even suggested as a political candidate, the love for Ken Bone continued to blossom. Ken was interviewed and thousands cared about what he had to say. They wanted to know what he thought of the election and the political process as a whole. They wanted to know about the red sweater, and it turned out Ken had ripped the pants of his undoubtedly adorable olive green suit and had to resort to the now-iconic sweater. Ken the human meme was cute, clumsy and cuddly, and during such a difficult and angry time in America’s history, it was refreshing to gaze upon the pudgy face of gentle innocence.
And then came the Reddit AMA. Ken, a longtime Reddit user, hosted an “ask me anything” session for his new fans. Ken proved to be a charming host with ample knowledge of internet culture and a self-deprecating sense of humor. But unwisely, Ken used his real Reddit username and of course, the masses pried open the box to see who their wholesome hero really was. Inside was a treasure trove of innocuous sin. There was a comment left on a pregnancy porn subreddit describing the expecting mothers as “beautiful human submarines.” There was a confession to viewing naked pictures of Jennifer Lawrence and enjoying it. Then was the time Ken Bone committed felony insurance fraud. There was even a comment describing the shooting of Trayvon Martin as “justified,” although he stated he was no fan of George Zimmerman.
The inevitable backlash begun. Upon learning that their meme was an actual human being with unwholesome thoughts, desires and opinions, many began to condemn the man in the red sweater. He was accused of being ignorant, awful and seedy. He was even accused of selling out, (already) for daring to promote Uber using his newfound fame in exchange for a few free rides.
Sadly, there are no free rides. Fame comes at a high cost, and Ken has now reached celebrity level of fame, merely for wearing a sweater. Millions of attention-hungry men and women spend their entire lives clawing for a place on the pedestal where Ken sits, a spot handed to him without his want or consent.
Fame means that Ken Bone is now in the bizarre, unenviable position of having to explain his internet history to complete strangers. He has since clarified his comments on the Trayvon Martin case, tweeting “I do not condone the shooting of Trayvon Martin. Justifiable means legal, not right.” He has condemned gun violence. He has defended his sexual tastes. While he still has many supporters, others are finding his prolific presence on their screens annoying and now turn to blame Ken, as though he directed a multi-million dollar marketing campaign based around his sweater.
Who on earth would be happy to give up their browser history to the public? Ken has been swallowed, digested and is now is the process of being painfully excreted. The backlash has only just begun, and the hateful comments and death threats are only going to increase. Poor Ken may find that his old, simple life of anonymity may have been erased permanently. Years from now, he’ll be recognized on the street. He’ll be asked to pose for selfies. Strangers will continue to contact him and his family. His comments, to many people, now matter. And an opinion that holds weight is a heavy burden indeed. This could impact his career prospects, his relationship, and even his mental health.
Ken Bone’s story is an interesting fable from the age of information, a cautionary tale that could’ve come out of the Twilight Zone or Black Mirror. Any one of us could be abducted by the internet and transformed into a meme. All it takes is one amusing fashion choice. His fifteen minutes are likely to fade just as fast as his rise and fall, but Ken will henceforth be recognized as that guy in the sweater who’s really into pregnant woman. Forever.
