A Tesla owner can't believe what his car's sensor picked up on camera. It spooked him.
TikTok user and Tesla owner Steven Vargas (@localrentonman) uploaded a video of the incident that's garnered over 3.2 million views.
"My Tesla spotted something suspicious," Vargas writes in a text overlay of his video, which is set to creepy music. He shows off the car's large infotainment screen, along with its visualizer that utilizes its cameras to generate an approximation of the car's surroundings.
Tesla sensor picks up suspicious figure
As he moves the generated image around on the screen, viewers can see several fixtures. There's another car behind his Tesla, and it shows the walls he's parked between. Strangely, behind a wall you can see an outline of what appears to be a man just standing directly behind a fence. He appears to be hugging it.
It looks like a scene straight out of a horror film. Why would anyone be waiting so close to the fence unless they were planning on popping out and getting the jump on an unsuspecting Vargas?
Maybe it could just be that the car's system mistook some other shape and translated it as a human being. There are some people who believe that the car doesn't necessarily make mistakes.
Recently, a Tesla driver went viral after spotting "ghosts" walking through a cemetery. They flipped out and began screaming upon seeing human figures ambling about in the graveyard. When they looked up from the screen and checked the real world, however, there was nothing there. Some people even recommend "ghost hunting in a Tesla" utilizing its cameras and sensors to see if ghosts can get picked up.
Inconsistencies with on-screen visualizations
Other Tesla drivers have noticed inconsistencies with their car's on-screen visualizations. Like these folks in a Quora forum post where users mention some cars on the road showing up on screen but others not. Others report cars that look like they're there but aren't in real life.
And according to commenters who replied to Vargas' post, it seems like a lot of Tesla owners have experienced the same issue. One woman said she gets a mini-heart-attack from time to time. She wrote, "Haha I hate when mine does this too especially when pulling into my garage when no one is home hahaha."
Another replied that they believe this is a consequence of a recent software update. They wrote, "Since the update I always see a man in the garage !!"
"This last update has men standing in my garage and driveway all the time," another echoed.
For some reason, one Tesla driver said their vehicle translates a McDonald's drive-thru as an 18-wheeler. "Our Tesla always thinks the McDonald’s drive-thru is a semi truck," they wrote.
Others complained about invisible trucks as well. The user wrote, "There’s always a diesel truck backing up in my garage with me lol."
Why some Tesla owners left the brand
There are plenty of reasons why "reformed" Tesla owners will tell you to stay away from the car brand at all costs.
Some of the criticism appears valid, for example all of the things that went wrong with the Cybertruck launch. In other instances, folks argue that the issues are better blamed on driver error. Viral stories include Tesla owners failing to charge the battery soon enough or not getting the right tints for their car.
There are some unique benefits to getting a Tesla right out of the box. For one, the vehicles are equipped with multiple cameras situated all around the front of the vehicle, which allows you to put your whip in "sentry mode" and record everything that's going on around the car.
Some random jerk feels like keying your car? Your whip's surveillance system will pick it up. Get in an accident? Get a flash drive and stick it into your ride's USB port and you're going to be able to download all of that crash footage/data to the drive as well, which could be helpful for any documentation pertaining to your accident.
Watch on TikTok
The Daily Dot reached out to Tesla via email and Vargas via TikTok comment for further information.
Internet culture is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s web_crawlr newsletter. You’ll get the best (and worst) of the internet straight into your inbox.
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The post ‘My Tesla spotted something suspicious’: Tesla owner can’t believe what car’s sensor picks up on camera appeared first on The Daily Dot.
]]>
A Tesla owner can't believe what his car's sensor picked up on camera. It spooked him.
TikTok user and Tesla owner Steven Vargas (@localrentonman) uploaded a video of the incident that's garnered over 3.2 million views.
"My Tesla spotted something suspicious," Vargas writes in a text overlay of his video, which is set to creepy music. He shows off the car's large infotainment screen, along with its visualizer that utilizes its cameras to generate an approximation of the car's surroundings.
Tesla sensor picks up suspicious figure
As he moves the generated image around on the screen, viewers can see several fixtures. There's another car behind his Tesla, and it shows the walls he's parked between. Strangely, behind a wall you can see an outline of what appears to be a man just standing directly behind a fence. He appears to be hugging it.
It looks like a scene straight out of a horror film. Why would anyone be waiting so close to the fence unless they were planning on popping out and getting the jump on an unsuspecting Vargas?
Maybe it could just be that the car's system mistook some other shape and translated it as a human being. There are some people who believe that the car doesn't necessarily make mistakes.
Recently, a Tesla driver went viral after spotting "ghosts" walking through a cemetery. They flipped out and began screaming upon seeing human figures ambling about in the graveyard. When they looked up from the screen and checked the real world, however, there was nothing there. Some people even recommend "ghost hunting in a Tesla" utilizing its cameras and sensors to see if ghosts can get picked up.
Inconsistencies with on-screen visualizations
Other Tesla drivers have noticed inconsistencies with their car's on-screen visualizations. Like these folks in a Quora forum post where users mention some cars on the road showing up on screen but others not. Others report cars that look like they're there but aren't in real life.
And according to commenters who replied to Vargas' post, it seems like a lot of Tesla owners have experienced the same issue. One woman said she gets a mini-heart-attack from time to time. She wrote, "Haha I hate when mine does this too especially when pulling into my garage when no one is home hahaha."
Another replied that they believe this is a consequence of a recent software update. They wrote, "Since the update I always see a man in the garage !!"
"This last update has men standing in my garage and driveway all the time," another echoed.
For some reason, one Tesla driver said their vehicle translates a McDonald's drive-thru as an 18-wheeler. "Our Tesla always thinks the McDonald’s drive-thru is a semi truck," they wrote.
Others complained about invisible trucks as well. The user wrote, "There’s always a diesel truck backing up in my garage with me lol."
Why some Tesla owners left the brand
There are plenty of reasons why "reformed" Tesla owners will tell you to stay away from the car brand at all costs.
Some of the criticism appears valid, for example all of the things that went wrong with the Cybertruck launch. In other instances, folks argue that the issues are better blamed on driver error. Viral stories include Tesla owners failing to charge the battery soon enough or not getting the right tints for their car.
There are some unique benefits to getting a Tesla right out of the box. For one, the vehicles are equipped with multiple cameras situated all around the front of the vehicle, which allows you to put your whip in "sentry mode" and record everything that's going on around the car.
Some random jerk feels like keying your car? Your whip's surveillance system will pick it up. Get in an accident? Get a flash drive and stick it into your ride's USB port and you're going to be able to download all of that crash footage/data to the drive as well, which could be helpful for any documentation pertaining to your accident.
Watch on TikTok
The Daily Dot reached out to Tesla via email and Vargas via TikTok comment for further information.
Internet culture is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s web_crawlr newsletter. You’ll get the best (and worst) of the internet straight into your inbox.
Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.
The post ‘My Tesla spotted something suspicious’: Tesla owner can’t believe what car’s sensor picks up on camera appeared first on The Daily Dot.
]]>
Buyers beware: TikTok user Emma Klein (@imemmaklein) found out that she nearly paid double the price for a used painting on Facebook Marketplace in a recent viral video.
Klein begins the video by directly addressing a couple that recently sold her a painting via Facebook Marketplace.
“This morning, when you posted [the painting] for $80, I hit you up and I was like ‘Hey, I know this is a total shot in the dark—would you be willing to do $30?’” Klein says.
The sellers told Klein that the lowest they would go was $50 for the piece, which she accepted but had to decline. “I was like, ‘Cool, I’m gonna have to pass because I’m balling on a budget right now, but if there’s anything that changes, you let me know,'” she recalls in the clip.
Klein explains that the couple eventually contacted her again, offering to sell at her original offer of $30. She then says she met them, picked up the painting, and brought it back to her place, where a bug promptly crawled out of it.
“I’m, like, going to hang it up, and a tiny little bug crawls out from it, which was weird,” she says. “That is kind of an isolated circumstance that grossed me out, but I don’t think it’s an actual issue.”
While the bug was an isolated incident, the actual issue for Klein was what she found on the back of the painting.
“Anyways, I turned the painting over and inside of it was a tiny tag that that I squinted [at]—I’m like, ‘What is that?’” Klein mimes looking at the tag. “It was from Ross… for $30.”
Conversation in the comments
Commenters shared more concern about a bug infestation than they did about the pricing mishap.
“I’d be more scared of roaches or bed bugs vs paying too much,” one user said.
“MAKE SURE IT WASN’T A BED BUG,” another commenter echoed.
The official Orkin Pest Control account also weighed in on the potential infestation.
“The relief when you said the bug was not the main issue here,” the account wrote.
While the bug was the main topic of discussion in the comments, some users were curious about the painting.
“Show the painting!” one of the top comments demanded. “What are we watching til the end for?”
Klein posted a response to that comment where she did, in fact, show the painting. It appeared to be almost fully white, with sweeping, textured lines in the same style as a zen garden.
What did the Facebook Marketplace seller have to say?
Klein made an update video where she detailed her latest exchange with the Marketplace sellers she bought the painting from.
“Live update to the story—this is all happening very fast,” she starts. “So I go and I send them a picture of the tag, and I’m like: ‘Hey, did y’all know that this was only $30 to begin with?’” The seller apologized to Klein, saying that he hadn’t realized the mistake.
“He was like, ‘I’m so sorry, we have three paintings that are very similar and I didn’t realize that this one was that one,’” Klein recounts. She then says that he seemed really nice, and she told him it was “whatever.” With the price issue cleared up, Klein says that her real concern now is the bug.
“I feel like I should check, honestly, again. I mean, it was just a little fire ant,” she says. “Hopefully there’s not, like, swarms of them. You’d think I’d be able to see them.”
She concludes the video by saying that “all was well.”
“But that was my quick tea—I thought it was gonna be piping hot, but it’s just kind of a quick simmer down,” Klein says. “Which is good, y’know. Communication is key, always, even on Marketplace, y’know.”
Are Marketplace mishaps common?
While Klein’s experience was an accident that ended with a nice conversation and a net loss of zero, that isn’t always the case.
In a 2023 article for Wired, Amanda Hoover writes about her experience being scammed on Facebook Marketplace. She says received multiple identical messages, all oddly-spaced, asking her to accept full virtual payment for a couch.
“The buyer either says they must pay now, so that I would take the item off the listing, or so that their husband/brother/son/mover, you name it, can come pick up the futon later that day,” Hoover writes. While she didn’t accept any of the offers, she speculates on what would have happened if she had.
“It’s likely these people would have sent a phishing link,” Hoover says. “Either as a text to my phone number or in an email—disguised as communication from Zelle, looking to drain me of more money than the couch is worth.”
Hoover also interviewed multiple internet security experts, who urged users to be wary online—even on sites like Facebook, with seemingly built-in verification and security measures.
“Experts say the constant evolving nature of scams makes them tricky for companies to defeat,” Hoover notes. The scam Hoover experienced is far from the only type on the platform: as of publication, the Better Business Bureau’s Scam Tracker lists 1,794 scams related to Facebook Marketplace.
The Daily Dot reached out to Klein via TikTok and Instagram direct message.
Internet culture is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s web_crawlr newsletter here. You’ll get the best (and worst) of the internet straight into your inbox.
Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.
The post Woman buys painting on Facebook Marketplace listed for $80. Then she flips it over: ‘What are y’all doing?’ appeared first on The Daily Dot.
]]>
Buyers beware: TikTok user Emma Klein (@imemmaklein) found out that she nearly paid double the price for a used painting on Facebook Marketplace in a recent viral video.
Klein begins the video by directly addressing a couple that recently sold her a painting via Facebook Marketplace.
“This morning, when you posted [the painting] for $80, I hit you up and I was like ‘Hey, I know this is a total shot in the dark—would you be willing to do $30?’” Klein says.
The sellers told Klein that the lowest they would go was $50 for the piece, which she accepted but had to decline. “I was like, ‘Cool, I’m gonna have to pass because I’m balling on a budget right now, but if there’s anything that changes, you let me know,'” she recalls in the clip.
Klein explains that the couple eventually contacted her again, offering to sell at her original offer of $30. She then says she met them, picked up the painting, and brought it back to her place, where a bug promptly crawled out of it.
“I’m, like, going to hang it up, and a tiny little bug crawls out from it, which was weird,” she says. “That is kind of an isolated circumstance that grossed me out, but I don’t think it’s an actual issue.”
While the bug was an isolated incident, the actual issue for Klein was what she found on the back of the painting.
“Anyways, I turned the painting over and inside of it was a tiny tag that that I squinted [at]—I’m like, ‘What is that?’” Klein mimes looking at the tag. “It was from Ross… for $30.”
Conversation in the comments
Commenters shared more concern about a bug infestation than they did about the pricing mishap.
“I’d be more scared of roaches or bed bugs vs paying too much,” one user said.
“MAKE SURE IT WASN’T A BED BUG,” another commenter echoed.
The official Orkin Pest Control account also weighed in on the potential infestation.
“The relief when you said the bug was not the main issue here,” the account wrote.
While the bug was the main topic of discussion in the comments, some users were curious about the painting.
“Show the painting!” one of the top comments demanded. “What are we watching til the end for?”
Klein posted a response to that comment where she did, in fact, show the painting. It appeared to be almost fully white, with sweeping, textured lines in the same style as a zen garden.
What did the Facebook Marketplace seller have to say?
Klein made an update video where she detailed her latest exchange with the Marketplace sellers she bought the painting from.
“Live update to the story—this is all happening very fast,” she starts. “So I go and I send them a picture of the tag, and I’m like: ‘Hey, did y’all know that this was only $30 to begin with?’” The seller apologized to Klein, saying that he hadn’t realized the mistake.
“He was like, ‘I’m so sorry, we have three paintings that are very similar and I didn’t realize that this one was that one,’” Klein recounts. She then says that he seemed really nice, and she told him it was “whatever.” With the price issue cleared up, Klein says that her real concern now is the bug.
“I feel like I should check, honestly, again. I mean, it was just a little fire ant,” she says. “Hopefully there’s not, like, swarms of them. You’d think I’d be able to see them.”
She concludes the video by saying that “all was well.”
“But that was my quick tea—I thought it was gonna be piping hot, but it’s just kind of a quick simmer down,” Klein says. “Which is good, y’know. Communication is key, always, even on Marketplace, y’know.”
Are Marketplace mishaps common?
While Klein’s experience was an accident that ended with a nice conversation and a net loss of zero, that isn’t always the case.
In a 2023 article for Wired, Amanda Hoover writes about her experience being scammed on Facebook Marketplace. She says received multiple identical messages, all oddly-spaced, asking her to accept full virtual payment for a couch.
“The buyer either says they must pay now, so that I would take the item off the listing, or so that their husband/brother/son/mover, you name it, can come pick up the futon later that day,” Hoover writes. While she didn’t accept any of the offers, she speculates on what would have happened if she had.
“It’s likely these people would have sent a phishing link,” Hoover says. “Either as a text to my phone number or in an email—disguised as communication from Zelle, looking to drain me of more money than the couch is worth.”
Hoover also interviewed multiple internet security experts, who urged users to be wary online—even on sites like Facebook, with seemingly built-in verification and security measures.
“Experts say the constant evolving nature of scams makes them tricky for companies to defeat,” Hoover notes. The scam Hoover experienced is far from the only type on the platform: as of publication, the Better Business Bureau’s Scam Tracker lists 1,794 scams related to Facebook Marketplace.
The Daily Dot reached out to Klein via TikTok and Instagram direct message.
Internet culture is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s web_crawlr newsletter here. You’ll get the best (and worst) of the internet straight into your inbox.
Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.
The post Woman buys painting on Facebook Marketplace listed for $80. Then she flips it over: ‘What are y’all doing?’ appeared first on The Daily Dot.
]]>
Scammers are using QR codes to steal people's information. While they've commonly replaced real QR codes with links to fraudulent websites—some unsuspecting are receiving these scams right at their doorsteps.
TikTok user Nena Rome (@nenarome777) warns about a recent scam that arrived as a free package containing a ring in her latest video. It has received almost three million views as of Monday evening.
QR codes are barcodes that people can scan with their phone camera to direct them to various websites. These codes, frequently used on restaurant menus, parking meters, posters, and more, are vulnerable to scammers in the public.
However, Rome's experience consisted of a QR code she received in a package. In the video, she says she unexpectedly received a package with a piece of jewelry, a ring, at her store.
“Apparently, a lot of women are receiving this. It’s a pretty cheap ring. It’s cute, but pretty cheap ring,” she alleges.
Rome says the package came with a few cards, which she shows in the video, one of which has a QR code on the back. Immediately suspicious, she called her bank to make sure there were no charges on her card.
QR code scams are a rising an issue
Earlier this year, the FBI released a warning about QR code scams. The agency says last year there had been about $150 million of reported losses involving fraudulent QR codes.
One Atlanta resident noticed the QR in her local parking garage was extra shiny. She realized that scammers were putting fake QR codes over real ones.
In an interview with GMA, the FBI said this scam is relatively widespread. Not only can scammers access your information through these links, but they can also drop a computer intrusion software that can alter your phone and steal credentials.
One user on Rome’s video commented, “Yep I work at a bank and we were notified of the QR code scam.”
The bank's warning
Rome’s bank told her that these scammers are sending these rings (and QR codes) to many women.
“What they’re doing is they’re getting access to your phone, to all the accounts that are linked on your phone,” Rome says. “They’re wiping out bank accounts, doing whatever they want to do if you give them complete access.”
The TikToker ends her video by warning others that these packages with QR codes can come from all over the country, stating she got hers from Texas and others have gotten some from New York.
“Guess you can keep the ring, but do not do that. Do not scan the QR code," she advises.
TikTok’s reaction to the scam
Viewers were shocked to hear about Rome's experience—and grateful that she is spreading the word.
“No more scanning with my phone. Thank you,” one user commented.
Another user said, “Wow.. high level scam. Thank you so much for sharing.”
One viewer wrote, “I recently saw someone post this EXACT RING! She thought it was a secret admirer.”
A further user said this wasn’t their first time seeing the ring. “Omg! My best friend got the same ring and box!!!” they wrote.
Other commenters were skeptical of the scam.
“I’d be more afraid the ring has tracking or something. That it’s a pretty big financial investment to buy the ring and ship just hoping you use the QR code though,” one wrote.
Another said, “I thought the ring has a chip in it.”
How to prevent scammers from hacking your phone through QR codes
The Social Security Administration released precautionary steps people can take to avoid QR code fraud.
First, users should always verify the origin of the QR code. This includes making sure it comes from a reliable source. If after you scan it and it seems fake, do not enter any information into the webpage.
The SSA also recommends inspecting the code to check for any signs of tampering, unusual colors, or misspellings.
Another precautionary step is to always be cautious of unsolicited QR codes, like ones that come in an unexpected package. People should also be aware of urgent requests using QR codes.
The SSA says scammers often pretend to be government officials and use fake QR codes to defraud people.
For example, a scammer may pose as a Social Security employee claiming that you have an outstanding debt or a problem with your account and demanding immediate payment. The scammer may send fake QR codes via text or email requesting the payment.
The final precautionary step the Social Security Administration recommends is to stay informed on the latest QR code frauds and scams. They recommend following sources like cybersecurity blogs, news outlets, and official government websites for updates.
The Daily Dot has reached out to Rome via TikTok direct messages.
Internet culture is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s web_crawlr newsletter here. You’ll get the best (and worst) of the internet straight into your inbox.
Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.
The post ‘I’m done scanning’: Woman warns of QR code scam that was sent to her doorstep appeared first on The Daily Dot.
]]>
Scammers are using QR codes to steal people's information. While they've commonly replaced real QR codes with links to fraudulent websites—some unsuspecting are receiving these scams right at their doorsteps.
TikTok user Nena Rome (@nenarome777) warns about a recent scam that arrived as a free package containing a ring in her latest video. It has received almost three million views as of Monday evening.
QR codes are barcodes that people can scan with their phone camera to direct them to various websites. These codes, frequently used on restaurant menus, parking meters, posters, and more, are vulnerable to scammers in the public.
However, Rome's experience consisted of a QR code she received in a package. In the video, she says she unexpectedly received a package with a piece of jewelry, a ring, at her store.
“Apparently, a lot of women are receiving this. It’s a pretty cheap ring. It’s cute, but pretty cheap ring,” she alleges.
Rome says the package came with a few cards, which she shows in the video, one of which has a QR code on the back. Immediately suspicious, she called her bank to make sure there were no charges on her card.
QR code scams are a rising an issue
Earlier this year, the FBI released a warning about QR code scams. The agency says last year there had been about $150 million of reported losses involving fraudulent QR codes.
One Atlanta resident noticed the QR in her local parking garage was extra shiny. She realized that scammers were putting fake QR codes over real ones.
In an interview with GMA, the FBI said this scam is relatively widespread. Not only can scammers access your information through these links, but they can also drop a computer intrusion software that can alter your phone and steal credentials.
One user on Rome’s video commented, “Yep I work at a bank and we were notified of the QR code scam.”
The bank's warning
Rome’s bank told her that these scammers are sending these rings (and QR codes) to many women.
“What they’re doing is they’re getting access to your phone, to all the accounts that are linked on your phone,” Rome says. “They’re wiping out bank accounts, doing whatever they want to do if you give them complete access.”
The TikToker ends her video by warning others that these packages with QR codes can come from all over the country, stating she got hers from Texas and others have gotten some from New York.
“Guess you can keep the ring, but do not do that. Do not scan the QR code," she advises.
TikTok’s reaction to the scam
Viewers were shocked to hear about Rome's experience—and grateful that she is spreading the word.
“No more scanning with my phone. Thank you,” one user commented.
Another user said, “Wow.. high level scam. Thank you so much for sharing.”
One viewer wrote, “I recently saw someone post this EXACT RING! She thought it was a secret admirer.”
A further user said this wasn’t their first time seeing the ring. “Omg! My best friend got the same ring and box!!!” they wrote.
Other commenters were skeptical of the scam.
“I’d be more afraid the ring has tracking or something. That it’s a pretty big financial investment to buy the ring and ship just hoping you use the QR code though,” one wrote.
Another said, “I thought the ring has a chip in it.”
How to prevent scammers from hacking your phone through QR codes
The Social Security Administration released precautionary steps people can take to avoid QR code fraud.
First, users should always verify the origin of the QR code. This includes making sure it comes from a reliable source. If after you scan it and it seems fake, do not enter any information into the webpage.
The SSA also recommends inspecting the code to check for any signs of tampering, unusual colors, or misspellings.
Another precautionary step is to always be cautious of unsolicited QR codes, like ones that come in an unexpected package. People should also be aware of urgent requests using QR codes.
The SSA says scammers often pretend to be government officials and use fake QR codes to defraud people.
For example, a scammer may pose as a Social Security employee claiming that you have an outstanding debt or a problem with your account and demanding immediate payment. The scammer may send fake QR codes via text or email requesting the payment.
The final precautionary step the Social Security Administration recommends is to stay informed on the latest QR code frauds and scams. They recommend following sources like cybersecurity blogs, news outlets, and official government websites for updates.
The Daily Dot has reached out to Rome via TikTok direct messages.
Internet culture is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s web_crawlr newsletter here. You’ll get the best (and worst) of the internet straight into your inbox.
Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.
The post ‘I’m done scanning’: Woman warns of QR code scam that was sent to her doorstep appeared first on The Daily Dot.
]]>
A woman with a Macy's credit card reports getting a letter showing a concerning rise in its APR—which has her contemplating closing the credit card and not shopping there again.
The TikTok video warning, which starts with the creator saying, "Here's a warning, everyone," can be found on the Latina Plant Priestess (@latinaplantpriestess) account. It was put up Friday, getting more than 366,000 views since. In it, she shares a letter she got from Macy's informing her of changes to her credit.
"I got this letter as an update from Macy's, my credit card," she says, adding, "I have excellent credit."
She then says, "Oh, look at what it says now," showing that the APR on the card is jumping up to 34.49%. "They are out of their damn minds. They can close my account."
Rising credit card interest rates
She goes on to explain that it's possible to call and challenge the rate by August 26, but if a customer doesn't do that, the rate will take effect, based on her interpretation of the letter. She also points out, "You know that they lost me. I was a customer. They are cray cray."
She also advised people to close their accounts, which can actually negatively impact one's credit score.
Experian advises, "In general, keep unused credit cards open so you benefit from longer average credit history and lower credit utilization. Consider putting one small regular purchase on the card and paying it off automatically to keep the card active."
The rate might seem outrageous, but according to Forbes, current credit card rates are more expensive than you might think. For the week of July 29, "The average credit card interest rate is 27.62%."
The article adds, "The Federal Reserve keeps tabs on the average interest rate that U.S. consumers pay for a variety of different financial products—credit cards included. In May 2024, the average credit card interest rate in the U.S. on accounts with balances that assessed interest was 22.76%, according to The Federal Reserve."
It then adds, "Of course, the annual percentage rates (APR) you pay on your own credit cards might not match up with the national average. Credit card APRs can vary widely based on a number of factors, from your credit score to your debt-to-income ratio and beyond."
Commenters weigh in
One remarked, "Tjmaxx, Marshall’s, HomeGoods card is the exact same! I hate that I even opened a card with them."
Someone else said, "Same here! Had this card for 15 years! Never once late!! Great credit! I’m over it!"
"There is not one thing in Macy’s that is worth me buying at 34% interest," another observed.
The Los Angeles-based creator, whose real name is Laura Jardon, responded to the Daily Dot via email. She said, regarding contacting Macy's, that she hasn't reached out after further consideration. "I don’t believe there’s room for negotiation. I had recently reached out to another CC company, Capital One, about lowering their interest rate (24%) and they refused."
The Daily Dot reached out to Macy's via email for comment.
Internet culture is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s web_crawlr newsletter. You’ll get the best (and worst) of the internet straight into your inbox.
Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.
The post ‘They are out of their damn minds’: Woman says she regrets opening up Macy’s credit card, says she will never shop there again appeared first on The Daily Dot.
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A woman with a Macy's credit card reports getting a letter showing a concerning rise in its APR—which has her contemplating closing the credit card and not shopping there again.
The TikTok video warning, which starts with the creator saying, "Here's a warning, everyone," can be found on the Latina Plant Priestess (@latinaplantpriestess) account. It was put up Friday, getting more than 366,000 views since. In it, she shares a letter she got from Macy's informing her of changes to her credit.
"I got this letter as an update from Macy's, my credit card," she says, adding, "I have excellent credit."
She then says, "Oh, look at what it says now," showing that the APR on the card is jumping up to 34.49%. "They are out of their damn minds. They can close my account."
Rising credit card interest rates
She goes on to explain that it's possible to call and challenge the rate by August 26, but if a customer doesn't do that, the rate will take effect, based on her interpretation of the letter. She also points out, "You know that they lost me. I was a customer. They are cray cray."
She also advised people to close their accounts, which can actually negatively impact one's credit score.
Experian advises, "In general, keep unused credit cards open so you benefit from longer average credit history and lower credit utilization. Consider putting one small regular purchase on the card and paying it off automatically to keep the card active."
The rate might seem outrageous, but according to Forbes, current credit card rates are more expensive than you might think. For the week of July 29, "The average credit card interest rate is 27.62%."
The article adds, "The Federal Reserve keeps tabs on the average interest rate that U.S. consumers pay for a variety of different financial products—credit cards included. In May 2024, the average credit card interest rate in the U.S. on accounts with balances that assessed interest was 22.76%, according to The Federal Reserve."
It then adds, "Of course, the annual percentage rates (APR) you pay on your own credit cards might not match up with the national average. Credit card APRs can vary widely based on a number of factors, from your credit score to your debt-to-income ratio and beyond."
Commenters weigh in
One remarked, "Tjmaxx, Marshall’s, HomeGoods card is the exact same! I hate that I even opened a card with them."
Someone else said, "Same here! Had this card for 15 years! Never once late!! Great credit! I’m over it!"
"There is not one thing in Macy’s that is worth me buying at 34% interest," another observed.
The Los Angeles-based creator, whose real name is Laura Jardon, responded to the Daily Dot via email. She said, regarding contacting Macy's, that she hasn't reached out after further consideration. "I don’t believe there’s room for negotiation. I had recently reached out to another CC company, Capital One, about lowering their interest rate (24%) and they refused."
The Daily Dot reached out to Macy's via email for comment.
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The post ‘They are out of their damn minds’: Woman says she regrets opening up Macy’s credit card, says she will never shop there again appeared first on The Daily Dot.
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A viral video posted to TikTok this week raised a discussion about the high prices on Chick-fil-A and other fast food menus, particularly where healthier options like fruit and vegetables are concerned.
Holding a half-full cup of fruit salad up to the camera, TikToker Brooke (@frankgallagherdupe) called it “highway robbery” that she paid $6.29. The video has amassed over 134,800 times since it was first posted July 28.
Viewers were quick to point out that the fruit cup isn’t the only shockingly high-priced item on the restaurant’s menu.
Viewers weigh in on the fruit cup value
“12 count grilled nuggets are $8.29!” one wrote.
“They made me pay for an empty salad container today,” another user shared.
One Chick-fil-A worker was surprised by the meager contents of the cup. “That’s a large and should have been a lot fuller than that,” @fearless.me.76 opined.
A fixed high cost of fruits and vegetables that has trended for a decade in the U.S. has led Americans to pay 40% more for them, while the country continues to import much more produce than it exports (though the rate of vegetable imports is about 25 percent higher than that of fruit.)
Rising fast food prices
Fast food prices in general, as noted by the Consumer Price Index, are rising at an inflation rate of 5.8 percent earlier this year. Customers didn't need data to tell them that, however. Many fast food fans are in uproar over increased prices lately.
Several viewers noted that the apples layered on the bottom of the fruit cup often tasted bitter. According to their website, Chick-fil-A sources most of their produce from West Coast states like California and Arizona, but the apples served in their fruit cups come from various locations depending on region and time of year. West Coast restaurants serve apples predominantly from Cashmere, Washington while East Coast locations get theirs from New York farms in the western part of the state.
Other users suggested cheaper alternatives for buying fruit in the TikTok’s comment section, including Panera and Whole Foods. “We sell them same fruit mix and all, wayyyy cheaper,” one Panera worker shared.
“It’s like 3 bucks and the box is full, sometimes they even have 50 percent off,” user dani3elaa said of Whole Foods fruit cup offerings.
The Daily Dot reached out to Brooke via TikTok direct message.
Internet culture is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s web_crawlr newsletter. You’ll get the best (and worst) of the internet straight into your inbox.
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The post ‘They made me pay for an empty salad container today’: Customer can’t believe how much Chick-fil-A is charging for fruit cups that ‘aren’t even full’ appeared first on The Daily Dot.
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A viral video posted to TikTok this week raised a discussion about the high prices on Chick-fil-A and other fast food menus, particularly where healthier options like fruit and vegetables are concerned.
Holding a half-full cup of fruit salad up to the camera, TikToker Brooke (@frankgallagherdupe) called it “highway robbery” that she paid $6.29. The video has amassed over 134,800 times since it was first posted July 28.
Viewers were quick to point out that the fruit cup isn’t the only shockingly high-priced item on the restaurant’s menu.
Viewers weigh in on the fruit cup value
“12 count grilled nuggets are $8.29!” one wrote.
“They made me pay for an empty salad container today,” another user shared.
One Chick-fil-A worker was surprised by the meager contents of the cup. “That’s a large and should have been a lot fuller than that,” @fearless.me.76 opined.
A fixed high cost of fruits and vegetables that has trended for a decade in the U.S. has led Americans to pay 40% more for them, while the country continues to import much more produce than it exports (though the rate of vegetable imports is about 25 percent higher than that of fruit.)
Rising fast food prices
Fast food prices in general, as noted by the Consumer Price Index, are rising at an inflation rate of 5.8 percent earlier this year. Customers didn't need data to tell them that, however. Many fast food fans are in uproar over increased prices lately.
Several viewers noted that the apples layered on the bottom of the fruit cup often tasted bitter. According to their website, Chick-fil-A sources most of their produce from West Coast states like California and Arizona, but the apples served in their fruit cups come from various locations depending on region and time of year. West Coast restaurants serve apples predominantly from Cashmere, Washington while East Coast locations get theirs from New York farms in the western part of the state.
Other users suggested cheaper alternatives for buying fruit in the TikTok’s comment section, including Panera and Whole Foods. “We sell them same fruit mix and all, wayyyy cheaper,” one Panera worker shared.
“It’s like 3 bucks and the box is full, sometimes they even have 50 percent off,” user dani3elaa said of Whole Foods fruit cup offerings.
The Daily Dot reached out to Brooke via TikTok direct message.
Internet culture is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s web_crawlr newsletter. You’ll get the best (and worst) of the internet straight into your inbox.
Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.
The post ‘They made me pay for an empty salad container today’: Customer can’t believe how much Chick-fil-A is charging for fruit cups that ‘aren’t even full’ appeared first on The Daily Dot.
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Why is American rapper Flavor Flav at the Paris Olympics and spending time with the USA Water Polo team? Let us explain.
When it comes to things that make you go “whaa?”, the Olympics are a harvest season of true abundance, a point that’s even more driven home by this year’s featuring stuff that’s extremely, what’s the word, French. From headless Marie Antoinette metal performances to Stranger Things-meets-Phantom of the Opera opening ceremonies, there’s no shortage of curios so far at this year’s Paris Olympiad.
Flavor Flav is at the Paris Olympics
However, if you’ve been watching any of the water polo events so far, you may have noticed a recognizable figure who seems lost and, knowing him, very well might have been.
Yes, rap legend Flavor Flav has been ever-present at the US polo events. You’ve undoubtedly caught a glimpse during the broadcast so far and thought, “wait, shouldn’t he be wearing comically large clock necklaces somewhere?”
However, Flav’s presence is of a more official manner than you might imagine. And it’s fantastic.
How Flavor Flav got involved with Olympic Water Polo
On May 4th, water polo Olympian Maggie Steffens posted on Instagram that revealed how many Olympic athletes hold second and third jobs to help achieve their medal dreams.
Below that post was a comment by Flav, who wrote, “AYYY YOOO,,, as a girl dad and supporter of all women’s sports—imma personally sponsor you my girl,,, whatever you need.”
“And imma sponsor the whole team,” he added. “My manager is in touch with your agent and imma use all my relationships and resources to help all y’all even more. That’s a FLAVOR FLAV promise.”
How good is a Flavor Flav promise, you ask? As good as its weight in gold clock necklaces, because on July 1st, Flavor Flav officially signed a five-year sponsorship deal with USA Water Polo to cover the men’s and women’s water polo teams.
Flav spoke to NBC Olympics in May to explain more of his reasoning behind the support. “For me doing this, I ain’t gonna lie, to me this is one of the biggest things that I feel that I could have ever done in life, outside of the other accomplishments that I’ve made to music,” he said. “By sponsoring a water polo team and helping these girls out, this is bigger than me winning a Grammy.”
It’s all pretty awesome and Flav looks like he’s having the time of his damn life cheering on the team, encouraging other celebrities to do the same, and even hanging out with First Lady Jill Biden.
Flav’s also not content to just cheer from the sidelines. The man wants in on the action too:
Watch on TikTok
Social media weighs in
Either way, Flav has garnered a whole lot of goodwill from the gesture. Including online:
Honestly, they should probably just let him compete. Just for one competition that they don’t really care about. Come on, the guy’s earned it!
Of course, Flav isn’t the only old-school rap icon to be having a blast at the 2024 Summer Olympics. Snoop Dogg’s there too folks, providing interviews and commentary as only he can.
Your move, Vanilla Ice.
Internet culture is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s web_crawlr newsletter here. You’ll get the best (and worst) of the internet straight into your inbox.
Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.
The post What’s Flavor Flav doing at the Olympics? Instagram comments lead to USA Water Polo team connection appeared first on The Daily Dot.
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Why is American rapper Flavor Flav at the Paris Olympics and spending time with the USA Water Polo team? Let us explain.
When it comes to things that make you go “whaa?”, the Olympics are a harvest season of true abundance, a point that’s even more driven home by this year’s featuring stuff that’s extremely, what’s the word, French. From headless Marie Antoinette metal performances to Stranger Things-meets-Phantom of the Opera opening ceremonies, there’s no shortage of curios so far at this year’s Paris Olympiad.
Flavor Flav is at the Paris Olympics
However, if you’ve been watching any of the water polo events so far, you may have noticed a recognizable figure who seems lost and, knowing him, very well might have been.
Yes, rap legend Flavor Flav has been ever-present at the US polo events. You’ve undoubtedly caught a glimpse during the broadcast so far and thought, “wait, shouldn’t he be wearing comically large clock necklaces somewhere?”
However, Flav’s presence is of a more official manner than you might imagine. And it’s fantastic.
How Flavor Flav got involved with Olympic Water Polo
On May 4th, water polo Olympian Maggie Steffens posted on Instagram that revealed how many Olympic athletes hold second and third jobs to help achieve their medal dreams.
Below that post was a comment by Flav, who wrote, “AYYY YOOO,,, as a girl dad and supporter of all women’s sports—imma personally sponsor you my girl,,, whatever you need.”
“And imma sponsor the whole team,” he added. “My manager is in touch with your agent and imma use all my relationships and resources to help all y’all even more. That’s a FLAVOR FLAV promise.”
How good is a Flavor Flav promise, you ask? As good as its weight in gold clock necklaces, because on July 1st, Flavor Flav officially signed a five-year sponsorship deal with USA Water Polo to cover the men’s and women’s water polo teams.
Flav spoke to NBC Olympics in May to explain more of his reasoning behind the support. “For me doing this, I ain’t gonna lie, to me this is one of the biggest things that I feel that I could have ever done in life, outside of the other accomplishments that I’ve made to music,” he said. “By sponsoring a water polo team and helping these girls out, this is bigger than me winning a Grammy.”
It’s all pretty awesome and Flav looks like he’s having the time of his damn life cheering on the team, encouraging other celebrities to do the same, and even hanging out with First Lady Jill Biden.
Flav’s also not content to just cheer from the sidelines. The man wants in on the action too:
Watch on TikTok
Social media weighs in
Either way, Flav has garnered a whole lot of goodwill from the gesture. Including online:
Honestly, they should probably just let him compete. Just for one competition that they don’t really care about. Come on, the guy’s earned it!
Of course, Flav isn’t the only old-school rap icon to be having a blast at the 2024 Summer Olympics. Snoop Dogg’s there too folks, providing interviews and commentary as only he can.
Your move, Vanilla Ice.
Internet culture is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s web_crawlr newsletter here. You’ll get the best (and worst) of the internet straight into your inbox.
Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.
The post What’s Flavor Flav doing at the Olympics? Instagram comments lead to USA Water Polo team connection appeared first on The Daily Dot.
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A woman is issuing a warning to cat owners about automatic litter boxes after the tragic death of her cat, Mochi. Here's what we know so far.
TikTok user Carli Jay (@carli.jay) posted a video yesterday detailing the horrifying situation. “So I hate that I’m having to make this, but I just want to warn everyone and anyone who has or plans to get a robot litter box.”
After an emotional pause, Jay reveals why she is issuing this warning. “Yesterday morning, we woke up—me and my 2-year-old daughter—and I went to find my cat, and she was hanging from her litter box.”
What happened to the cat
Jay continues, “It had closed on her neck and there was red stuff everywhere. And she was gone .I just want to warn anyone—just don’t use them. They are dangerous. I have a 2-year-old daughter. If it can be a cat it can be anything. Our poor baby Mochi. Nothing will bring her back.”
She urges anyone who is considering purchasing a robotic litter box to reconsider the decision. And anyone who already has one should throw it away. She indicates that the brand that made her robot litter box has reached out to her about this incident.
“I just want everyone to be aware that they are dangerous,” she says.
More details in a follow-up video
In a follow-up video, Jay answers questions from TikTok users about the specifics of the situation. She replies to a user wrote wrote, “Yeah we're gonna need a little more information, like which litter robot? Mine stops moving if any motion is detected and won't restart for like 10 mins after or else you have to manually start it.”
One thing she says she will not reveal the name of the brand that she owns, because she is not yet sure what she is legally able to say on social media.
“As soon as I hear what I’m allowed to say, I absolutely will blast the company,” she says. “I don’t want this ever happening again.”
Jay says her robotic litter box was new, and it came equipped with sensors and an app that alerted her when Mochi used it. “It definitely had a sensor,” she says. “It sensed when she was in front of it. The thing would constantly stop. But something happened. It happened in the night when we were sleeping.”
She adds, “I will say ours had a door. And that’s what went up … [and] she was hanging from.” Jay says that in her mind, it’s easier to scoop cat waste manually rather than having to worry about a fatal malfunction—however unlikely it might be.
Viewers react … and speculate
The videos have amassed a combined 430,000 views as of Monday evening. In the comments, users offered condolences, suggestions, and speculation.
One user wrote, “Omg I’m so sorry please sue them so they take this off the market and do a recall.” Jay replied, “Thank you, they have stopped selling it on Amazon... I'll be seeking legal action tomorrow as it is the weekend.”
Another user wrote, “I have the Litter Robot... The sensors are amazing. I can definitely see this happening with one of the cheaper knock off ones. I’m so sorry.”
Someone else wrote, “Which brand? I have litter robot but it does have pinch detect and is safe. Please which brand was it.” While Jay did not confirm the manufacturer, the Daily Dot has reached out to the brand mentioned in the comments section for comment.
We also reached out to Amazon via email and Jay via TikTok comment and direct message for comment.
Internet culture is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s web_crawlr newsletter. You’ll get the best (and worst) of the internet straight into your inbox.
Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.
The post ‘There is a reason the Litter Robot is 1K’: Woman issues warning about automatic litter boxes after cat dies appeared first on The Daily Dot.
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A woman is issuing a warning to cat owners about automatic litter boxes after the tragic death of her cat, Mochi. Here's what we know so far.
TikTok user Carli Jay (@carli.jay) posted a video yesterday detailing the horrifying situation. “So I hate that I’m having to make this, but I just want to warn everyone and anyone who has or plans to get a robot litter box.”
After an emotional pause, Jay reveals why she is issuing this warning. “Yesterday morning, we woke up—me and my 2-year-old daughter—and I went to find my cat, and she was hanging from her litter box.”
What happened to the cat
Jay continues, “It had closed on her neck and there was red stuff everywhere. And she was gone .I just want to warn anyone—just don’t use them. They are dangerous. I have a 2-year-old daughter. If it can be a cat it can be anything. Our poor baby Mochi. Nothing will bring her back.”
She urges anyone who is considering purchasing a robotic litter box to reconsider the decision. And anyone who already has one should throw it away. She indicates that the brand that made her robot litter box has reached out to her about this incident.
“I just want everyone to be aware that they are dangerous,” she says.
More details in a follow-up video
In a follow-up video, Jay answers questions from TikTok users about the specifics of the situation. She replies to a user wrote wrote, “Yeah we're gonna need a little more information, like which litter robot? Mine stops moving if any motion is detected and won't restart for like 10 mins after or else you have to manually start it.”
One thing she says she will not reveal the name of the brand that she owns, because she is not yet sure what she is legally able to say on social media.
“As soon as I hear what I’m allowed to say, I absolutely will blast the company,” she says. “I don’t want this ever happening again.”
Jay says her robotic litter box was new, and it came equipped with sensors and an app that alerted her when Mochi used it. “It definitely had a sensor,” she says. “It sensed when she was in front of it. The thing would constantly stop. But something happened. It happened in the night when we were sleeping.”
She adds, “I will say ours had a door. And that’s what went up … [and] she was hanging from.” Jay says that in her mind, it’s easier to scoop cat waste manually rather than having to worry about a fatal malfunction—however unlikely it might be.
Viewers react … and speculate
The videos have amassed a combined 430,000 views as of Monday evening. In the comments, users offered condolences, suggestions, and speculation.
One user wrote, “Omg I’m so sorry please sue them so they take this off the market and do a recall.” Jay replied, “Thank you, they have stopped selling it on Amazon... I'll be seeking legal action tomorrow as it is the weekend.”
Another user wrote, “I have the Litter Robot... The sensors are amazing. I can definitely see this happening with one of the cheaper knock off ones. I’m so sorry.”
Someone else wrote, “Which brand? I have litter robot but it does have pinch detect and is safe. Please which brand was it.” While Jay did not confirm the manufacturer, the Daily Dot has reached out to the brand mentioned in the comments section for comment.
We also reached out to Amazon via email and Jay via TikTok comment and direct message for comment.
Internet culture is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s web_crawlr newsletter. You’ll get the best (and worst) of the internet straight into your inbox.
Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.
The post ‘There is a reason the Litter Robot is 1K’: Woman issues warning about automatic litter boxes after cat dies appeared first on The Daily Dot.
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Childless cat lady memes mock remarks made by Vice Presidential candidate JD Vance about Democrats such as Vice President Kamala Harris. Vance’s comments trashing women who don’t have children, whether by choice or biological or environmental circumstance, have not gone over well with much of the massive voter block.
“We are effectively run in this country, via the Democrats, via our corporate oligarchs, by a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they’ve made, and so they want to make the rest of the country miserable, too,” said Donald Trump’s running mate. “And it’s just a basic fact if you look at Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg, AOC—the entire future of the Democrats is controlled by people without children.”
What are the childless cat lady memes about?
In response to this derision towards women who have cats but no children, people have been posting photos of their favorite ladies who love cats as "childless cat lady" memes. These include widely beloved figures with mass numbers of fans such as singer Taylor Swift and the late actress and animal lover Betty White.
JD Vance's "childless cat lady" remarks
Vance made the "childless cat lady" remarks on July 29, 2021, on an episode of Tucker Carlson Tonight. The then-Ohio Senator was trying to claim that people can only feel as though they have a stake in their nation's future if they have biological children.
Harris is the stepmother of two children brought into her life by her husband, attorney Doug Emhoff after they met on a blind date in 2013.
The childless cat lady memes of 2024 began to pop up around Twitter on July 22, just after Vance's old comments resurfaced amid hype for Harris' presidential campaign.
What's with the childless cat lady hate?
The stereotype of the childless cat lady or "crazy" cat lady mixes contempt for the image of the "spinster" that originated in the 18th century with the even older fear of the witch who keeps cats and is more likely to eat children than birth them.
In 1881, writer Hart Ayrault bemoaned the unmarried, childless woman who had "failed in the prime object of existence"—which, at least for women in Vance's view, was marrying a man and popping out kids.
"Tradition associates her with cats and parrots, on which she is supposed to lavish all that is left of affection in her withered heart," he wrote in Potter’s American Monthly.
Jennifer Aniston responds to Vance
On July 24, actress Jennifer Aniston posted to Instagram Stories, lambasting Vance for his statements in a rare foray into politics.
"I truly can’t believe this is coming from a potential VP of The United States," the video text read. "All I can say is… Mr. Vance, I pray that your daughter is fortunate enough to bear children of her own one day. I hope she will not need to turn to IVF as a second option. Because you are trying to take that away from her, too."
Aniston herself struggled with fertility difficulties, undergoing IVF and other treatments for a time in her late 30s and into her 40s. Her attempts to get pregnant were ultimately unsuccessful. She is more of a dog lady, however.
Vance has since doubled down during an appearance on The Megyn Kelly Show last week. “Obviously, it was a sarcastic comment,” he said. "I’ve got nothing against cats.”
“People are focusing so much on the sarcasm and not on the substance of what I actually said. And the substance of what I said, I’m sorry, it’s true.”
Childless cat ladies would like a word
Related memes:
- 17 of the funniest JD Vance couch memes
- A JD Vance meme for every American
- Crying cat meme: A history of tears
- GOP congressman resorts to cat memes in Obamacare fight
The internet is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s web_crawlr newsletter here to get the best (and worst) of the internet straight into your inbox.
Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.
The post JD Vance’s 2021 remarks birth ‘childless cat lady’ memes appeared first on The Daily Dot.
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Childless cat lady memes mock remarks made by Vice Presidential candidate JD Vance about Democrats such as Vice President Kamala Harris. Vance’s comments trashing women who don’t have children, whether by choice or biological or environmental circumstance, have not gone over well with much of the massive voter block.
“We are effectively run in this country, via the Democrats, via our corporate oligarchs, by a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they’ve made, and so they want to make the rest of the country miserable, too,” said Donald Trump’s running mate. “And it’s just a basic fact if you look at Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg, AOC—the entire future of the Democrats is controlled by people without children.”
What are the childless cat lady memes about?
In response to this derision towards women who have cats but no children, people have been posting photos of their favorite ladies who love cats as "childless cat lady" memes. These include widely beloved figures with mass numbers of fans such as singer Taylor Swift and the late actress and animal lover Betty White.
JD Vance's "childless cat lady" remarks
Vance made the "childless cat lady" remarks on July 29, 2021, on an episode of Tucker Carlson Tonight. The then-Ohio Senator was trying to claim that people can only feel as though they have a stake in their nation's future if they have biological children.
Harris is the stepmother of two children brought into her life by her husband, attorney Doug Emhoff after they met on a blind date in 2013.
The childless cat lady memes of 2024 began to pop up around Twitter on July 22, just after Vance's old comments resurfaced amid hype for Harris' presidential campaign.
What's with the childless cat lady hate?
The stereotype of the childless cat lady or "crazy" cat lady mixes contempt for the image of the "spinster" that originated in the 18th century with the even older fear of the witch who keeps cats and is more likely to eat children than birth them.
In 1881, writer Hart Ayrault bemoaned the unmarried, childless woman who had "failed in the prime object of existence"—which, at least for women in Vance's view, was marrying a man and popping out kids.
"Tradition associates her with cats and parrots, on which she is supposed to lavish all that is left of affection in her withered heart," he wrote in Potter’s American Monthly.
Jennifer Aniston responds to Vance
On July 24, actress Jennifer Aniston posted to Instagram Stories, lambasting Vance for his statements in a rare foray into politics.
"I truly can’t believe this is coming from a potential VP of The United States," the video text read. "All I can say is… Mr. Vance, I pray that your daughter is fortunate enough to bear children of her own one day. I hope she will not need to turn to IVF as a second option. Because you are trying to take that away from her, too."
Aniston herself struggled with fertility difficulties, undergoing IVF and other treatments for a time in her late 30s and into her 40s. Her attempts to get pregnant were ultimately unsuccessful. She is more of a dog lady, however.
Vance has since doubled down during an appearance on The Megyn Kelly Show last week. “Obviously, it was a sarcastic comment,” he said. "I’ve got nothing against cats.”
“People are focusing so much on the sarcasm and not on the substance of what I actually said. And the substance of what I said, I’m sorry, it’s true.”
Childless cat ladies would like a word
Related memes:
- 17 of the funniest JD Vance couch memes
- A JD Vance meme for every American
- Crying cat meme: A history of tears
- GOP congressman resorts to cat memes in Obamacare fight
The internet is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s web_crawlr newsletter here to get the best (and worst) of the internet straight into your inbox.
Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.
The post JD Vance’s 2021 remarks birth ‘childless cat lady’ memes appeared first on The Daily Dot.
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Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance’s (R-Ohio) public profile has changed tremendously since his now-running mate former President Donald Trump first ran for president in 2016. Vance, then a venture capitalist and author of the successful memoir Hillbilly Elegy, was a harsh critic of Trump and used to openly describe him as an “idiot,” wondering whether he might be “America’s Hitler” in a Facebook conversation with a friend.
As Vance radicalized over the course of a successful Ohio Senate campaign, he reconciled with Trump while becoming a fixture of MAGA politics in his own right.
“I allowed myself to focus so much on the stylistic element of Trump that I completely ignored the way in which he substantively was offering something very different on foreign policy, on trade, on immigration,” Vance told the New York Times’ Ross Douthat in June this year.
Along the way, his personal style also shifted, going from the baby-faced blogger of yore to a sitting senator. Vance grew a beard, got sharper haircuts, and settled into a professional suit and tie.
Some people think he hasn’t stopped there though, and are speculating that he’s also wearing eyeliner.
Is JD Vance wearing eyeliner?
On TikTok, the theories have been swirling since Trump announced the pick.
“This is unserious political commentary but I can’t stop thinking about it,” @mamasissiesays said in one video posted on June 19. “Is JD Vance wearing eyeliner?”
The TikToker, who goes by Casey, compared stylized photos of Vance with his official Senate portrait, as well as how he looked on TV appearances.
“No eyeliner to see here … that’s very much a man not wearing eyeliner,” Casey said about his Senate portrait, then contrasted it with a TV appearance. “Obviously something’s going on here,” she commented, “along with some contour, I’d love to know his shade.”
“That is a bold line just a few millimeters over and he’ll have a proper cat-eye on his hands,” she added, zooming in on one shot of Vance’s eye.
“We’re fine with men who wear makeup,” she specified. “What we’re not fine with is hypocrites who make … harmful policies against men who wear makeup.”
She also claimed to have found Vance’s shade, a “deep taupe-gray matte” glide-on eye pencil called “Urban Decay Desperation.”
It's a fitting color for a man who chucked his liberal values to latch on to a candidate decrying crime-riddled American metropolises.
Casey wasn’t the only TikToker who noticed the eyeliner. @skyeleight55, who goes by Skye Dawn on the platform, reacted to Casey’s video with a screenshot of Vance she said she’d taken because she had the exact same thought
“You cannot tell me he’s not sitting there … [with] foundation, eye liner, and filler,” Skye Dawn said.
Another TikToker offered the full JD Vance makeup tutorial for his national debut at the Republican National Convention.
In the post, they draw on a really “tight” eyeliner, both above and “under your eye like you are a 14-year-old girl in 2006," that, along with mascara "makes our eyes look sunken and like we're worried for America."
The Trump-Vance campaign didn’t answer questions about whether they were employing a makeup artist for Vance. Multiple people who worked for Vance in the Senate also didn’t answer questions about his makeup regime. Plenty of politicians wear makeup today on the campaign trail and under the glare of stage and television lights.
Republican presidential candidate Richard Nixon blamed his loss in 1960 against John F. Kennedy at least partially on the fact that he refused to wear makeup during their televised debate. Polling before the TV faceoff had Nixon six points up, but his haggard appearance turned voters off.
Kriss Blevens, who’s done campaign makeup for dozens of presidential candidates over the years, also didn’t respond to questions about whether Vance was sporting eyeliner.
But this wouldn't be the first aesthetic secret of a politician outed by TikTok.
Online theories about the footwear of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) did him no favors in a brutal Republican primary campaign against Trump. TikTokers speculated that DeSantis was wearing a wedge shoe to increase his height, something he denied but which led to numerous awkward questions about the boots, and even an attack from Trump, who accused him of wearing high heels.
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The post TikTok makeup artists think they’ve found JD Vance’s exact shade of eyeliner appeared first on The Daily Dot.
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Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance’s (R-Ohio) public profile has changed tremendously since his now-running mate former President Donald Trump first ran for president in 2016. Vance, then a venture capitalist and author of the successful memoir Hillbilly Elegy, was a harsh critic of Trump and used to openly describe him as an “idiot,” wondering whether he might be “America’s Hitler” in a Facebook conversation with a friend.
As Vance radicalized over the course of a successful Ohio Senate campaign, he reconciled with Trump while becoming a fixture of MAGA politics in his own right.
“I allowed myself to focus so much on the stylistic element of Trump that I completely ignored the way in which he substantively was offering something very different on foreign policy, on trade, on immigration,” Vance told the New York Times’ Ross Douthat in June this year.
Along the way, his personal style also shifted, going from the baby-faced blogger of yore to a sitting senator. Vance grew a beard, got sharper haircuts, and settled into a professional suit and tie.
Some people think he hasn’t stopped there though, and are speculating that he’s also wearing eyeliner.
Is JD Vance wearing eyeliner?
On TikTok, the theories have been swirling since Trump announced the pick.
“This is unserious political commentary but I can’t stop thinking about it,” @mamasissiesays said in one video posted on June 19. “Is JD Vance wearing eyeliner?”
The TikToker, who goes by Casey, compared stylized photos of Vance with his official Senate portrait, as well as how he looked on TV appearances.
“No eyeliner to see here … that’s very much a man not wearing eyeliner,” Casey said about his Senate portrait, then contrasted it with a TV appearance. “Obviously something’s going on here,” she commented, “along with some contour, I’d love to know his shade.”
“That is a bold line just a few millimeters over and he’ll have a proper cat-eye on his hands,” she added, zooming in on one shot of Vance’s eye.
“We’re fine with men who wear makeup,” she specified. “What we’re not fine with is hypocrites who make … harmful policies against men who wear makeup.”
She also claimed to have found Vance’s shade, a “deep taupe-gray matte” glide-on eye pencil called “Urban Decay Desperation.”
It's a fitting color for a man who chucked his liberal values to latch on to a candidate decrying crime-riddled American metropolises.
Casey wasn’t the only TikToker who noticed the eyeliner. @skyeleight55, who goes by Skye Dawn on the platform, reacted to Casey’s video with a screenshot of Vance she said she’d taken because she had the exact same thought
“You cannot tell me he’s not sitting there … [with] foundation, eye liner, and filler,” Skye Dawn said.
Another TikToker offered the full JD Vance makeup tutorial for his national debut at the Republican National Convention.
In the post, they draw on a really “tight” eyeliner, both above and “under your eye like you are a 14-year-old girl in 2006," that, along with mascara "makes our eyes look sunken and like we're worried for America."
The Trump-Vance campaign didn’t answer questions about whether they were employing a makeup artist for Vance. Multiple people who worked for Vance in the Senate also didn’t answer questions about his makeup regime. Plenty of politicians wear makeup today on the campaign trail and under the glare of stage and television lights.
Republican presidential candidate Richard Nixon blamed his loss in 1960 against John F. Kennedy at least partially on the fact that he refused to wear makeup during their televised debate. Polling before the TV faceoff had Nixon six points up, but his haggard appearance turned voters off.
Kriss Blevens, who’s done campaign makeup for dozens of presidential candidates over the years, also didn’t respond to questions about whether Vance was sporting eyeliner.
But this wouldn't be the first aesthetic secret of a politician outed by TikTok.
Online theories about the footwear of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) did him no favors in a brutal Republican primary campaign against Trump. TikTokers speculated that DeSantis was wearing a wedge shoe to increase his height, something he denied but which led to numerous awkward questions about the boots, and even an attack from Trump, who accused him of wearing high heels.
Internet culture is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s web_crawlr newsletter here. You’ll get the best (and worst) of the internet straight into your inbox.
Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.
The post TikTok makeup artists think they’ve found JD Vance’s exact shade of eyeliner appeared first on The Daily Dot.
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A former Chipotle worker decided to retell a story explaining why he got fired from the restaurant, prompting the customer harmed by the incident to respond.
In a viral TikTok video titled "The Chipotle Incident" that has amassed over 1.3 million views and 160,000 likes, user Life According to Eli (@lifeaccordingtoeli) retold the story of what lead to his firing.
"So just over a year ago, I lost my job at Chipotle for making this bowl and I thought it as about time for me to retell the story because I think it's honestly one of the funniest things I've ever done," he said.
'The Chipotle Incident'
The man then explained that he was in the midst of closing the store when he received a big online order. Someone ordered "12 different bowls," including one that requested sour cream.
"Who orders 12 Chipotle bowls at 10 o'clock at night?" the man asked. Nonetheless, Eli said he made all of the food. Though he also admitted that while making the last bowl, he added far too much of one ingredient.
"When I got to the last bowl, it said 'Extra sour cream,'" he said. "And I don't know what came over me, but I just kept putting more and more scoops of sour cream on the bowl ."
He added so much extra sour cream that the customer was unable to enjoy their meal. The former Chipotle worker also admitted that he snapped a photo of the bowl to send to his friends.
Three weeks later, the man's boss finally addressed the incident.
Revenge gone viral
"We go back to his office and he sits me down and says 'This isn't gonna be a very fun chat,'" Eli reported.
Apparently, the woman had posted the bowl she received on TikTok and it had gone viral, racking up 7 million views. The comments section was also riddled with messages "bashing" Chipotle.
"It was just a PR nightmare," the worker admitted.
Then the man's boss revealed email exchanges he had with corporate and security camera footage of him making the bowl and taking a picture of it.
The man allegedly quit his job after the confrontation with his boss. The Daily Dot covered the original incident in a previous post.
Viewers call out the ex-Chipotle worker
In the clip's comments section, many called out the TikToker for his behavior.
"Nah she cooked you bro," user Stel Pappas wrote. "She posted the receipt and it was just one bowl and ordered at 8:30."
In response to the new clip, the customer decided to offer up more details about the incident a viral slide show uploaded by Beccado1 (@beccado1).
"One thing about me, I always come with receipts," the video's description read.
The slideshow included a Chipotle receipt from the alleged day of the order. It indicated that he only ordered one bowl and the pick up time for the order was 8:30pm, not 10pm.
"Yeah I think I told the story so many times to so many people that I mixed up what really happened," Eli replied. "Turns out I just screwed with her order for no reason and deservingly lost my job."
Watch on TikTok
The Daily Dot reached out to Eli and Chipotle via email, user Beccado1 by TikTok comment and direct message for comment.
Internet culture is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s web_crawlr newsletter. You’ll get the best (and worst) of the internet straight into your inbox.
Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.
The post ‘You kinda ate him up’: Ex-Chipotle worker says he lost job for making revenge bowl for ‘massive’ 10pm order. Then the customer responds appeared first on The Daily Dot.
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A former Chipotle worker decided to retell a story explaining why he got fired from the restaurant, prompting the customer harmed by the incident to respond.
In a viral TikTok video titled "The Chipotle Incident" that has amassed over 1.3 million views and 160,000 likes, user Life According to Eli (@lifeaccordingtoeli) retold the story of what lead to his firing.
"So just over a year ago, I lost my job at Chipotle for making this bowl and I thought it as about time for me to retell the story because I think it's honestly one of the funniest things I've ever done," he said.
'The Chipotle Incident'
The man then explained that he was in the midst of closing the store when he received a big online order. Someone ordered "12 different bowls," including one that requested sour cream.
"Who orders 12 Chipotle bowls at 10 o'clock at night?" the man asked. Nonetheless, Eli said he made all of the food. Though he also admitted that while making the last bowl, he added far too much of one ingredient.
"When I got to the last bowl, it said 'Extra sour cream,'" he said. "And I don't know what came over me, but I just kept putting more and more scoops of sour cream on the bowl ."
He added so much extra sour cream that the customer was unable to enjoy their meal. The former Chipotle worker also admitted that he snapped a photo of the bowl to send to his friends.
Three weeks later, the man's boss finally addressed the incident.
Revenge gone viral
"We go back to his office and he sits me down and says 'This isn't gonna be a very fun chat,'" Eli reported.
Apparently, the woman had posted the bowl she received on TikTok and it had gone viral, racking up 7 million views. The comments section was also riddled with messages "bashing" Chipotle.
"It was just a PR nightmare," the worker admitted.
Then the man's boss revealed email exchanges he had with corporate and security camera footage of him making the bowl and taking a picture of it.
The man allegedly quit his job after the confrontation with his boss. The Daily Dot covered the original incident in a previous post.
Viewers call out the ex-Chipotle worker
In the clip's comments section, many called out the TikToker for his behavior.
"Nah she cooked you bro," user Stel Pappas wrote. "She posted the receipt and it was just one bowl and ordered at 8:30."
In response to the new clip, the customer decided to offer up more details about the incident a viral slide show uploaded by Beccado1 (@beccado1).
"One thing about me, I always come with receipts," the video's description read.
The slideshow included a Chipotle receipt from the alleged day of the order. It indicated that he only ordered one bowl and the pick up time for the order was 8:30pm, not 10pm.
"Yeah I think I told the story so many times to so many people that I mixed up what really happened," Eli replied. "Turns out I just screwed with her order for no reason and deservingly lost my job."
Watch on TikTok
The Daily Dot reached out to Eli and Chipotle via email, user Beccado1 by TikTok comment and direct message for comment.
Internet culture is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s web_crawlr newsletter. You’ll get the best (and worst) of the internet straight into your inbox.
Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.
The post ‘You kinda ate him up’: Ex-Chipotle worker says he lost job for making revenge bowl for ‘massive’ 10pm order. Then the customer responds appeared first on The Daily Dot.
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