這位滿頭白髮、戴著口罩、身穿防風外套、帶著連指手套、手抱胸前的老人,他是美國聯邦參議員伯尼·桑德斯(Bernard "Bernie" Sanders),他在出席美國第 46 任總統喬·拜登的就職典禮上被攝影師 Brendan Smialowski 拍下了這張照片,然後成為目前北美最火紅的流行迷因。
是的,桑德斯議員的穿著打伴被認為像是路人阿伯,尤其是他抵達會場時還拎著一個大信封袋,感覺就像是個郵差阿伯一樣,在網路上火速引發討論現象,不論是電視媒體與網路論壇,甚至在遊戲圈也開始引發迷因改圖,包含《上古卷軸 5》的迷因「Toddroll」或是各種遊戲畫面。
— Caj " " Renard (@caj_renard) January 21, 2021
C'mon, V, let's get outta here. pic.twitter.com/QXpU8NOsBB
— Caj " " Renard (@caj_renard) January 21, 2021
What is a man pic.twitter.com/csxoiMGT0H
— A_Rival, aka DJ iPad (@8bitpimp) January 20, 2021
I can't believe that @coffeetalk_game is Bernie's GOTY of 2020. pic.twitter.com/nMCSwm1CDs
— fahmiツ - buy What Comes After on Steam/Itch pls (@fahmitsu) January 20, 2021
Now that Biden is president we finally have a new Tojo Clan chairman pic.twitter.com/o8EGcBBhb9
— Jon Riesenbach ♟️ (@moriyoshijon) January 20, 2021
Bernie is in my game??? pic.twitter.com/Uszy9NoGzs
— Ray (@TZ_Ghosts) January 21, 2021
換句話說,平時不大關心國際時事的迷因創作者,以後你看到老外的影片出現這位阿伯時,不用太吃驚,這是 2021 的網路新產物。
當然,你或許可以說美國人太無聊,但迷因文化是難以捉摸的,就像是近期台灣開始瘋傳《天竺鼠車車》一樣,有些人到現在依然搞不懂為什麼 PUI PUI 很療癒一樣。
— kenzie (@pk_kenzie) January 20, 2021
或許是因為桑德斯議員的模樣很討喜,又或者是他的路人打扮全然不像是來參加正經的總統就職大典,總之他就是紅了,甚至連他的連指手套也跟著紅了。
Bernie’s mittens are made by Jen Ellis, a teacher from Essex Junction, Vt. She gave them to him 2+ years ago and was surprised when he began wearing them on the campaign trail. They are made from repurposed wool sweaters and lined with fleece made from recycled plastic bottles. pic.twitter.com/ErLr29lY2t
— Ruby Cramer (@rubycramer) January 20, 2021
至於他這身打扮的理由,根據美媒採訪,只是因為天氣很冷而已。