I thought Maria was intoxicated, though she claimed to be sober at the time. Besides, that was my uptight hangup, not hers. She was on the menu, and the masses were hungry. I wanted to protect her, but it was too late. “Maria,” she said, “like in West Side Story.” “Liz!” I said, ashamed I’d forgotten to introduce myself, so stressed by my odd duty. She was pretty excited about it.Īfter I asked her a few questions, I thanked her and began to walk away. I hesitated out of courtesy but continued for the story. He guided me through the horde and strongly encouraged me to interview her while it was happening.
About an hour later, Jake saw a growing crowd of rubberneckers watching that same girl get her anal tattoo covered up with other ink. Everyone else in the hotel lobby thought it was hilarious. I wasn’t expecting to look at an anus at that point in the day. While we were filming a regular old interview, just getting fired up for something else, a girl walked by and asked if we wanted to see her tattoo - then lifted her short schoolgirl skirt to reveal her asshole, ringed in ink. My partner in crime, Jake, filmed, edited, and really made that story famous. Now, as the Miami Tattoo Arts Convention approaches this weekend, seems like a good time to reflect. This year, 2017, marks the fifth anniversary of Maria’s asshole art spreading like diarrhea throughout the internet, eliciting much delight, shock, and disgust. And it was at the South Florida Tattoo Expo that writer, videographer, and then clubs editor Jacob Katel and I found the subject of the soon-to-be-viral video. To put that into perspective, 2012 was also the year of the tragic "Miami Zombie." Not long after the video racked up millions of views, “viral” videos became a corporate social media marketing tool.Īt the time, I was the music editor of New Times Broward-Palm Beach, interested in drawing more hits to the blog via video interviews with people living alternative lifestyles (mostly porn stars) and truly talented hip-hop artists (check out " Rick Ross Beard Girl"). It was deemed the number one insane thing to happen in Florida that year by BuzzFeed. The butthole tattoo video was one of the last organically created viral sensations. Not only was I in it, but also I had interviewed the star of the YouTube hit, Maria, the " Butthole Tattoo Girl." A friend sent a text that the video had been featured as a "New Rule" on Real Time With Bill Maher, a show my mom and dad watch regularly.Ī quick call home yielded many questions but also some excitement. There was a moment when I knew I’d have to tell my parents that a video I’d been in went viral.
0 kommentar(er)
