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==History==
==History==
The video was taped by then freshman reporter [[Chris Reason]] at ''[[Seven News]]'' concerning the arrest of a dine and dash criminal.<ref name="SMH"/> As it turned out the police arrested the wrong man in a case of mistaken identity, they thought he was "an international criminal." Edwards was actually a petty criminal with a flair for acting and multiple aliases, who was released later that day to the embarrassment of the police.<ref name="SMH">{{cite news |last1=Drevikovsky |first1=Janek |title='This is democracy manifest': Mystery star of viral video found at last |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/this-is-democracy-manifest-mystery-star-of-viral-video-found-at-last-20200307-p547vr.html |accessdate=19 March 2020 |work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=8 March 2020}}</ref> The clip remained obscure until it was uploaded to the Internet in January 2009, when it became an immediate viral video.<ref name=guardian/> Speculation about the man's identity supported [[Paul Charles Dozsa]], a notorious Hungarian [[dine and dash]]er,<ref name="SMH"/> but there were also serious doubts about this theory.{{efn-ua|"Some people question why the video had so many camera angles, why there were cameras at all at the arrest and why a man who is supposed to be from the third largest city in Hungary doesn't sound at all Hungarian."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ladbible.com/entertainment/music-aussie-band-the-chats-team-up-with-the-democracy-manifest-bloke-20200305 |work=[[LAD Bible]] |title=Aussie Band The Chats Team Up With The 'Democracy Manifest' Bloke For New Music Video |date=5 March 2020 |first1=Stewart |last1=Perrie|accessdate=20 March 2020 }}</ref>}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://thebrag.com/succulent-australian-mystery-who-bloke-iconic-video/ |title=A succulent Australian mystery: Just who is the bloke in this iconic video? |work=The Brag |author=Tyler Jenke |date=16 June 2019 |accessdate=19 March 2020}}</ref><ref name="Blair2013">{{cite news|first1=Tim|last1=Blair|date=7 September 2013|title=This Week On The Web|work=[[Daily Telegraph (Australia)|Daily Telegraph]]|publisher=News Limited|via=[[Gale (publisher)|Gale]]}}</ref><ref name="Percival">{{cite news |url=https://www.unilad.co.uk/viral/story-behind-the-democracy-manifest-guy-is-even-funnier-than-his-video/ |title=Story Behind The ‘Democracy Manifest’ Guy Is Even Funnier Than His Video |first1=Tom |last1=Percival |date=12 June 2016 |work=[[UNILAD]]|accessdate=22 March 2020}}</ref><ref name="Pan">{{cite news |url=https://goat.com.au/pop-culture/the-story-behind-the-succulent-chinese-meal-guy-is-weirder-than-that-cops-judo/ |title=The Story Behind The 'Succulent Chinese Meal' Guy Is Weirder Than That Cop's Judo |date=6 March 2020 |first1=Alexander |last1=Pan |publisher=GOAT goat.com.au |accessdate=20 March 2020}}</ref> The Dozsa theory was thoroughly debunked, politician [[John Bartlett (Australian politician)|John Bartlett]] was briefly discussed, and a man named John Ziegler was suggested as the probable actor, after an extensive review of relevant news articles<ref name="Wenger">{{cite web |url=https://levelupchess.com/paul-dozsa/ |title=The Succulent Enigma of Paul Dozsa |date=November 8, 2019 |first1=Charles |last1=Wenger ||publisher=Level Up Chess |accessdate=20 March 2020}}</ref>
The video was taped by then freshman reporter [[Chris Reason]] at ''[[Seven News]]'' concerning the arrest of a dine and dash criminal.<ref name="SMH"/> As it turned out the police arrested the wrong man in a case of mistaken identity, they thought he was "an international criminal." Edwards was actually a petty criminal with a flair for acting and multiple aliases, who was released later that day to the embarrassment of the police.<ref name="SMH">{{cite news |last1=Drevikovsky |first1=Janek |title='This is democracy manifest': Mystery star of viral video found at last |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/this-is-democracy-manifest-mystery-star-of-viral-video-found-at-last-20200307-p547vr.html |accessdate=19 March 2020 |work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=8 March 2020}}</ref> The clip remained obscure until it was uploaded to the Internet in January 2009, when it became an immediate viral video.<ref name=guardian/> Speculation about the man's identity supported [[Paul Charles Dozsa]], a notorious Hungarian [[dine and dash]]er,<ref name="Phillips">{{cite news |url=https://www.sickchirpse.com/backstory-democracy-manifest-guy/ |titlei=VIDEOS The Backstory Behind ‘Democracy Manifest’ Guy Is As Funny As His Video |first1=Daisy |last1=Phillips |date=11 June 2016 |work=[[Sick Chipse]] |accessdate=23 March 2020}}</ref> <ref name="SMH"/> but there were also serious doubts about this theory.{{efn-ua|"Some people question why the video had so many camera angles, why there were cameras at all at the arrest and why a man who is supposed to be from the third largest city in Hungary doesn't sound at all Hungarian."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ladbible.com/entertainment/music-aussie-band-the-chats-team-up-with-the-democracy-manifest-bloke-20200305 |work=[[LAD Bible]] |title=Aussie Band The Chats Team Up With The 'Democracy Manifest' Bloke For New Music Video |date=5 March 2020 |first1=Stewart |last1=Perrie|accessdate=20 March 2020 }}</ref>}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://thebrag.com/succulent-australian-mystery-who-bloke-iconic-video/ |title=A succulent Australian mystery: Just who is the bloke in this iconic video? |work=The Brag |author=Tyler Jenke |date=16 June 2019 |accessdate=19 March 2020}}</ref><ref name="Blair2013">{{cite news|first1=Tim|last1=Blair|date=7 September 2013|title=This Week On The Web|work=[[Daily Telegraph (Australia)|Daily Telegraph]]|publisher=News Limited|via=[[Gale (publisher)|Gale]]}}</ref><ref name="Percival">{{cite news |url=https://www.unilad.co.uk/viral/story-behind-the-democracy-manifest-guy-is-even-funnier-than-his-video/ |title=Story Behind The ‘Democracy Manifest’ Guy Is Even Funnier Than His Video |first1=Tom |last1=Percival |date=12 June 2016 |work=[[UNILAD]]|accessdate=22 March 2020}}</ref><ref name="Pan">{{cite news |url=https://goat.com.au/pop-culture/the-story-behind-the-succulent-chinese-meal-guy-is-weirder-than-that-cops-judo/ |title=The Story Behind The 'Succulent Chinese Meal' Guy Is Weirder Than That Cop's Judo |date=6 March 2020 |first1=Alexander |last1=Pan |publisher=GOAT goat.com.au |accessdate=20 March 2020}}</ref> The Dozsa theory was thoroughly debunked, politician [[John Bartlett (Australian politician)|John Bartlett]] was briefly discussed, and a man named John Ziegler was suggested as the probable actor, after an extensive review of relevant news articles<ref name="Wenger">{{cite web |url=https://levelupchess.com/paul-dozsa/ |title=The Succulent Enigma of Paul Dozsa |date=November 8, 2019 |first1=Charles |last1=Wenger ||publisher=Level Up Chess |accessdate=20 March 2020}}</ref>


The mystery of the man's identity continued until 2020, when Australian punk band [[The Chats]] published a music video titled "Dine 'N Dash" that re-created the viral video with an older man acting the part of Cecil George Edwards.<ref name="ABC">{{cite news |last1=Newstead |first1=Al |title=The Chats want you to enjoy a meal, a succulent sonic meal. |url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/news/musicnews/the-chats-album-tour-dine-n-dash-video-succulent-chinese-meal/12027578 |accessdate=19 March 2020 |publisher=[[ABC Australia]] |date=6 March 2020}}</ref><ref name="GQ"/> The actor then identified himself as the real Cecil George Edwards, the original mystery man revealed, now going by the name of "Jack K". Asked why he made such a show during the arrest, he said he wanted to appear crazy so he might be placed into an asylum where it would be easier to escape. It was also revealed he had an artistic career making paintings, including one of the scene of the arrest.<ref name="SMH"/>
The mystery of the man's identity continued until 2020, when Australian punk band [[The Chats]] published a music video titled "Dine 'N Dash" that re-created the viral video with an older man acting the part of Cecil George Edwards.<ref name="ABC">{{cite news |last1=Newstead |first1=Al |title=The Chats want you to enjoy a meal, a succulent sonic meal. |url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/news/musicnews/the-chats-album-tour-dine-n-dash-video-succulent-chinese-meal/12027578 |accessdate=19 March 2020 |publisher=[[ABC Australia]] |date=6 March 2020}}</ref><ref name="GQ"/> The actor then identified himself as the real Cecil George Edwards, the original mystery man revealed, now going by the name of "Jack K". Asked why he made such a show during the arrest, he said he wanted to appear crazy so he might be placed into an asylum where it would be easier to escape. It was also revealed he had an artistic career making paintings, including one of the scene of the arrest.<ref name="SMH"/>

Revision as of 11:27, 23 March 2020

Surrounded by police, the man is amazed at being arrested, exclaiming: "Gentlemen, this is democracy manifest!"

Democracy Manifest is a 1990 Australian news segment video by reporter Chris Reason. It is "one of Australia's most viral videos", according to Sportsbet.[1] The Guardian called it "perhaps the pre-eminent Australian meme of the past 10 years". [2] YouTube has several postings of the video, and they "have more than one million views each."[3]

It features a gentleman who is being arrested[A] at a Fortitude Valley Chinese restaurant for the purported crime of "dine and dash". Wrestled into a police car, he speaks with the commanding voice of a trained stage actor. As the police fumble, he exclaims "This is democracy Manifest", "Get your hand off my penis!" and "I see you know your judo well".[4]

The video was made in 1990, but was not uploaded to the Internet until 2009. A mystery developed about who the man was, until 2020; when an aging Australian actor appeared in a punk rock video that revealed his true identity as the man in the 1990 now-viral video. The revelation led to an interview with Sportsbet, and a feature in the Sydney Morning Herald.

Description

The video shows a man named Cecil George Edwards being escorted by police out of a restaurant into a waiting police car. He is clearly agitated by this situation, and when told he is being placed under arrest he boisterously exclaims in a stentorian voice, "I am under what?" As police wrestle him into a headlock and try to force him into the car, Edward booms in the controlled voice of a classic stage actor, "Gentlemen, this is democracy manifest". As the scuffle escalates he shouts "Get your hand off my penis!" and then incredulously asks, "What is the charge? Eating a meal? A succulent Chinese meal?" As the police struggle to contain Edwards, he compliments them on the headlock, "Ah yes. I see that you know your Judo well." He is then man-handled into the car, feet-first, while asking someone inside the vehicle, "And you sir, are you waiting to receive my limp penis?" By this point members of the police can be heard to chuckle in the background. His final and mostly inaudible words from the car regard a "cockblock".

History

The video was taped by then freshman reporter Chris Reason at Seven News concerning the arrest of a dine and dash criminal.[5] As it turned out the police arrested the wrong man in a case of mistaken identity, they thought he was "an international criminal." Edwards was actually a petty criminal with a flair for acting and multiple aliases, who was released later that day to the embarrassment of the police.[5] The clip remained obscure until it was uploaded to the Internet in January 2009, when it became an immediate viral video.[2] Speculation about the man's identity supported Paul Charles Dozsa, a notorious Hungarian dine and dasher,[6] [5] but there were also serious doubts about this theory.[B][8][9][10][11] The Dozsa theory was thoroughly debunked, politician John Bartlett was briefly discussed, and a man named John Ziegler was suggested as the probable actor, after an extensive review of relevant news articles[12]

The mystery of the man's identity continued until 2020, when Australian punk band The Chats published a music video titled "Dine 'N Dash" that re-created the viral video with an older man acting the part of Cecil George Edwards.[13][4] The actor then identified himself as the real Cecil George Edwards, the original mystery man revealed, now going by the name of "Jack K". Asked why he made such a show during the arrest, he said he wanted to appear crazy so he might be placed into an asylum where it would be easier to escape. It was also revealed he had an artistic career making paintings, including one of the scene of the arrest.[5]

References

Notes

  1. ^ One journalist states the arrest has never proven to be real, but also provides no evidence it was not real.[3]
  2. ^ "Some people question why the video had so many camera angles, why there were cameras at all at the arrest and why a man who is supposed to be from the third largest city in Hungary doesn't sound at all Hungarian."[7]

Citations

  1. ^ "Meet Mr Democracy Manifest". Sportsbet. 5 March 2020. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  2. ^ a b Naaman Zhou (30 December 2019). "From iSnack2.0 to Tony Abbott's onions: the best Australian memes of the decade". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  3. ^ a b Butler, Josh (5 March 2020). "The 'Democracy Manifest' Meme Guy May Not Be Dead, According To The Chats". 10 Daily. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  4. ^ a b Smiedt, David (9 March 2020). "Why It's Important To Keep Eating At Asian Restaurants". GQ Magazine. Newslifemedia Pty Ltd. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d Drevikovsky, Janek (8 March 2020). "'This is democracy manifest': Mystery star of viral video found at last". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  6. ^ Phillips, Daisy (11 June 2016). Sick Chipse https://www.sickchirpse.com/backstory-democracy-manifest-guy/. Retrieved 23 March 2020. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |titlei= ignored (help)
  7. ^ Perrie, Stewart (5 March 2020). "Aussie Band The Chats Team Up With The 'Democracy Manifest' Bloke For New Music Video". LAD Bible. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  8. ^ Tyler Jenke (16 June 2019). "A succulent Australian mystery: Just who is the bloke in this iconic video?". The Brag. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  9. ^ Blair, Tim (7 September 2013). "This Week On The Web". Daily Telegraph. News Limited – via Gale.
  10. ^ Percival, Tom (12 June 2016). "Story Behind The 'Democracy Manifest' Guy Is Even Funnier Than His Video". UNILAD. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  11. ^ Pan, Alexander (6 March 2020). "The Story Behind The 'Succulent Chinese Meal' Guy Is Weirder Than That Cop's Judo". GOAT goat.com.au. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  12. ^ Wenger, Charles (8 November 2019). "The Succulent Enigma of Paul Dozsa". Level Up Chess. Retrieved 20 March 2020. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  13. ^ Newstead, Al (6 March 2020). "The Chats want you to enjoy a meal, a succulent sonic meal". ABC Australia. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
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