Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

U.S. Military Warns Service Members About Potential Violence From Incels When 'Joker' Hits Theaters

U.S. Military Warns Service Members About Potential Violence From Incels When 'Joker' Hits Theaters
Warner Bros. Pictures

Connections between cinematic portrayals of The Joker and real-world violence are nothing new, but the U.S. military is growing more concerned than ever that the upcoming film Joker may take things to a new level.


The film, which portrays many instances of gun violence, many masterminded by the film's titular protagonist, has already spawned numerous social media posts which the FBI has flagged as potential threats from extremists.

Many of these social media posts have been made by "incels."

Incels (short for "involuntary celibate") are a toxic online subculture comprised largely of young White men who believe they deserve romantic relationships despite being unable to attain one thanks to, in their opinion, society's ills.

In an email, sent on September 18, service members were told to be extra vigilant and on the lookout for signs of a potential shooter and to "identify two escape routes" when entering public spaces like movie theaters.

The email also gave recipients a quick review of the standard "run, hide, fight" advice given to civilians in an active shooter situation.

"Run if you can. If you're stuck, hide (also known as 'sheltering in place'), and stay quiet. If a shooter finds you, fight with whatever you can."

The email was labeled "For Official Use Only," and was passed along to the Army after they received a notice from the FBI.

There are no specific suspects authorities are on the lookout for and the email was meant as a purely "precautionary measure."

After uncovering "disturbing and very specific chatter" online regarding potential violence, an Army spokesperson issued a comment, saying:

"We do this routinely because the safety and security of our workforce is paramount. We want our workforce to be prepared and diligent on personal safety both inside the workplace and out."

Shooters Elliot Rodger and James Holmes (who said he "was the Joker" after opening fire in a screening of The Dark Knight Rises) were both part of the incel community and are now regarded as heroes among many who prescribe to that mindset.

The Aurora Colorado movie theater which was the site of Holmes' shooting will not screen the movie.

Families of the Aurora victims sent a letter to Warner Bros. hoping they would take a proactive role in stemming future gun violence.

"We are calling on you to be a part of the growing chorus of corporate leaders who understand that they have a social responsibility to keep us all safe."


Army officials pointed out in the email that:

"[Many incels] also idolize the Joker character, the violent clown from the Batman series, admiring his depiction as a man who must pretend to be happy, but eventually fights back against bullies."

An FBI spokesperson commented:

"While our standard practice is to not comment on specific intelligence products, the FBI is in touch with our law enforcement and private sector partners about the online posts. As always, we encourage the public to remain vigilant and to promptly report suspicious activity to law enforcement."


Efforts are being taken to make sure the upcoming film doesn't inspire more mass shootings of the kind most often performed by young White men.

Hopefully people are able to have a peaceful day at the movie theater.

Unfortunately with many pro-gun rights laws in some states, theaters cannot tell these shooters their guns should stay at home and despite evidence to the contrary, gun rights advocates still spread the message that everyone being armed is the only way to stop these mass shootings in the United States.

*****

To learn about the Batman's nemesis, it all started in the comics. The graphic novel The Joker (DC Black Label Edition) is available here.

"The scourge of Gotham City reaches new levels of complexity and intensity in these two uniquely crafted stories from the New York Times best-selling and Eisner Award-winning team of Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo."

*****

Listen to the first season of George Takei's podcast, 'Oh Myyy Pod!' where we explore the racially charged videos that have taken the internet by storm.

Be sure to subscribe here and never miss an episode.

More from Trending

Jesse Watters
Fox News

Jesse Watters Dragged After Adding Another Mind-Boggling Rule For 'Real Men'

Fox News host Jesse Watters, who is apparently an authority of what it means to be a manly man, gave jazz hands to make a point about how "real men" should or shouldn't wave.

The target of his ridicule was Tim Walz, the enthusiastic Democratic Minnesota governor and vice presidential candidate who often greets the public by raising both hands in the air to wave.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots of crowd at town hall and Rep. Mike Flood
@MorePerfectUS/X; KETV NewsWatch 7

GOP Rep. Goes Viral For His Response To Crowd Chanting 'Tax The Rich' At Town Hall

Nebraska Republican Representative Mike Flood was criticized following his incredulous response to a crowd that chanted "Tax the rich!" during a town hall meeting.

The Columbus High School auditorium hosted the town hall on Tuesday evening, drawing "nearly 380" attendees, according to local network KETV Omaha. The event was lively, with Flood facing both sharp criticism over Trump administration policies and some appreciation for showing up in person.

Keep ReadingShow less
Elon Musk
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Awkward Typo In Elon Musk's Bizarre 'Education Department' Trump Meme Is A Total Self-Own

Billionaire Elon Musk was widely mocked after he celebrated President Donald Trump's executive order to begin to dismantle the Department of Education (DOE) by posting a meme of Trump at the department's grave, only for an awkward misspelling to get all the attention.

Polling indicates that eliminating the Education Department is largely unpopular, with 60% of registered voters opposing the move, according to a Quinnipiac University survey conducted March 6-10. Support stands at 33%, with opposition particularly strong among Democrats—98% oppose it, while just 1% support it.

Keep ReadingShow less
JB Pritzker; Donald Trump
Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images; Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Dem Governor Reveals Trump's Bonkers Demand In Exchange For Equipment During COVID

Illinois Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker revealed during a speech this week that he clashed with President Donald Trump during the first Trump administration after Trump promised necessary medical equipment during the COVID pandemic on the condition that Pritzker praise him publicly.

Five years ago, the United States was grappling with the initial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The country had entered shutdowns that had severe economic consequences, leaving businesses and industries on the brink of collapse.

Keep ReadingShow less
Scrabble tiles spelling the word scam
Scam spelled with scrabbles on a wooden table

People Break Down How They Realized An Entire Industry Was A Total Scam

We unfortunately live in a world where scams are on the rise.

Thankfully, some of them are pretty easy to detect, such as an automated call from the IRS telling you a warrant is out for your arrest, or an email claiming to be from Amazon or the USPS asking for your credit card information, only to look closer and see the email address is a yahoo account.

Keep ReadingShow less