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Imagine being an attractive young British man of color.
You might be fit and handsome enough to get on a popular reality show, like Love Island.
That success might lead to social media followers and online popularity.
Great!
But social media fame can have a downside, like waking up to discover you're a spokesmodel for President Donald Trump.
That's what happened to Rykard Jenkins. Luckily one of his fans stateside let him know.
Jenkins then shared the story on his Instagram.
Turns out it's like those t-shirt ads you see where a celebrity is "modeling" a shirt for some company trying to get you to buy it. Through the miracle of photo manipulation, any celebrity in a t-shirt can become a model for these companies.
And any fit bloke in a red hat is suddenly supporting Donald Trump.
Jenkins original photo showed him on the River Thames in London posed in front of the London Eye providing a shoutout to FOXBERRY BOYS (FXB) and their own red hat.
All very British.
The altered version employed by a company called conservativenews.co removed a few items from Jenkins photo. Like anything to indicate he was in London except to the most eagle-eyed observer.
Jenkins also shared the news of his new unpaid endorsement gig on his Twitter account.
Woke up this morning to know I’m the new face for the 2020 @realDonaldTrump campaign 🇺🇸 ? https://t.co/gl5SqPxKsj— Rykard 🇬🇧 (@Rykard 🇬🇧)1568363229.0
@ItsRykard @realDonaldTrump Millions of Americans send their profound condolences— cassandracarolina (@cassandracarolina)1568490737.0
Others shared times Trump endorsements from POC online were less than authentic.
@ItsRykard @DustinGiebel @realDonaldTrump You AND Eazy-E. lol. https://t.co/kyFM9e3OGl— Tuxedo Mask (@Tuxedo Mask)1568489117.0
@CryptoConserv @ItsRykard @realDonaldTrump https://t.co/4wKELxSpQ0— spensergirlFlorida (@spensergirlFlorida)1568580438.0
And while there's no indication the Trump camp was actually involved, people noted the President has a history of not paying for things.
@ItsRykard @badjujubes @realDonaldTrump Lmao they went and stole a British dudes pic to peddle hats made in China f… https://t.co/A5tMjcmNbK— Boy with The Bag (@Boy with The Bag)1568423164.0
@Just_Jabe @ItsRykard @badjujubes @realDonaldTrump And they oppose multinationalism.— FormerGregSamsa® (@FormerGregSamsa®)1568488727.0
But noted Trump had a history of paying for some things.
@drakkenmensch @diegosalinas_33 @ToonDoctor @FreConsBo @ItsRykard @The_UnSilent_ @realDonaldTrump He does like payi… https://t.co/jzeY2N6pNo— Anthony Bautista-Ramil (@Anthony Bautista-Ramil)1568548204.0
Many felt a lawsuit was warranted.
@ItsRykard @realDonaldTrump Trump loves suing people, I think you're obligated to sue him. Lol. Do it. For all of us.— MomsThoughts™ (@MomsThoughts™)1568490676.0
@ItsRykard @realDonaldTrump I’d tell you to sue him but he will probably put his #TurdReich henchman Barr to the ta… https://t.co/yPlP6S8qjh— Lesley Abravanel🆘 (@Lesley Abravanel🆘)1568506911.0
@ItsRykard @realDonaldTrump Sounds like a lawsuit in the making...PLEASE?!!! PRETTY PLEASE?!!— Really?!! (@Really?!!)1568489097.0
Others saw it as an indication that red hats are canceled for the foreseeable future.
@jakepickford @ItsRykard @realDonaldTrump I have a couple of Texas Ranger red hats. I used to get some “OMG-oh-it’s… https://t.co/bc3EnzzFbO— John Wright (@John Wright)1568495941.0
@ItsRykard @realDonaldTrump Here's a better hat https://t.co/hCcdFD9E3E— spensergirlFlorida (@spensergirlFlorida)1568514449.0
Some felt Trump was in mourning over the loss of Gregory Cheadle.
@ItsRykard @Jersey_Craig @realDonaldTrump Trump is just sad he lost his African American the other day. I mean, he… https://t.co/n7oXhGTiiF— Bryan Dawson (@Bryan Dawson)1568526080.0
But however you look at it, it's all very 2019.
This shirt, modeled by no one without their consent or against their will, is available here.
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Listen to the first four episodes of George Takei's podcast, 'Oh Myyy Pod!' where we explore the racially charged videos that have taken the internet by storm.
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