When the far-right, neo-fascist Proud Boys aren't engaging in political violence, they're licking each other's faces.
Wait... what?
That's what the organization's chairman, Enrique Tarrio, said during a bizarre interview with Vice as he prepared to serve a five-month prison term.
Tarrio, who was sentenced last month for burning a Black Lives Matter banner stolen from a church in Washington, D.C., and for carrying two high-capacity firearm magazines, said that members have an interesting way of resolving their disputes.
He said:
"At our national event, every year, we put a boxing ring together, or I rent an octagon, the guys put gloves on, and they just f****** go ham on each other."
But, he added, members don't always want to fight. In fact,
"...they don't even want to fight. They get drunk, they slap each other's asses, they kiss each other on the f****** cheek, lick each other in the f****** face, you know?"
"And I'm like, you guys were just f****** calling each other the most stupidest thing just a month ago."
Tarrio referred to these bonding sessions as "pretty magical."
Others, however, think they're just a bit too weird. These guys may have watched Fight Club one too many times.
A little homoerotic, no?
Shame they'll never accept their gaynesshttps://twitter.com/RawStory/status/1435299803836080128\u00a0\u2026— Chris' Mind Farts (@Chris' Mind Farts) 1631108441
What happens when you delude yourself and take "Fight Club" as a serious movie, and completely miss the point.https://twitter.com/RawStory/status/1435299803836080128\u00a0\u2026— Tinkering Tailoring Tom (@Tinkering Tailoring Tom) 1631060815
#ProudBoys are so cute. I wonder if they occasionally slip the tongue in as well?https://twitter.com/RawStory/status/1435299803836080128\u00a0\u2026— A Generic Twit (@A Generic Twit) 1631046589
Does that occur before or after the potluck dinner and cross burning?https://www.rawstory.com/proud-boys-weird-national-events/\u00a0\u2026— OSadek52 (@OSadek52) 1631037051
Hmm is it wrong that I don't quite believe it's their faces they're licking?https://www.rawstory.com/proud-boys-weird-national-events/\u00a0\u2026— Don't Hate (@Don't Hate) 1631040275
Ummm...okay...?https://twitter.com/RawStory/status/1435299803836080128\u00a0\u2026— Fuck Anti-Vaxxers & Anti-Maskers. (@Fuck Anti-Vaxxers & Anti-Maskers.) 1631037188
The first rule of Gross Dumbdumb Club should be not to talk about the gross shit the Gross Dumbdumb Club does.https://twitter.com/RawStory/status/1435299803836080128\u00a0\u2026— Jay, Omicron 1966 v1a | \u270a (@Jay, Omicron 1966 v1a | \u270a) 1631037336
Oh, so they are proud of their homoerotic parties...can they not see it?\nProud Boys leader says members fight and then lick each other\u2019s faces at their \u2018magical\u2019 eventshttps://www.rawstory.com/proud-boys-weird-national-events/\u00a0\u2026— dimplasm\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@dimplasm\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1631066507
Does a Psychologist want to chime in here?\n\nProud Boys leader says members fight and then lick each other\u2019s faces at their \u2018magical\u2019 eventshttps://www.rawstory.com/proud-boys-weird-national-events/\u00a0\u2026— TheRealStratRat (@TheRealStratRat) 1631043451
The Proud Boys have denied that they're homophobic, though members have gone on the record about the group's anti-semitic and homophobic internal culture.
Last year, the LGBTQ+ community mocked the group on social media after they co-opted the hashtag #ProudBoys by posting images of gay pride and pictures of themselves with loved ones.
While there isn't really much information out there about how the group selects their leaders, Tarrio has hinted that there is some kind of re-election process that he might or might not run for again.
Regardless, he says he believes the group will be "well taken care of" while he's away, which sounds like there's a whole crew of face-lickers already lined up.
@jaketapoer/Bluesky
@BillAckman/Twitter