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?
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.
