QAnon-the infamous conspiracy theory that has taken over the right-wing of American politics and features such claims as Anderson Cooper drinking the blood of children to retain youth--is a fascinating and yet absolutely terrifying feature of what we consider today's Zeitgeist.
However, it can be closer to us than we think. For example, TikToker @mac1eann 's mom is a QAnon follower and the things in which she believes are....troublesome at best.
@mac1eann Visit TikTok to discover videos!
His mother appears to have sent him text messages telling him to take off his mask, to not get the vaccine, and to not even drink tap water.
@mac1eann/TikTok
@mac1eann/TikTok
@mac1eann/TikTok
@mac1eann/TikTok
The conversation also included memes that suggested aborted fetal cells were being placed in several snack and drink products around the country, and a petri dish edited to include what you are "breathing in" after 20 minutes in a mask.
Parents of children who believed in conspiracy theories shared their pain with @mac1eann.
@mac1eann/TikTok
@mac1eann/TikTok
@mac1eann/TikTok
@mac1eann/TikTok
The video has gone viral since its posting, racking up over 3.5 million views and 569,000 likes.
Despite the genesis of QAnon having strong roots to former President Donald Trump, the conspiracy theory appears to be raging as strong as ever. Gene Ho, a mayoral candidate for Myrtle Beach, SC, is an open QAnon supporter.
"They take us Q believers and they make us into tinfoil hat wearing people," he said in 2019.
"That's not the truth. We here in the Q community, we are the ones with the beautiful families. We're the ones here with the businesses."
@mac1eann/TikTok
@mac1eann/TikTok
@mac1eann/TikTok
@mac1eann/TikTok
QAnon forecasts a dark and dreary future for the American governmental system, and a large question remains: how, in the 21st century, did a conspiracy theory so clearly constructed as a smear campaign against a particular political party gain so much traction? How did people start believing Hilary Clinton killed and ate infants?
To the people with a loved one in the clutches of QAnon, wondering if the madness will ever end: you are not alone.
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@Doug Ellin/X
@evanrachelwood/Instagram