We might all need a Batman to save us from fools on live streams with extra face paint and hair dye. It was Jeremy Garnier that started to impersonate The Joker and then threatened to “start killing people” via a Facebook live stream. It’s safe to say, the threat was not taken lightly by authorities.
On March 2, 2020, Garnier dyed his hair green, painted his face and began recording a Facebook Live of himself in character as the Joker.
“Please allow me to introduce myself — I’m the Joker,” Garnier began. In the nearly hour-long recording, Garnier threatened to detonate a bomb as well as carry out the mass murder of civilians while filming himself wandering around the St. Louis suburb Delmar Loop.
“I’m going to start killing people until this reaches a 1,000 [people watching],” Garnier said. “And once it reaches a 1,000, I’m going to go out in public and I’m going to kill more.”
Garnier was later arrested by police without incident while live-streaming at Blueberry Hill, a bar and restaurant. This clown didn’t end up hurting anyone and it was an empty threat.
The 51-year-old, who insisted the stunt was merely a joke and that he’d never intended to hurt anyone, said he regrets his actions.
“I was talking in character,” Garnier said. “I was quoting direct movie quotes from The Dark Knight. I’m acting a role, I’m acting a character out — not to be taken seriously. I said during the video, ‘This is performance art, I’m not making threats, I’m unarmed.’ One person called [the police] because everyone else knew I was joking.”
“I wish I would have given more disclaimers throughout the video that this is for entertainment purposes only and I’m not harmful and I shouldn’t be taken seriously,” Garnier added. “I was railroaded. Over 3,000 people [were] watching and only one person calls the police — it’s suspicious.”
Garnier pleaded guilty to a third-degree misdemeanor charge of making a terrorist threat in connection with the 2020 incident. He was subsequently sentenced to 60 days in jail with credit for time served and received two years of probation.
Garnier wasn’t done with social media as he took it to Facebook to announce his release. “Finally Free!!!!” he wrote. “Five months of my freedom over some bulls–t,” he commented.
According to Garnier’s girlfriend at the time, Lisa Mone, the live stream was intended to raise awareness for drug addiction. Perhaps when you threaten to kill people, there are no people left to abuse drugs.