BREAKING
KEN
M
BY NATE ROGERS
BACKSTORY: A copywriter by day who shadows as a notorious and beloved
Internet troll by night—but also by day sometimes, too
FROM: Pensacola, Florida, before ultimately ending up in Brooklyn
YOU MIGHT KNOW HIM FROM: Reddit, Twitter, or Facebook, where he’s
developed a cult following
NOW: Being one of TIME’s most influential people on the Internet, much to
the chagrin of the Jimmy Dean sausage company
DO A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH ON
BING FOR “INTERNET TROLL,” and
“I always wanted this to be a playful
one of the things that you’re likely to
to my job—I love my work—and I actually
find yourself reading about is a totally-
really love the protocol of reporting to
not-over-the-top
such
an editor and the breakneck speed of a
provocateurs are actually “psychos.”
[deadline]. I want this to be the opposite.
Usually nothing is quite as convincing
It’s really just sort of me diving into a
as a sweeping medical diagnosis applied
goofy pool.”
to a large group of people, but consider
for a moment, if you will, the possibility
is associated with the exploits of a
that maybe, just maybe, every person
well-meaning, technologically impaired
joking around online hasn’t suddenly
grandfather (represented by McCarthy’s
turned into Norman Bates. If you’re still
avatars), but there are plenty of other,
following after that curveball, you might
oh, let’s say colorful characters in the
also be interested in the idea that online
Ken M universe, including a snooty
comment sections are actually the new
liberal intellectual type (“sorry, but all
home to a fascinating—and uniquely
meditation does is provide a peaceful
twenty-first century—form of comedy.
release for your anxiety”), as well as a
perpetually
theory
that
Enter one Ken M, arguably the
exercise because I am really committed
For the most part, the Ken M name
high-horsed
conservative
world’s preeminent Internet troll—and
figure (“environmentalists would rather
without a doubt one of the funniest
stop earthquakes than create jobs”).
things to arrive on your computer since
Windows Vista. For the past five years,
McCarthy
Ken M, whose real name is...Ken M
creatively calcified. Though the perspectives
(Ken McCarthy, that is), has been using
I choose are always a surprise to me.”
the various open forums of the web as
a stage, expertly inserting very fake
all
people into very real conversations,
Well, really, it’s that they’re all just that—
and drawing in an almost religious
idiots—and that nothing rustles a mean
following in the process. Whether it’s by
person’s jimmies on the Internet quite
reaffirming the separation of “clerk and
like a simpleton: “The reason the Ken M
state” on Yahoo News, or by showing off
characters are so innocent is to contrast
his blessed grandson’s bread-wrapped
with just how brutal and savage people are
ice cream sandwiches on the Applebee’s
unnecessarily,” he says. “And I just think
Facebook page, Ken M has tenderized
that’s a really funny combination.”
the scruff belly of civility online by using
our own stupidity against us. Share if
should be considered as a new breed of
you agree.
performance artist—like a digital Andy
“It’s
just
my
personal
“If I only stuck to the same voice,”
explains, “it
would
become
So what’s the through line connecting
these
lovably
inflammatory
idiots?
Though he would laugh it off, McCarthy
hobby,
Kaufman. But instead of wrestling with
playground, obsession, call it what you
women on television, he’s wrestling with
will,” says McCarthy on the phone from
corporate social media accounts.
Brooklyn, where he lives his non-psycho
life as a copywriter for Comedy Central.
write a lot of hyper-sentimental dark plays
“I have an arts background—I used to
and musicals, and this is the first time I’ve
ever done something that’s just balls-tothe-wall whimsical,” McCarthy reveals.
“And I found it actually made me really
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happy to do that.”