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{{short description|Internet meme}}
{{short description|Internet meme}}
{{use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}

In [[Internet]] culture, a '''Milkshake Duck''' is a person who gains popularity on [[social media]] for some positive or charming trait but is later revealed to have a distasteful history or to engage in offensive behavior.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/milkshake-duck-meaning/ |first=Jay |last=Hathaway |title= What's a Milkshake Duck, and why is everyone talking about it? |date= 13 June 2017 |work= [[The Daily Dot]] |access-date= 27 June 2017 |language= en-US |archive-date= 13 August 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190813062029/https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/milkshake-duck-meaning/ |url-status= live }}
</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url= https://www.newstatesman.com/science-tech/2017/08/internet-dictionary-what-milkshake-duck |title= The internet dictionary: what is a Milkshake Duck? |last= Tait |first= Amelia |date= 20 August 2017 |website= [[New Statesman]] |language= en |access-date= 23 October 2017 |archive-date= 1 September 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190901190703/https://www.newstatesman.com/science-tech/2017/08/internet-dictionary-what-milkshake-duck |url-status= live }}</ref><ref name="bbc woty">{{cite news |date=15 December 2017 |title=Youthquake' declared word of the year by Oxford Dictionaries |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42361859 |url-status=live |access-date=1 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105070803/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42361859 |archive-date=5 November 2019 }}</ref><ref name=OED>{{Cite web |url= https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/word-of-the-year/shortlist-2017 |title= Word of the Year 2017: the shortlist |publisher= [[Oxford University Press]] |access-date= 30 January 2018 |archive-date= 21 May 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190521204058/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/word-of-the-year/shortlist-2017 |url-status= dead }}</ref> The term has been connected to [[cancel culture]], a perceived trend of [[call-out culture]] on social media, sometimes resulting in celebrities being ostracized and careers abruptly derailed by publicized misconduct.<ref name="Bassett" /><ref name="Peters">{{cite web|url=https://www.theringer.com/music/2018/9/3/17806934/doja-cat-mooo-homophobic-tweets-asian-doll-yung-miami-city-girls-cancel-culture|title=The Rapid Rise and Fall of Doja Cat in the Era of "Cancel" Culture|last=Peters|first=Micah|date=3 September 2018|work=[[The Ringer (website)|The Ringer]]|access-date=4 September 2018|archive-date=2 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191202185823/https://www.theringer.com/music/2018/9/3/17806934/doja-cat-mooo-homophobic-tweets-asian-doll-yung-miami-city-girls-cancel-culture|url-status=live}}</ref>
In [[Internet culture]], a '''Milkshake Duck''' is a person who gains popularity on [[social media]] for some positive trait but is later discovered to have a distasteful history or to engage in offensive behavior.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/milkshake-duck-meaning/ |first=Jay |last=Hathaway |title= What's a Milkshake Duck, and why is everyone talking about it? |date= 13 June 2017 |work= [[The Daily Dot]] |access-date= 27 June 2017 |language= en-US |archive-date= 13 August 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190813062029/https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/milkshake-duck-meaning/ |url-status= live }}
</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url= https://www.newstatesman.com/science-tech/2017/08/internet-dictionary-what-milkshake-duck |title= The internet dictionary: what is a Milkshake Duck? |last= Tait |first= Amelia |date= 20 August 2017 |website= [[New Statesman]] |language= en |access-date= 23 October 2017 |archive-date= 1 September 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190901190703/https://www.newstatesman.com/science-tech/2017/08/internet-dictionary-what-milkshake-duck |url-status= live }}</ref><ref name="bbc woty">{{cite news |date=15 December 2017 |title=Youthquake' declared word of the year by Oxford Dictionaries |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42361859 |url-status=live |access-date=1 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105070803/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42361859 |archive-date=5 November 2019 }}</ref><ref name=OED>{{Cite web |url= https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/word-of-the-year/shortlist-2017 |title= Word of the Year 2017: the shortlist |publisher= [[Oxford University Press]] |access-date= 30 January 2018 |archive-date= 21 May 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190521204058/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/word-of-the-year/shortlist-2017 |url-status= dead }}</ref> The term has been connected to [[cancel culture]], a trend of social media, sometimes resulting in celebrities being ostracized and careers abruptly derailed by publicized misconduct.<ref name="Bassett" /><ref name="Peters">{{cite web|url=https://www.theringer.com/music/2018/9/3/17806934/doja-cat-mooo-homophobic-tweets-asian-doll-yung-miami-city-girls-cancel-culture|title=The Rapid Rise and Fall of Doja Cat in the Era of "Cancel" Culture|last=Peters|first=Micah|date=3 September 2018|work=[[The Ringer (website)|The Ringer]]|access-date=4 September 2018|archive-date=2 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191202185823/https://www.theringer.com/music/2018/9/3/17806934/doja-cat-mooo-homophobic-tweets-asian-doll-yung-miami-city-girls-cancel-culture|url-status=live}}</ref>


{{tweet |text=The whole internet loves Milkshake Duck, a lovely duck that drinks milkshakes! *5 seconds later* We regret to inform you the duck is racist |name=pixelatedboat |username=pixelatedboat |reference=<ref name="tweet" /> |date=12 June 2016 }}
{{tweet |text=The whole internet loves Milkshake Duck, a lovely duck that drinks milkshakes! *5 seconds later* We regret to inform you the duck is racist |name=pixelatedboat |username=pixelatedboat |reference=<ref name="tweet" /> |date=12 June 2016 }}


The phrase is derived from a [[Twitter]] post made on 12 June 2016 by Ben Ward, an Australian cartoonist using the online handle "pixelatedboat".<ref name="tweet">{{cite tweet |last= Ward |first= Ben |user= pixelatedboat |number= 741904787361300481 |date= 12 June 2016 |title=The whole internet loves Milkshake Duck, a lovely duck that drinks milkshakes! *5 seconds later* We regret to inform you the duck is racist |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190705005701/https://twitter.com/pixelatedboat/status/741904787361300481 |archive-date=5 July 2019 |access-date=10 February 2023 }}</ref> His Twitter joke describes a fictional Internet [[viral phenomenon]] of a "lovely duck that drinks milkshakes" which is then immediately discovered to be racist. Ward stated the joke was partially influenced by the [[Chewbacca Mask Lady]].<ref name="birth nytimes">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/27/arts/milkshake-duck-meme.html |title= How a Joke Becomes a Meme: The Birth of 'Milkshake Duck' |last=Bromwich |first=Jonah Engel |date=27 June 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=27 June 2017 |language= en-US |issn= 0362-4331 |archive-date= 20 December 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171220103854/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/27/arts/milkshake-duck-meme.html |url-status= live }}</ref><ref name="esquire">{{Cite news |url=https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/advice/a55844/what-is-milkshake-duck/ |title=A Conversation with the Guy Who Invented the Milkshake Duck Meme | first=Luke | last=O'Neil | date= 24 June 2017 |work= [[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]] |access-date= 4 December 2022 |language=en |archive-date= 15 December 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171215121131/http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/advice/a55844/what-is-milkshake-duck/ |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://mashable.com/article/milkshake-duck-stop-idolizing-normal-people |date=September 15, 2017 |title= Milkshake Duck: We need to stop idolizing unremarkable people on the internet |last= Koerber |first= Brian |work= [[Mashable]] |access-date= 23 October 2017 |language= en |archive-date= 25 December 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171225080037/http://mashable.com/2017/09/15/milkshake-duck-stop-idolizing-normal-people/#Q1gxwM_7BkqK |url-status= live }}</ref>
The phrase is derived from a [[Twitter]] post made on 12 June 2016 by Ben Ward, an Australian cartoonist using the online handle "pixelatedboat".<ref name="tweet">{{cite tweet |last= Ward |first= Ben |user= pixelatedboat |number= 741904787361300481 |date= 12 June 2016 |title=The whole internet loves Milkshake Duck, a lovely duck that drinks milkshakes! *5 seconds later* We regret to inform you the duck is racist |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190705005701/https://twitter.com/pixelatedboat/status/741904787361300481 |archive-date=5 July 2019 |access-date=10 February 2023 }}</ref> His Twitter joke describes a fictional Internet [[viral phenomenon]] of a "lovely duck that drinks milkshakes" which is immediately discovered to be racist. Ward said the joke was partially influenced by the [[Chewbacca Mask Lady]].<ref name="birth nytimes">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/27/arts/milkshake-duck-meme.html |title= How a Joke Becomes a Meme: The Birth of 'Milkshake Duck' |last=Bromwich |first=Jonah Engel |date=27 June 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=27 June 2017 |language= en-US |issn= 0362-4331 |archive-date= 20 December 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171220103854/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/27/arts/milkshake-duck-meme.html |url-status= live }}</ref><ref name="esquire">{{Cite news |url=https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/advice/a55844/what-is-milkshake-duck/ |title=A Conversation with the Guy Who Invented the Milkshake Duck Meme | first=Luke | last=O'Neil | date= 24 June 2017 |work= [[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]] |access-date= 4 December 2022 |language=en |archive-date= 15 December 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171215121131/http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/advice/a55844/what-is-milkshake-duck/ |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://mashable.com/article/milkshake-duck-stop-idolizing-normal-people |date=September 15, 2017 |title= Milkshake Duck: We need to stop idolizing unremarkable people on the internet |last= Koerber |first= Brian |work= [[Mashable]] |access-date= 23 October 2017 |language= en |archive-date= 25 December 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171225080037/http://mashable.com/2017/09/15/milkshake-duck-stop-idolizing-normal-people/#Q1gxwM_7BkqK |url-status= live }}</ref>


== Notable instances ==
== Notable instances ==
The phenomenon appeared prior to June 2016, in particular with [[United States presidential debates, 2016#Ken Bone phenomenon|Ken Bone during the 2016 United States Presidential debate]], who was initially given positive exposure, until a questionable [[Reddit]] history was revealed after his appearances.<ref name="esquire" />
An early example of the phenomenon was observed in October 2016 with [[Ken Bone (activist)|Ken Bone]] during the [[2016 United States presidential debates]]. After initially becoming a viral sensation on social media and receiving multiple corporate sponsorships, Bone began receiving backlash when his questionable [[Reddit]] account history was revealed after he hosted a Reddit [[r/IAmA|AMA]].<ref name="esquire" />


The demonstration of the independently developed video game ''[[The Last Night (video game)|The Last Night]]'' was a highlight of [[Microsoft]]'s press conference during the [[Electronic Entertainment Expo 2017]] due to its stylish [[cyberpunk]] visuals. Then one of its creators, Tim Soret, was found to have spoken in support of the [[Gamergate harassment campaign]] in 2014, which led to criticism of his views a day later and tarnished the game's image. Soret apologized the next day and said his views on Gamergate and other matters had since changed.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.polygon.com/e3/2017/6/12/15780174/the-last-night-twitter-history-gamergate |title= Designer of cyberpunk indie The Last Night speaks out as Twitter history causes stir |first= Allegra |last= Frank |date= 12 June 2017 |access-date= 8 April 2019 |work= [[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |quote= "In no way is The Last Night a game against feminism or any form of equality," [Soret] continued. "A lot of things changed for me these last years. The fictional setting of the game does challenge techno-social progress as a whole but certainly not trying to promote regressive ideas." |archive-date= 12 June 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170612183225/https://www.polygon.com/e3/2017/6/12/15780174/the-last-night-twitter-history-gamergate |url-status= live }}</ref> The "milkshake duck" term was quickly applied to the game.<ref name="esquire" /> Criticism over the game and the subsequent controversy over social media led to wider adoption of the term.<ref name="birth nytimes" />
The demonstration of the independently developed video game ''[[The Last Night (video game)|The Last Night]]'' was a highlight of [[Microsoft]]'s press conference during the [[Electronic Entertainment Expo 2017]] due to its stylish [[cyberpunk]] visuals. Then one of its creators, Tim Soret, was found to have spoken in support of the [[Gamergate harassment campaign]] in 2014, which led to criticism of his views a day later and tarnished the game's image. Soret apologized the next day and said his views on Gamergate and other matters had since changed.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.polygon.com/e3/2017/6/12/15780174/the-last-night-twitter-history-gamergate |title= Designer of cyberpunk indie The Last Night speaks out as Twitter history causes stir |first= Allegra |last= Frank |date= 12 June 2017 |access-date= 8 April 2019 |work= [[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |quote= "In no way is The Last Night a game against feminism or any form of equality," [Soret] continued. "A lot of things changed for me these last years. The fictional setting of the game does challenge techno-social progress as a whole but certainly not trying to promote regressive ideas." |archive-date= 12 June 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170612183225/https://www.polygon.com/e3/2017/6/12/15780174/the-last-night-twitter-history-gamergate |url-status= live }}</ref> The "milkshake duck" term was quickly applied to the game.<ref name="esquire" /> Criticism over the game and the subsequent controversy over social media led to wider adoption of the term.<ref name="birth nytimes" />
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Shortly after his webcomic ''Strange Planet'' began to achieve viral success in early 2019, US cartoonist [[Nathan W. Pyle]] was described as an example of the milkshake duck phenomenon when a 2017 tweet of his was revealed that expressed [[anti-abortion]] views.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/strange-planet-nathan-pyle-anti-abortion-tweet/|title=The internet's favorite new comic strip has been ruined by this old anti-abortion tweet|last1=Kelly|first1=Tiffany|date=8 April 2019|website=[[The Daily Dot]]|language=en|access-date=8 November 2019|archive-date=8 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191108045746/https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/strange-planet-nathan-pyle-anti-abortion-tweet/|url-status=live}}</ref> Pyle said shortly afterward that he and his wife "have private beliefs as they pertain to our [[Christianity|Christian]] faith. We believe [[separation of church and state]] is crucial to our nation flourishing", and were supporters of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]].<ref name=":02">{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/nathan-pyle-abortion-controversy-strange-planet-comic-twitter-tweet-alien-1392353|title=The artist behind the 'Strange Planet' webcomic sparks controversy with pro-life tweet|last=Asarch|first=Steven|date=10 April 2019|website=Newsweek|language=en|access-date=8 November 2019|archive-date=23 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223151927/https://www.newsweek.com/nathan-pyle-abortion-controversy-strange-planet-comic-twitter-tweet-alien-1392353|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |first=Tiffany |last=Kelly |url=https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/strange-planet-nathan-pyle-christian-beliefs-tweet/|title='Strange Planet' comics artist responds to abortion controversy|date=9 April 2019|website=The Daily Dot|language=en|access-date=23 June 2019|archive-date=24 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824015651/https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/strange-planet-nathan-pyle-christian-beliefs-tweet/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Shortly after his webcomic ''Strange Planet'' began to achieve viral success in early 2019, US cartoonist [[Nathan W. Pyle]] was described as an example of the milkshake duck phenomenon when a 2017 tweet of his was revealed that expressed [[anti-abortion]] views.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/strange-planet-nathan-pyle-anti-abortion-tweet/|title=The internet's favorite new comic strip has been ruined by this old anti-abortion tweet|last1=Kelly|first1=Tiffany|date=8 April 2019|website=[[The Daily Dot]]|language=en|access-date=8 November 2019|archive-date=8 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191108045746/https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/strange-planet-nathan-pyle-anti-abortion-tweet/|url-status=live}}</ref> Pyle said shortly afterward that he and his wife "have private beliefs as they pertain to our [[Christianity|Christian]] faith. We believe [[separation of church and state]] is crucial to our nation flourishing", and were supporters of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]].<ref name=":02">{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/nathan-pyle-abortion-controversy-strange-planet-comic-twitter-tweet-alien-1392353|title=The artist behind the 'Strange Planet' webcomic sparks controversy with pro-life tweet|last=Asarch|first=Steven|date=10 April 2019|website=Newsweek|language=en|access-date=8 November 2019|archive-date=23 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223151927/https://www.newsweek.com/nathan-pyle-abortion-controversy-strange-planet-comic-twitter-tweet-alien-1392353|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |first=Tiffany |last=Kelly |url=https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/strange-planet-nathan-pyle-christian-beliefs-tweet/|title='Strange Planet' comics artist responds to abortion controversy|date=9 April 2019|website=The Daily Dot|language=en|access-date=23 June 2019|archive-date=24 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824015651/https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/strange-planet-nathan-pyle-christian-beliefs-tweet/|url-status=live}}</ref>


Rod Ponton, a lawyer and former prosecutor, went viral in 2021 as the "[[Zoom Cat Lawyer]]". Within a day, reports surfaced that he had previously "used federal agents to torment a former lover with drug raids and bogus charges" in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://reason.com/2021/02/10/zoom-cat-lawyer-rod-ponton-used-federal-agents-to-torment-former-lover-drug-raids-bogus-charges/ |title=The Zoom Cat Lawyer Used Federal Agents To Torment a Former Lover With Drug Raids and Bogus Charges |date=February 10, 2021 |first=Billy |last=Binion |work=[[Reason (magazine)|Reason]] |access-date=10 February 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2021/02/cat-lawyer-has-been-milkshake-ducked |first=Nate |last=Scott |title=The Cat Lawyer has been Milkshake Ducked |work=[[USA Today]] |date=10 February 2021 |access-date=10 February 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/please-we-just-want-to-enjoy-the-video-of-a-lawyer-who-1846238648 |title=The Zoom kitten lawyer has been milkshake ducked in record time |website=[[The A.V. Club]] |date=10 February 2021 |access-date=10 February 2023 |first=Reid |last=McCarter }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/perth/programs/breakfast/speakeasy-cat-lawyer-milkshake-ducked/13167444 |title=Why does the sentence "Zoom cat lawyer got milkshake-ducked" make sense in modern English? |work=[[ABC Radio Perth]] |publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |date=10 February 2021 |access-date=10 February 2023 }}</ref>
[[Rod Ponton]], a lawyer and former prosecutor, went viral in 2021 as the "[[Zoom Cat Lawyer]]". Within a day, reports surfaced that he had previously "used federal agents to torment a former lover with drug raids and bogus charges" in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://reason.com/2021/02/10/zoom-cat-lawyer-rod-ponton-used-federal-agents-to-torment-former-lover-drug-raids-bogus-charges/ |title=The Zoom Cat Lawyer Used Federal Agents To Torment a Former Lover With Drug Raids and Bogus Charges |date=February 10, 2021 |first=Billy |last=Binion |work=[[Reason (magazine)|Reason]] |access-date=10 February 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2021/02/cat-lawyer-has-been-milkshake-ducked |first=Nate |last=Scott |title=The Cat Lawyer has been Milkshake Ducked |work=[[USA Today]] |date=10 February 2021 |access-date=10 February 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/please-we-just-want-to-enjoy-the-video-of-a-lawyer-who-1846238648 |title=The Zoom kitten lawyer has been milkshake ducked in record time |website=[[The A.V. Club]] |date=10 February 2021 |access-date=10 February 2023 |first=Reid |last=McCarter }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/perth/programs/breakfast/speakeasy-cat-lawyer-milkshake-ducked/13167444 |title=Why does the sentence "Zoom cat lawyer got milkshake-ducked" make sense in modern English? |work=[[ABC Radio Perth]] |publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |date=10 February 2021 |access-date=10 February 2023 }}</ref>


In 2021, comedian [[Jensen Karp]] went viral for a tweet about finding what appeared to be a shrimp tail in his [[Cinnamon Toast Crunch]] cereal. He was later revealed as an alleged abuser by numerous other Twitter accounts.<ref name=":2" />
In 2021, comedian [[Jensen Karp]] went viral for a tweet about finding what appeared to be a shrimp tail in his [[Cinnamon Toast Crunch]] cereal. He was later revealed as an alleged abuser by numerous other Twitter accounts.<ref name=":2" />
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In October 2018, some news outlets used the term "reverse milkshake duck" to describe the reversal of one's public image from problematic to positive.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url= https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/oct/09/himtoo-metoo-tweet-pieter-hanson-mothers-attack-on-feminism-movement-goes-wrong |title= #HimToo: how an attempt to criticize #MeToo went delightfully wrong |last= O'Neil |first= Luke |date= 9 October 2018 |website= [[The Guardian]] |language= en |access-date= 10 October 2018 |archive-date= 26 February 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190226082121/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/oct/09/himtoo-metoo-tweet-pieter-hanson-mothers-attack-on-feminism-movement-goes-wrong |url-status= live }}</ref> A mother with the Twitter username BlueStarNavyMom3 tweeted a picture of her son, associating him with the [[Him Too movement|#HimToo hashtag]], suggesting he was afraid to go on solo dates due to false sexual accusations.<ref>
In October 2018, some news outlets used the term "reverse milkshake duck" to describe the reversal of one's public image from problematic to positive.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url= https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/oct/09/himtoo-metoo-tweet-pieter-hanson-mothers-attack-on-feminism-movement-goes-wrong |title= #HimToo: how an attempt to criticize #MeToo went delightfully wrong |last= O'Neil |first= Luke |date= 9 October 2018 |website= [[The Guardian]] |language= en |access-date= 10 October 2018 |archive-date= 26 February 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190226082121/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/oct/09/himtoo-metoo-tweet-pieter-hanson-mothers-attack-on-feminism-movement-goes-wrong |url-status= live }}</ref> A mother with the Twitter username BlueStarNavyMom3 tweeted a picture of her son, associating him with the [[Him Too movement|#HimToo hashtag]], suggesting he was afraid to go on solo dates due to false sexual accusations.<ref>
*{{Cite news |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/10/09/this-is-my-son-navy-vet-horrified-as-moms-tweet-miscasts-him-as-himtoo-poster-boy-and-goes-viral/ |title= 'This is MY son': Navy vet horrified as mom's tweet miscasts him as #HimToo poster boy — and goes viral |last= Flynn |first= Meagan |date= 9 October 2018 |newspaper= [[The Washington Post]] |language= en |access-date= 10 October 2018 |archive-date= 10 October 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181010021724/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/10/09/this-is-my-son-navy-vet-horrified-as-moms-tweet-miscasts-him-as-himtoo-poster-boy-and-goes-viral/ |url-status= live }}
*{{Cite news |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/10/09/this-is-my-son-navy-vet-horrified-as-moms-tweet-miscasts-him-as-himtoo-poster-boy-and-goes-viral/ |title= 'This is MY son': Navy vet horrified as mom's tweet miscasts him as #HimToo poster boy — and goes viral |last= Flynn |first= Meagan |date= 9 October 2018 |newspaper= [[The Washington Post]] |language= en |access-date= 10 October 2018 |archive-date= 10 October 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181010021724/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/10/09/this-is-my-son-navy-vet-horrified-as-moms-tweet-miscasts-him-as-himtoo-poster-boy-and-goes-viral/ |url-status= live }}
*{{Cite magazine |url= http://time.com/5419296/pieter-hanson-that-was-my-mom/ |title= 'That Doesn't Represent Me.' The Man Whose Mom Made Him the Face of a Viral #HimToo Meme Wants No Part of It |last= Hoffman |first= Ashley |date= 9 October 2018 |magazine= [[Time (magazine)|Time]] |language= en |access-date= 10 October 2018 |archive-date= 10 October 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181010044016/http://time.com/5419296/pieter-hanson-that-was-my-mom/ |url-status= live }}</ref> The son, Pieter Hanson, was surprised by the post and in a newly created Twitter account posted a message saying the opposite:
*{{Cite magazine |url= https://time.com/5419296/pieter-hanson-that-was-my-mom/ |title= 'That Doesn't Represent Me.' The Man Whose Mom Made Him the Face of a Viral #HimToo Meme Wants No Part of It |last= Hoffman |first= Ashley |date= 9 October 2018 |magazine= [[Time (magazine)|Time]] |language= en |access-date= 10 October 2018 |archive-date= 10 October 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181010044016/http://time.com/5419296/pieter-hanson-that-was-my-mom/ |url-status= live }}</ref> The son, Pieter Hanson, was surprised by the post and in a newly created Twitter account posted a message saying the opposite:
<blockquote>That was my Mom. Sometimes the people we love do things that hurt us without realizing it. Let's turn this around. I respect and [[Believe women|#BelieveWomen]]. I never have and never will support #HimToo. I'm a proud [[United States Navy|Navy]] vet, Cat Dad and [[Straight ally|Ally]]. Also, Twitter, your meme game is on point.<ref>{{Cite tweet |last=Hanson |first=Pieter |user=Thatwasmymom |number=1049518834972020737 |date=October 8, 2018 |title=That was my Mom. Sometimes the people we love do things that hurt us without realizing it. Let’s turn this around. I respect and #BelieveWomen. I never have and never will support #HimToo. I'm a proud Navy vet, Cat Dad and Ally. Also, Twitter, your meme game is on point.|access-date=10 February 2023 }}</ref></blockquote>
<blockquote>That was my Mom. Sometimes the people we love do things that hurt us without realizing it. Let's turn this around. I respect and [[Believe women|#BelieveWomen]]. I never have and never will support #HimToo. I'm a proud Navy vet, Cat Dad and [[Straight ally|Ally]]. Also, Twitter, your meme game is on point.<ref>{{Cite tweet |last=Hanson |first=Pieter |user=Thatwasmymom |number=1049518834972020737 |date=October 8, 2018 |title=That was my Mom. Sometimes the people we love do things that hurt us without realizing it. Let's turn this around. I respect and #BelieveWomen. I never have and never will support #HimToo. I'm a proud Navy vet, Cat Dad and Ally. Also, Twitter, your meme game is on point.|access-date=10 February 2023 }}</ref></blockquote>
''[[The Verge]]'' writer Devon Maloney was one of the first to put a name to the reversal,<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |url= https://slate.com/technology/2018/10/twitter-himtoo-mother-this-is-my-son-pieter-hanson.html |title= Why Twitter's #HimToo Mother-and-Son Saga Was a Satisfying Social Media Moment |last= Schwedel |first= Heather |date= 9 October 2018 |work= [[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] |access-date= 10 October 2018 |language=en |archive-date= 10 October 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181010112818/https://slate.com/technology/2018/10/twitter-himtoo-mother-this-is-my-son-pieter-hanson.html |url-status= live }}</ref> saying, "In what may have been the internet's first-ever reverse milkshake-ducking, Pieter himself finally logged on a few hours later to clear his name once and for all."<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/9/17955262/himtoo-this-is-my-son-meme-mom-pieter-hanson-milkshake-duck |title= Viral mom's #HimToo post about her Navy vet son backfires incredibly |last= Maloney |first= Devon |date= 9 October 2018 |work= [[The Verge]] |access-date= 10 October 2018 |archive-date= 10 October 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181010130713/https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/9/17955262/himtoo-this-is-my-son-meme-mom-pieter-hanson-milkshake-duck |url-status= live }}</ref>
''[[The Verge]]'' writer Devon Maloney was one of the first to put a name to the reversal,<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |url= https://slate.com/technology/2018/10/twitter-himtoo-mother-this-is-my-son-pieter-hanson.html |title= Why Twitter's #HimToo Mother-and-Son Saga Was a Satisfying Social Media Moment |last= Schwedel |first= Heather |date= 9 October 2018 |work= [[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] |access-date= 10 October 2018 |language=en |archive-date= 10 October 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181010112818/https://slate.com/technology/2018/10/twitter-himtoo-mother-this-is-my-son-pieter-hanson.html |url-status= live }}</ref> saying, "In what may have been the internet's first-ever reverse milkshake-ducking, Pieter himself finally logged on a few hours later to clear his name once and for all."<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/9/17955262/himtoo-this-is-my-son-meme-mom-pieter-hanson-milkshake-duck |title= Viral mom's #HimToo post about her Navy vet son backfires incredibly |last= Maloney |first= Devon |date= 9 October 2018 |work= [[The Verge]] |access-date= 10 October 2018 |archive-date= 10 October 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181010130713/https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/9/17955262/himtoo-this-is-my-son-meme-mom-pieter-hanson-milkshake-duck |url-status= live }}</ref>


''[[Vox Media|Vox]]'''s Aja Romano suggested the phenomenon "might actually be whatever the opposite of a Milkshake Duck is—when a viral moment starts out seeming awful but then becomes unexpectedly good."<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.vox.com/2018/10/9/17955402/this-is-my-son-meme-himtoo-metoo-pieter-hanson |title= How a mom's "This Is My Son" anti-feminist brag went viral — and completely backfired |last= Romano |first= Aja |date= 9 October 2018 |work= [[Vox Media|Vox]] |access-date= 10 October 2018 |archive-date= 10 October 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181010124929/https://www.vox.com/2018/10/9/17955402/this-is-my-son-meme-himtoo-metoo-pieter-hanson |url-status= live }}</ref> ''[[The Guardian]]'' said, "Hanson's story may be one of the first instances of the reversal, as the reality of his personality—a seemingly decent and inspiring young man—is a far cry from the [[sexist]] way we were introduced to him."<ref name=":0" /> ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]'' described it as "a viral villain outed as, despite it all, a righteous hero."<ref name=":1" />
''[[Vox Media|Vox]]'''s Aja Romano suggested the phenomenon "might actually be whatever the opposite of a Milkshake Duck is—when a viral moment starts out seeming awful but then becomes unexpectedly good."<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.vox.com/2018/10/9/17955402/this-is-my-son-meme-himtoo-metoo-pieter-hanson |title= How a mom's "This Is My Son" anti-feminist brag went viral — and completely backfired |last= Romano |first= Aja |date= 9 October 2018 |work= [[Vox Media|Vox]] |access-date= 10 October 2018 |archive-date= 10 October 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181010124929/https://www.vox.com/2018/10/9/17955402/this-is-my-son-meme-himtoo-metoo-pieter-hanson |url-status= live }}</ref> ''[[The Guardian]]'' said, "Hanson's story may be one of the first instances of the reversal, as the reality of his personality—a seemingly decent and inspiring young man—is a far cry from the [[sexist]] way we were introduced to him."<ref name=":0" /> ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]'' described it as "a viral villain outed as, despite it all, a righteous hero."<ref name=":1" />


== Derivatives ==
== Related concepts ==
A related concept to "milkshake duck" is that of the "problematic fave", a phrase originating on [[Tumblr]],<ref name=":2" /> describing a notable and popular person who, despite recent offensive or harmful statements or actions, manages to retain their popularity.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/10/03/magazine/morality-social-justice-art-entertainment.html |title= The Morality War |first= Wesley |last= Morris |date= 3 October 2018 |access-date= 7 November 2018 |work= [[The New York Times]] |df= mdy-all |archive-date= 8 November 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181108065633/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/10/03/magazine/morality-social-justice-art-entertainment.html |url-status= live }}</ref> Ward was imitating how social media would find dark secrets of public faces who were seemingly decent people which keys the idea that there is something nice about them, but the image is dirtied and they now are seen as problematic.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Romano |first=Aja |date=25 March 2021 |title=What's a Milkshake Duck? Everything is a Milkshake Duck. |url=https://www.vox.com/culture/22350188/what-is-a-milkshake-duck-definition-explained-jensen-karp-cinnamon-toast-shrimp |access-date=20 September 2022 |website=Vox |language=en}}</ref> Entrepreneur [[Elon Musk]] has been described as a "problematic fave" following his calling one of the [[Tham Luang cave rescue|Thai cave rescuers]] a "[[pedophile|pedo]] guy", apparently referencing the prominence of [[child sex tourism]] and [[child prostitution in Thailand]], in response to criticism from [[Vern Unsworth]], a [[demographics of Thailand#Expatriates|Westerner in Thailand]].<ref name="polygon sept2018">{{cite web |url= https://www.polygon.com/2018/9/5/17804078/doja-cat-laura-lee-jeffree-star-manny-mua-elijah-daniel-youtube-problematic-fave-milkshake-duck |title= Everyone is a problematic fave and everyone will Milkshake Duck |first= Julia |last= Alexander |date= 5 September 2018 |access-date= 5 September 2018 |website= [[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |archive-date= 5 September 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180905202559/https://www.polygon.com/2018/9/5/17804078/doja-cat-laura-lee-jeffree-star-manny-mua-elijah-daniel-youtube-problematic-fave-milkshake-duck |url-status= live }}</ref>
A related concept to "milkshake duck" is that of the "problematic fave", a phrase originating on [[Tumblr]],<ref name=":2" /> describing a notable and popular person who, despite recent offensive or harmful statements or actions, manages to retain their popularity.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/10/03/magazine/morality-social-justice-art-entertainment.html |title= The Morality War |first= Wesley |last= Morris |date= 3 October 2018 |access-date= 7 November 2018 |work= [[The New York Times]] |df= mdy-all |archive-date= 8 November 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181108065633/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/10/03/magazine/morality-social-justice-art-entertainment.html |url-status= live }}</ref> Ward was imitating how social media would find dark secrets of public faces who were seemingly decent people which keys the idea that there is something nice about them, but the image is dirtied and they now are seen as problematic.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Romano |first=Aja |date=25 March 2021 |title=What's a Milkshake Duck? Everything is a Milkshake Duck. |url=https://www.vox.com/culture/22350188/what-is-a-milkshake-duck-definition-explained-jensen-karp-cinnamon-toast-shrimp |access-date=20 September 2022 |website=Vox |language=en}}</ref> Entrepreneur [[Elon Musk]] has been described as a "problematic fave" following his calling one of the [[Tham Luang cave rescue|Thai cave rescuers]] a "[[pedophile|pedo]] guy", apparently referencing the prominence of [[child sex tourism]] and [[child prostitution in Thailand]], in response to criticism from [[Vern Unsworth]], a [[demographics of Thailand#Expatriates|Westerner in Thailand]].<ref name="polygon sept2018">{{cite web |url= https://www.polygon.com/2018/9/5/17804078/doja-cat-laura-lee-jeffree-star-manny-mua-elijah-daniel-youtube-problematic-fave-milkshake-duck |title= Everyone is a problematic fave and everyone will Milkshake Duck |first= Julia |last= Alexander |date= 5 September 2018 |access-date= 5 September 2018 |website= [[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |archive-date= 5 September 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180905202559/https://www.polygon.com/2018/9/5/17804078/doja-cat-laura-lee-jeffree-star-manny-mua-elijah-daniel-youtube-problematic-fave-milkshake-duck |url-status= live }}</ref>


Line 39: Line 40:
* {{cite news |last=Webb |first=Tiger |date=15 January 2018 |title=Why 'milkshake duck' is the perfect choice for word of the year |work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-15/why-milkshake-duck-deserves-its-word-of-the-year-win/9323348 |url-status=live |access-date=15 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180114195913/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-15/why-milkshake-duck-deserves-its-word-of-the-year-win/9323348 |archive-date=14 January 2018 }}
* {{cite news |last=Webb |first=Tiger |date=15 January 2018 |title=Why 'milkshake duck' is the perfect choice for word of the year |work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-15/why-milkshake-duck-deserves-its-word-of-the-year-win/9323348 |url-status=live |access-date=15 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180114195913/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-15/why-milkshake-duck-deserves-its-word-of-the-year-win/9323348 |archive-date=14 January 2018 }}
* {{cite web |date=15 January 2018 |title=The Committee's Choice for Word of the Year 2017 goes to... |url=https://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/news/view/article/495/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115184551/https://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/news/view/article/495/ |archive-date=15 January 2018 |access-date=15 January 2018 |work=[[Macquarie Dictionary]] }}
* {{cite web |date=15 January 2018 |title=The Committee's Choice for Word of the Year 2017 goes to... |url=https://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/news/view/article/495/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115184551/https://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/news/view/article/495/ |archive-date=15 January 2018 |access-date=15 January 2018 |work=[[Macquarie Dictionary]] }}
* {{Cite news |date=2018 |title='Milkshake duck' wins Australia word prize |language=en-GB |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-42684899 |url-status=live |access-date=10 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010213623/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-42684899 |archive-date=10 October 2018 }}</ref>
* {{Cite news |date=2018 |title='Milkshake duck' wins Australia word prize |language=en-GB |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-42684899 |url-status=live |access-date=10 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010213623/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-42684899 |archive-date=10 October 2018 }}</ref> The phrase was added to [[Dictionary.com]] and described as "a person (or thing) who becomes extremely popular on the internet for some positive reason, but as their popularity takes off and people dig into their past, they quickly become an object of outrage and hatred."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Milkshake Duck Meaning & Origin {{!}} Slang by Dictionary.com |url=https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/milkshake-duck/ |access-date=21 August 2022 |website=Dictionary.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

The phrase was added to [[Dictionary.com]] and described as "a person (or thing) who becomes extremely popular on the internet for some positive reason, but as their popularity takes off and people dig into their past, they quickly become an object of outrage and hatred."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Milkshake Duck Meaning & Origin {{!}} Slang by Dictionary.com |url=https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/milkshake-duck/ |access-date=21 August 2022 |website=Dictionary.com |language=en-US}}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
Line 48: Line 47:
==External links==
==External links==
{{Wiktionary|milkshake duck}}
{{Wiktionary|milkshake duck}}
* [https://www.businessinsider.com.au/the-macquarie-dictionary-word-of-the-year-milkshake-duck-2017-milkshake-duck-2018-1 The Macquarie Dictionary's word of the year, 'milkshake duck', sums up the social media era]. ''[[Business Insider]]''.
* [https://www.businessinsider.com.au/the-macquarie-dictionary-word-of-the-year-milkshake-duck-2017-milkshake-duck-2018-1 The Macquarie Dictionary's word of the year, 'milkshake duck', sums up the social media era] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307205040/https://www.businessinsider.com.au/the-macquarie-dictionary-word-of-the-year-milkshake-duck-2017-milkshake-duck-2018-1 |date=7 March 2021 }}. ''[[Business Insider]]''.
* [https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2017/dec/18/what-is-a-milkshake-duck-and-why-isnt-it-the-word-of-the-year What is a milkshake duck? And why isn't it the word of the year?]. ''[[The Guardian]]''.
* [https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2017/dec/18/what-is-a-milkshake-duck-and-why-isnt-it-the-word-of-the-year What is a milkshake duck? And why isn't it the word of the year?]. ''[[The Guardian]]''.
* [https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/entertainment/2018/01/the-best-milkshake-ducks-of-recent-history.html The best 'milkshake ducks' of recent history]. ''[[Newshub]]''.
* [https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/entertainment/2018/01/the-best-milkshake-ducks-of-recent-history.html The best 'milkshake ducks' of recent history]. ''[[Newshub]]''.
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[[Category:2016 neologisms]]
[[Category:2016 neologisms]]
[[Category:Internet memes introduced in 2016]]
[[Category:Internet memes introduced in 2016]]
[[Category:Milkshakes]]
[[Category:Metaphors referring to birds]]


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{{twitter navbox}}

Latest revision as of 08:41, 17 November 2024

In Internet culture, a Milkshake Duck is a person who gains popularity on social media for some positive trait but is later discovered to have a distasteful history or to engage in offensive behavior.[1][2][3][4] The term has been connected to cancel culture, a trend of social media, sometimes resulting in celebrities being ostracized and careers abruptly derailed by publicized misconduct.[5][6]

pixelatedboat
@pixelatedboat
Twitter logo, a stylized blue bird

The whole internet loves Milkshake Duck, a lovely duck that drinks milkshakes! *5 seconds later* We regret to inform you the duck is racist

12 June 2016[7]

The phrase is derived from a Twitter post made on 12 June 2016 by Ben Ward, an Australian cartoonist using the online handle "pixelatedboat".[7] His Twitter joke describes a fictional Internet viral phenomenon of a "lovely duck that drinks milkshakes" which is immediately discovered to be racist. Ward said the joke was partially influenced by the Chewbacca Mask Lady.[8][9][10]

Notable instances

[edit]

An early example of the phenomenon was observed in October 2016 with Ken Bone during the 2016 United States presidential debates. After initially becoming a viral sensation on social media and receiving multiple corporate sponsorships, Bone began receiving backlash when his questionable Reddit account history was revealed after he hosted a Reddit AMA.[9]

The demonstration of the independently developed video game The Last Night was a highlight of Microsoft's press conference during the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2017 due to its stylish cyberpunk visuals. Then one of its creators, Tim Soret, was found to have spoken in support of the Gamergate harassment campaign in 2014, which led to criticism of his views a day later and tarnished the game's image. Soret apologized the next day and said his views on Gamergate and other matters had since changed.[11] The "milkshake duck" term was quickly applied to the game.[9] Criticism over the game and the subsequent controversy over social media led to wider adoption of the term.[8]

American rapper and singer Doja Cat was declared the Milkshake Duck of 2018 by NME.[5] The recording artist had experienced a viral hit with her single "Mooo!", a novelty song with an absurdist lyrical theme in which she fantasizes about being a cow.[12] Controversy ensued when it was revealed that in a 2015 tweet she had used the homophobic slur "faggot" to describe hip-hop artists Tyler, the Creator and Earl Sweatshirt, members of the musical collective Odd Future.[6] She initially defended her remarks, writing, "I called a couple people faggots when I was in high school in 2015 does this mean I don't deserve support? I've said faggot roughly like 15 thousand times in my life. Does saying faggot mean you hate gay people?"[13] Her response met further backlash, including a critical tweet by Will and Grace actress Debra Messing,[14] expressing disappointment in Doja for defending past ignorance and imploring her to use her fame and platform for good. Doja Cat later issued a series of apologies for her derogatory words and deleted her tweets.[13] The controversy generated much discourse about the limits of "cancel culture".[5][6]

Shortly after his webcomic Strange Planet began to achieve viral success in early 2019, US cartoonist Nathan W. Pyle was described as an example of the milkshake duck phenomenon when a 2017 tweet of his was revealed that expressed anti-abortion views.[15] Pyle said shortly afterward that he and his wife "have private beliefs as they pertain to our Christian faith. We believe separation of church and state is crucial to our nation flourishing", and were supporters of the Democratic Party.[16][17]

Rod Ponton, a lawyer and former prosecutor, went viral in 2021 as the "Zoom Cat Lawyer". Within a day, reports surfaced that he had previously "used federal agents to torment a former lover with drug raids and bogus charges" in 2014.[18][19][20][21]

In 2021, comedian Jensen Karp went viral for a tweet about finding what appeared to be a shrimp tail in his Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal. He was later revealed as an alleged abuser by numerous other Twitter accounts.[22]

The "reverse milkshake duck"

[edit]

In October 2018, some news outlets used the term "reverse milkshake duck" to describe the reversal of one's public image from problematic to positive.[23] A mother with the Twitter username BlueStarNavyMom3 tweeted a picture of her son, associating him with the #HimToo hashtag, suggesting he was afraid to go on solo dates due to false sexual accusations.[24] The son, Pieter Hanson, was surprised by the post and in a newly created Twitter account posted a message saying the opposite:

That was my Mom. Sometimes the people we love do things that hurt us without realizing it. Let's turn this around. I respect and #BelieveWomen. I never have and never will support #HimToo. I'm a proud Navy vet, Cat Dad and Ally. Also, Twitter, your meme game is on point.[25]

The Verge writer Devon Maloney was one of the first to put a name to the reversal,[26] saying, "In what may have been the internet's first-ever reverse milkshake-ducking, Pieter himself finally logged on a few hours later to clear his name once and for all."[27]

Vox's Aja Romano suggested the phenomenon "might actually be whatever the opposite of a Milkshake Duck is—when a viral moment starts out seeming awful but then becomes unexpectedly good."[28] The Guardian said, "Hanson's story may be one of the first instances of the reversal, as the reality of his personality—a seemingly decent and inspiring young man—is a far cry from the sexist way we were introduced to him."[23] Slate described it as "a viral villain outed as, despite it all, a righteous hero."[26]

[edit]

A related concept to "milkshake duck" is that of the "problematic fave", a phrase originating on Tumblr,[22] describing a notable and popular person who, despite recent offensive or harmful statements or actions, manages to retain their popularity.[29] Ward was imitating how social media would find dark secrets of public faces who were seemingly decent people which keys the idea that there is something nice about them, but the image is dirtied and they now are seen as problematic.[22] Entrepreneur Elon Musk has been described as a "problematic fave" following his calling one of the Thai cave rescuers a "pedo guy", apparently referencing the prominence of child sex tourism and child prostitution in Thailand, in response to criticism from Vern Unsworth, a Westerner in Thailand.[30]

Polygon writer Julia Alexander argued that terms like "milkshake duck" and "problematic fave" are symptoms of current cultural conflict on the Internet in which users are ready to be outraged and have the ability to search a person's public Internet history to find statements to support that. Alexander suggested that to avoid these labels, one should not worry about what statements they may have made, but whether they show awareness that they made them and that they have grown past or changed away from them.[30]

In dictionaries

[edit]

In December 2017, the phrase was a runner-up in Oxford Dictionaries' "word of the year", losing out to "youthquake".[3] In January 2018, Australia's Macquarie Dictionary named "milkshake duck" its 2017 "word of the year".[31] The phrase was added to Dictionary.com and described as "a person (or thing) who becomes extremely popular on the internet for some positive reason, but as their popularity takes off and people dig into their past, they quickly become an object of outrage and hatred."[32]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Hathaway, Jay (13 June 2017). "What's a Milkshake Duck, and why is everyone talking about it?". The Daily Dot. Archived from the original on 13 August 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  2. ^ Tait, Amelia (20 August 2017). "The internet dictionary: what is a Milkshake Duck?". New Statesman. Archived from the original on 1 September 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Youthquake' declared word of the year by Oxford Dictionaries". BBC News. 15 December 2017. Archived from the original on 5 November 2019. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
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