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Zoom Cat Lawyer

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Zoom Cat Lawyer also known as I'm Not a Cat, is an Internet meme that refers to a viral video taken from a live stream of a civil forfeiture hearing, and being held on the video conferencing application Zoom in Texas' 394th Judicial District Court. The video features an attorney named Rod Ponton, who is struggling to disable a cat filter that shows a white kitten mask over his face, making it appear as though a cat is speaking.

History

On February 9, 2021, the YouTube account for the 394th District Court of Texas live-streamed and published a clip entitled "Kitten Zoom Filter Mishap." The video features an attorney, Rod Ponton, who accidentally signed in with a white kitten face filter and is attempting to remove it from his Zoom application.[1] In the video, the kitten's eyes appear to dart back and forth when Ponton says, "I don't know how to remove it. I've got my assistant here and she's trying to." Ponton then attempts to move forward, saying, "I'm prepared to go forward with it." Finally, he says, "I'm here live. I'm not a cat."[2] The post later received 3.6 million views on Youtube and over 26.9 million views on Twitter.[3] Ponton told the Associated Press that he was using his assistant's 10-year-old desktop computer when he logged on to the civil forfeiture hearing,[4] but Dell Technologies said that it is more likely that the aging desktop's machine needed a software update.[5]

After the clip was posted, Judge Roy Ferguson later shared the clip on Twitter with a tweet being captioned as "IMPORTANT ZOOM TIP: If a child used your computer, before you join a virtual hearing check the Zoom Video Options to be sure filters are off. This kitten just made a formal announcement on a case in the 394th."[6] Reuters reporter Lawrence Hurley later shared the clip on Twitter where he captioned the post, "'I'm here live, I'm not a cat,' says lawyer after Zoom filter mishap. 'I can see that,' responds judge."[1] Canadian poet Margaret Atwood praised and also shared the tweet with a caption "I on the other hand am a cat. I just can't get this human filter off."[7] After the incident, Rod Ponton responded on The New York Times and said that, "If I can make the country chuckle for a moment in these difficult times they're going through, I'm happy to let them do that at my expense."[2] While on Vice, Ponton also said, "Oh, that was just a mistake by my secretary. I was using her computer and for some reason, she had that filter on. I took it off and replaced it with my face. It was a case involving a man trying to exit the United States with contraband and contraband cash. All it was was a mistake. It was taken off and we had the hearing as normal."[8]

An "I am not a cat" t-shirt has been produced.[9] It also appeared in a Mike's Hard Lemonade commercial.[10]

Reception

After the clip has grown in popularity, several notable media outlets covered the video, including The New York Times,[2] NBC,[11] The Wall Street Journal,[12] USA Today,[13] The Guardian,[14] ABC,[15] The Daily Dot,[16] Vice,[8] CNN,[17] and others.[18][19] Wonderland described it as one of the best memes 2021 produced.[20] Alison Bowen of Chicago Tribune has stated that the meme was "funny", and further claimed that it helps us during COVID-19 lockdowns.[21] Jochan Embley of Evening Standard described it as "Most hilarious Zoom fails in the year."[22] Natasha Hinde of HuffPost listed it as "most hilarious Zoom moments of all time",[23] While WPBN-TV has also described the meme as becoming "bobblehead".[24]

The meme was also inspired in Inside the NBA, and it involved Charles Barkley, where they made a prank and made Charles being stuck a cat filter on the cameras.[25] US representative from Minnesota Tom Emmer has appeared at the camera as upside down while participating in a virtual US Congress Committee Finance meeting, and later being called by one of his co-attendees as "at least he's not a cat."[26] An episode of The Good Fight referenced the incident, with a lawyer apparently accidentally applying a cat filter to her face in a Zoom conference.

References

  1. ^ a b "At first, cat lawyer was embarrassed. Then he realized we all could use a laugh". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
  2. ^ a b c Victor, Daniel (February 9, 2021). "'I'm Not a Cat,' Says Lawyer Having Zoom Difficulties" – via NYTimes.com.
  3. ^ "The Zoom Cat Lawyer Used Federal Agents To Torment a Former Lover With Drug Raids and Bogus Charges". February 10, 2021.
  4. ^ Feb 2021, AP | 11; Ist, 10:14 Am. "'I'm not a cat': Zoom 'cat-tastrophe' brings Texas attorney Internet fame". The Economic Times.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ "This is why you probably can't recreate the cat lawyer filter on your computer". www.abc.net.au. 2021-02-11. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
  6. ^ Statt, Nick (February 9, 2021). "Zoom filter traps this lawyer as a cute cat during live court hearing". The Verge.
  7. ^ "Margaret Atwood has brilliant response to cat lawyer video". The Independent. 2021-02-10. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
  8. ^ a b "'I Am Not a Cat,' Lawyer Using Zoom Cat Filter Tells Judge". www.vice.com.
  9. ^ Gonzalez, Ana (February 12, 2021). "'I am not a cat': Remember the best meme of 2021 with T-shirts and other merch". KPRC.
  10. ^ "'I'm Not a Cat' Guy Just Did a Mike's Hard Lemonade Ad". Muse by Clio.
  11. ^ "'I'm not a cat': Video shows lawyer can't turn off kitten filter during Zoom court appearance". NBC News.
  12. ^ Gay, Jason (February 12, 2021). "Cat Lawyers and Salad Bowl Drummers: the Enduring Case for Internet Joy" – via www.wsj.com.
  13. ^ Molina, Brett. "Want your own cat filters for your next Zoom meeting? Here's how to use them". USA TODAY.
  14. ^ "Texas lawyer, trapped by cat filter on Zoom call, informs judge he is not a cat". the Guardian. February 10, 2021.
  15. ^ "Texas attorney accidentally leaves cat filter on during Zoom call: 'I'm here live, I'm not a cat!'". ABC13 Houston. February 9, 2021.
  16. ^ "'I'm not a cat': Lawyer accidentally activates kitten filter during virtual court hearing". The Daily Dot. February 9, 2021.
  17. ^ "Texas lawyer accidentally uses cat filter in Zoom call - CNN Video" – via edition.cnn.com.
  18. ^ "'I'm not a cat': lawyer struggles with Zoom filter in video shared by judge". South China Morning Post. February 10, 2021.
  19. ^ Fisher, Ashley Collman, Jacob Shamsian, Anthony L. "The lawyer who appeared in a Zoom call as a cat says he wants to start selling merchandise". Insider.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  20. ^ "A Year In Lockdown: Most Iconic Memes This Last Year". Wonderland. March 24, 2021.
  21. ^ Bowen, Alison. "That cat lawyer video was funny. Here's why mental health experts say you should watch more like it". chicagotribune.com.
  22. ^ Embley, Jochan (March 23, 2021). "'I'm not a cat': Most hilarious Zoom fails from the last year". www.standard.co.uk.
  23. ^ "The 8 Most Hilarious Zoom Moments Of All Time". HuffPost UK. February 12, 2021.
  24. ^ KSNV, MAT LUSCHEK (February 18, 2021). "'I'm not a cat' Zoom meme to become a bobblehead". WPBN.
  25. ^ "Of course 'Inside the NBA' had to put a cat head filter on Charles Barkley". February 12, 2021.
  26. ^ "► VIDEO: 'At least he's not a cat' - US congressman appears upside down on zoom call". www.irishtimes.com.
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