Ken Bone (personality)

At the October 9 presidential debate during the 2016 United States elections, Ken Bone, a coal power plant operator from Belleville, Illinois, was one of several local undecided voters invited to participate in the debate between Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican nominee Donald Trump.{{cite web |last1=Ahmed |first1=Saeed |title=And the winner of the presidential debate is... Ken Bone {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/10/10/politics/debate-ken-bone-staring-man-trnd/index.html |website=CNN |access-date=December 5, 2023 |language=en |date=October 10, 2016 |archive-date=December 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205003227/https://www.cnn.com/2016/10/10/politics/debate-ken-bone-staring-man-trnd/index.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Stump |first1=Scott |title=Ken Bone is the hero America needs right now |url=https://www.today.com/news/ken-bone-becomes-internet-legend-after-presidential-debate-t103777 |website=TODAY.com |access-date=December 5, 2023 |language=en |date=October 11, 2016 |archive-date=December 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205003208/https://www.today.com/news/ken-bone-becomes-internet-legend-after-presidential-debate-t103777 |url-status=live }} Bone asked the question:

{{blockquote|What steps will your energy policy take to meet our energy needs while at the same time remaining environmentally friendly and minimizing job loss for fossil power plant workers?{{cite web |last1=Griffin |first1=Andrew |title=The real winner of the presidential debate has been crowned |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/ken-bone-who-is-he-debate-meme-man-red-top-kenneth-donald-trump-hillary-clinton-question-a7353676.html |website=The Independent |access-date=5 December 2023 |language=en |date=17 October 2016 |archive-date=December 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205003215/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/ken-bone-who-is-he-debate-meme-man-red-top-kenneth-donald-trump-hillary-clinton-question-a7353676.html |url-status=live }}}}

Bone quickly became a viral sensation on social media, immediately gaining over 80,000 followers on Twitter after the debate. Multiple parody and fan pages were created under his name on various platforms. Bone's red sweater, use of a disposable camera before and after the debate, and general demeanor was received positively by viewers of the event, and spawned numerous Internet memes.{{cite web |last1=Reinstein |first1=Julia |title=Just 27 Really, Really Good Tweets About Debate Hero Ken Bone |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/juliareinstein/ken-bone-was-the-hero-the-debate-needed |website=BuzzFeed News |language=en |date=October 10, 2016 |access-date=December 5, 2023 |archive-date=December 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205003215/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/juliareinstein/ken-bone-was-the-hero-the-debate-needed |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine |last1=Chan |first1=Melissa |title=10 of the Best Ken Bone Memes on the Internet |url=https://time.com/4526816/ken-bone-presidential-debate-memes/ |magazine=Time |language=en |date=October 11, 2016 |access-date=December 5, 2023 |archive-date=December 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205003208/https://time.com/4526816/ken-bone-presidential-debate-memes/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Garber |first1=Megan |title=Ken Bone, the Hero America Needed |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/10/the-ballad-of-ken-bone/503534/ |website=The Atlantic |language=en |date=October 10, 2016 |access-date=December 5, 2023 |archive-date=December 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205003209/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/10/the-ballad-of-ken-bone/503534/ |url-status=live }} Bone maintained that he would remain an undecided voter after the debate.{{cite web |last1=Nelson |first1=Louis |title=Internet phenomenon Ken Bone: Debate 'got very uncomfortable from up close' |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/10/who-is-ken-bone-229542 |website=POLITICO |language=en |date=October 10, 2016 |access-date=December 5, 2023 |archive-date=December 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205003208/https://www.politico.com/story/2016/10/who-is-ken-bone-229542 |url-status=live }} He ultimately voted for Clinton in the 2016 presidential election.{{cite web |last1=Hall |first1=Louise |title=2016 viral debate star Ken Bone reveals who he voted for this year |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-election/ken-bone-2016-debate-2016-vote-trump-biden-twitter-b871519.html |website=The Independent |language=en |date=October 7, 2020 |access-date=December 5, 2023 |archive-date=December 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205024602/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-election/ken-bone-2016-debate-2016-vote-trump-biden-twitter-b871519.html |url-status=live }}

After the debate, Bone made appearances on Jimmy Kimmel Live!,{{cite magazine |last1=Chan |first1=Melissa |title=Ken Bone's Jimmy Kimmel Interview Shows Why the Internet Loves Him |url=https://time.com/4526309/ken-bone-jimmy-kimmel/ |magazine=Time |access-date=December 5, 2023 |language=en |date=October 11, 2016 |archive-date=December 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205004518/https://time.com/4526309/ken-bone-jimmy-kimmel/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Holub |first1=Christian |title=Jimmy Kimmel Asks Debate Star Ken Bone If He's Still Undecided |url=https://ew.com/article/2016/10/11/ken-bone-jimmy-kimmel/ |website=EW.com |access-date=December 5, 2023 |language=en |archive-date=December 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205004521/https://ew.com/article/2016/10/11/ken-bone-jimmy-kimmel/ |url-status=live }} @midnight,{{cite web |last1=Washington |first1=Arlene |title=Ken Bone Reacts to Favorite Twitter Mentions, Sexy Halloween Costume on '@Midnight' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/politics-news/ken-bone-midnight-sexy-halloween-938129/ |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=October 13, 2016 |access-date=December 5, 2023 |archive-date=December 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205005342/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/politics-news/ken-bone-midnight-sexy-halloween-938129/ |url-status=live }} and ESPN College GameDay.{{cite web |last=Greer|first=Jordan|title=Ken Bone makes surprise appearance on 'College GameDay,' and we're really still doing this {{!}} Sporting News |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-football/news/ken-bone-college-gameday-signs-wisconsin-ohio-state-bone-zone/d1efn3kpw2il1x2f6a2hmhc6k |website=The Sporting News |access-date=December 5, 2023 |language=en-us |date=October 15, 2016 |archive-date=December 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205005335/https://www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-football/news/ken-bone-college-gameday-signs-wisconsin-ohio-state-bone-zone/d1efn3kpw2il1x2f6a2hmhc6k |url-status=live }} Bone was also parodied on Saturday Night Live and The Ellen DeGeneres Show.{{cite web |title=The most famous 'undecided voter' has big problems with Trump |url=https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2017/politics/state/ken-bone-undecided-voter-donald-trump/ |website=cnn.com |access-date=December 5, 2023 |language=en |archive-date=December 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205005910/https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2017/politics/state/ken-bone-undecided-voter-donald-trump/ |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine |title=Watch Saturday Night Live Tackle Ken Bone and Trump's Bizarre Debate Behavior |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/10/alec-baldwin-ken-bone-donald-trump-snl |magazine=Vanity Fair |date=October 16, 2016 |access-date=December 5, 2023 |archive-date=March 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321122850/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/10/alec-baldwin-ken-bone-donald-trump-snl |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Leibowitz |first1=Lauren |title='Weird Little Creep' Ken Bone Wins the 'SNL' Cold-Open Debate |url=https://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/nation/saturday-night-live-ken-bone-cold-open-debate-sketch |website=Thrillist |access-date=December 5, 2023 |language=en |date=October 16, 2016 |archive-date=December 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205005331/https://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/nation/saturday-night-live-ken-bone-cold-open-debate-sketch |url-status=live }} Bone capitalized on his sudden fame by endorsing ridesharing company Uber with a tweet,{{cite web |title=Ken Bone may have violated FTC rules with Uber tweet (updated) |url=https://www.engadget.com/2016-10-13-ken-bone-may-have-violated-ftc-rules-with-uber-tweet.html |website=Engadget |access-date=December 5, 2023 |date=October 13, 2016 |archive-date=December 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205005331/https://www.engadget.com/2016-10-13-ken-bone-may-have-violated-ftc-rules-with-uber-tweet.html |url-status=live }} filming a commercial for Izod,{{cite web |last1=O'Reilly |first1=Lara |title=Ken Bone is starring in an ad for the brand that makes his now famous red sweater |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/ken-bone-izod-red-sweater-ad-2016-10 |website=Business Insider |access-date=December 5, 2023 |archive-date=December 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205005916/https://www.businessinsider.com/ken-bone-izod-red-sweater-ad-2016-10 |url-status=live }} and partnering with merchandise company Represent to market T-shirts.{{cite web |last1=Vielma |first1=Antonio José |title=Ken Bone lands Uber endorsement and t-shirt deal |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2016/10/13/ken-bone-lands-uber-endorsement-and-t-shirt-deal.html |website=CNBC |access-date=December 5, 2023 |language=en |date=October 13, 2016 |archive-date=October 17, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161017020658/http://www.cnbc.com/2016/10/13/ken-bone-lands-uber-endorsement-and-t-shirt-deal.html |url-status=live }} An emoji with Bone's likeness was briefly available on Twitter, and would appear whenever the hashtag #MyVote2016 was used.{{cite web |last1=Wehner |first1=Mike |title=Ken Bone gets his own Twitter emoji—about 15 minutes too late |url=https://www.dailydot.com/debug/ken-bone-twitter-trend-emoji/ |website=The Daily Dot |access-date=February 6, 2024 |date=November 8, 2016 |archive-date=May 31, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240531222035/https://www.dailydot.com/debug/ken-bone-twitter-trend-emoji/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Collins |first1=Eliza |title=Ken Bone is featured in an Election Day emoji, because of course he is |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/11/07/ken-bone-election-day-emoji/93429104/ |website=USA TODAY |access-date=May 31, 2024 |archive-date=February 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206204423/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/11/07/ken-bone-election-day-emoji/93429104/ |url-status=live }} Bone also auctioned off the red sweater he wore during the debate, raising $10,000 for the charity Greater St. Louis Honor Flight.

On October 13, 2016, Bone hosted a Reddit AMA under the username "StanGibson18".{{cite web |title=I'm American citizen, undecided voter, loving husband Ken Bone, Welcome to the Bone Zone! AMA |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/57dw9a/im_american_citizen_undecided_voter_loving |website=Reddit |access-date=December 5, 2023 |date=October 14, 2016 |archive-date=December 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211021551/https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/57dw9a/im_american_citizen_undecided_voter_loving/ |url-status=live }} After the post went live, Bone received backlash for comments he previously made using his personal account regarding the 2014 celebrity nude photo leak and killing of Trayvon Martin.{{cite web |title=Ken Bone Revealed Freaky, NSFW Reddit History by Accident |url=https://www.gq.com/story/ken-bone-reddit-ama-nsfw-comments |website=GQ |access-date=December 5, 2023 |date=October 14, 2016 |archive-date=November 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101194332/https://www.gq.com/story/ken-bone-reddit-ama-nsfw-comments |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Earl |first1=Jennifer |title=The internet's calling out Ken Bone over his Reddit history – CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ken-bones-reddit-history/ |website=www.cbsnews.com |access-date=December 5, 2023 |date=October 14, 2016 |archive-date=December 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205004518/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ken-bones-reddit-history/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Sykes |first1=Tom |title=Ken Bone's Disturbing Reddit History Shows He's Not Nearly as Adorable as We Thought |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/ken-bones-disturbing-reddit-history-shows-hes-not-nearly-as-adorable-as-we-thought |website=The Daily Beast |language=en |date=October 14, 2016 |access-date=December 5, 2023 |archive-date=January 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119063406/https://www.thedailybeast.com/ken-bones-disturbing-reddit-history-shows-hes-not-nearly-as-adorable-as-we-thought |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=O'Brien |first1=Sara Ashley |title=Ken Bone leaves seedy comment trail on Reddit |url=https://money.cnn.com/2016/10/14/technology/ken-bone-reddit/ |website=CNNMoney |date=October 14, 2016 |access-date=December 5, 2023 |archive-date=December 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205004518/https://money.cnn.com/2016/10/14/technology/ken-bone-reddit/ |url-status=live }} As a result of the media attention, Bone was also swatted and received threats directed at him and his family.

File:Ken Bone with attendee (33093849746).jpg]]

Bone continued to make public appearances related to United States politics after the 2016 election, appearing on Real Time with Bill Maher and at the 2017 Conservative Political Action Conference.{{cite web |title=Ken Bone Returns: Bill Maher Grills Viral Sensation on Who He Voted For |url=https://ew.com/tv/2017/09/09/ken-bone-returns-bill-maher-grills-viral-sensation-on-who-he-voted-for/ |website=EW.com |access-date=December 5, 2023 |language=en |archive-date=December 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205004522/https://ew.com/tv/2017/09/09/ken-bone-returns-bill-maher-grills-viral-sensation-on-who-he-voted-for/ |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine |title=Ken Bone Is Going to Appear at CPAC |url=https://time.com/4677579/ken-bone-cpac/ |magazine=Time |access-date=December 5, 2023 |language=en |date=February 21, 2017 |archive-date=December 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205011315/https://time.com/4677579/ken-bone-cpac/ |url-status=live }} Since 2016, Bone expressed dissatisfaction towards the Trump administration, first implying that he would likely vote for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election and later endorsing Andrew Yang.{{cite web |last1=Bowden |first1=John |title=Ken Bone endorses Andrew Yang for president: '#YangGang all the way!' |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/481125-ken-bone-endorses-andrew-yang-for-president-yanggang-all-the-way/ |website=The Hill |access-date=December 5, 2023 |date=February 3, 2020 |archive-date=May 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509205339/https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/481125-ken-bone-endorses-andrew-yang-for-president-yanggang-all-the-way/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Wyrich |first1=Andrew |title=Ken Bone dons iconic red sweater to endorse Andrew Yang |url=https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/ken-bone-andrew-yang/ |website=The Daily Dot |date=February 3, 2020 |access-date=December 5, 2023 |archive-date=December 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205011316/https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/ken-bone-andrew-yang/ |url-status=live }} Bone voted for Libertarian Party nominee Jo Jorgensen in the 2020 election. He was the subject of an October 2020 New Yorker documentary, in which he reflects on the 2016 election and the effect fame had on his life.{{cite magazine |last1=Fry |first1=Naomi |title=Ken Bone and the Legend of the Undecided Voter |url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-new-yorker-documentary/ken-bone-and-the-legend-of-the-undecided-voter |magazine=The New Yorker |date=October 14, 2020 |access-date=December 5, 2023 |archive-date=December 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205013844/https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-new-yorker-documentary/ken-bone-and-the-legend-of-the-undecided-voter |url-status=live }}

Bone is married to Heather Bone, whom he met in high school. They have a son named Logan.{{cite web |last1=Chester |first1=Tim |title=Ken Bone: From regular guy in a red sweater to America's last hope |url=https://mashable.com/article/ken-bone-debate-profile |website=Mashable |access-date=December 5, 2023 |language=en |date=October 10, 2016 |archive-date=December 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205013836/https://mashable.com/article/ken-bone-debate-profile |url-status=live }}

• Milkshake Duck

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Category:1982 births

Category:2016 in American politics

Category:21st-century American people

Category:Internet memes introduced in 2016

Category:Living people

Category:People associated with the 2016 United States presidential election

Category:People from Belleville, Illinois

Category:Political Internet memes introduced from the United States