The man responsible for bringing phrases like “succulent Chinese meal” and “democracy manifest” into Australia’s online lexicon has died, according to the reporter who first broke the story.
On , Channel 7 journalist Chris Reason said that 82-year-old Jack Karlson had suffered from advanced cancer.
‘This is democracy manifest’
Karlson’s 1991 arrest at a Chinese restaurant in Brisbane was filmed by television news cameras and years later uploaded to YouTube, where it went viral and elevated him to international fame.
Karlson, whose real name is disputed and who may have also gone by other aliases, was said to be a small-time crook, a serial prison escaper and one-time amateur actor.
When Brisbane police tried to put him in a police vehicle in 1991 he theatrically boomed in a Shakespearean voice: “Gentlemen, this is democracy manifest!”
After resisting the arrest and shouting “Get your hands off my penis”, Karlson famously disputed his arrest.
“What is the charge? Eating a meal? A succulent Chinese meal?” he questioned.
A video of the incident posted to has nearly four million views and has been shared on other social media channels widely over the years.
A case of mistaken identity
In July, Reason gathered with Karlson and one of the arresting officers to share a succulent Chinese meal and pay tribute to the incident.
The reunion took place to announce the making of a documentary about Karlson and the viral video moment, slated for release in 2025.
Of the viral video, Karlson said: “It’s a bit annoying sometimes […] I wouldn’t mind if I was getting a quid out of it.”
Karlson has repeatedly told the media that the reaction to his arrest wasn’t premeditated and that the incident was a case of mistaken identity.
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