Chris Crocker (Internet celebrity)

Infobox Internet celebrity
name = Chris Crocker


imagesize =
caption =
birthname =
gender = Male
birthdate = December 1987 (age 20)
birthplace =
othername =
nationality = American
spouse(s) =
webalias =
period active = 2006–presentcite web | last =Crocker | first =Chris | title=Chris Crocker channel page
publisher=YouTube | date=13 September, 2007
url =http://www.youtube.com/user/itschriscrocker
accessdate=2007-09-13]
host service = YouTube, MySpaceTV.com, ShareNow
genre = Comedy,
Performance art
subjects = LGBT and youth issues
influences = Britney Spears
influenced =
meme = "Leave Britney Alone!"
meme date = 11 September, 2007
notable works =
notable roles =
signature phrase =
homepage = [http://www.myspace.com/chriscrocker www.Myspace.com/ChrisCrocker]
[http://www.youtube.com/itschriscrocker www.Youtube.com/ItsChrisCrocker]
[http://www.sharenow.com/relations/profile/chriscrocker/ www.MsChrisCrocker.com]

Chris Crocker (born December 2, 1987) is an American internet celebrity and self-described "edutainer" who produces and acts in transgressive videos.cite web
last = Nesti
first = Robert
title = 2007 YouTube Celebrity Trainwrecks
publisher = Edge Boston
date = 2 January, 2008
url = http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=entertainment&sc=celebrities&sc2=features&sc3=&id=54235
accessdate=2008-02-05] cite web
last = Crocker
first = Chris
title = MySpace Chris Crocker 20
publisher = MySpace
date = 11 September, 2007
url =http://www.myspace.com/chriscrocker
accessdate = 2007-09-13] Almost all of Crocker's work has been attributed to his being an openly gay and effeminate Southern adolescent in a "small-minded town" in the Bible Belt where his sexual orientation and outspokenness are a "subtext... rarely addressed directly and never completely accepted." The Tennessee-based Crocker, a stage name, keeps his identity and exact location private because according to him, and as seen in the public comments to his work, there are safety concerns and death threats in response to his YouTube and MySpace vlogs and profile.citation |title=Legions of the Loyal Britney's Fans Defend Her Online |url=http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=3592492&page=1 |periodical=ABC News |date=12 September, 2007 | accessdate=2007-09-13 |first=Russell |last=Goldman] cite news |first=Chris |last=Azzopardi |title=15 Minutes ... More; Chris Crocker can't make pizza. But he's cooked up a smart way to super stardom: Defending Britney |url=http://www.pridesource.com/article.shtml?article=27184 |work=Between The Lines; PrideSource.com |date=2007-10-04 |accessdate=2007-10-16 ] cite web
last =Manjoo
first =Farhad
title=Talking to the "Leave Britney Alone!" guy
publisher=Salon.com
date=12 September 12, 2007
url=http://machinist.salon.com/blog/2007/09/12/chris_crocker/
accessdate=2007-09-17] According to his MySpace profile, Crocker lives in Los Angeles as of January 2008.

His work consists mainly of short-form self-directed "monologues about life" shot in his grandparents' home. As of March 2008, Crocker's videos have received a combined 45.8 million plays on MySpace, and his vlog channel on YouTube is the 18th most viewed of all time in all categories, with over 153 million views.cite web
title=Chris Crocker's Videos
publisher=MySpace
date=13 September, 2007
url =http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.viewVideos&channelid=113936924
accessdate=2008-03-29] cite web
last= YouTube, LLC
title=Channels Most Viewed : (All Time)
publisher=YouTube
date=26 January, 2008
url =http://www.youtube.com/members?s=mv&t=a&g=0&p=1
accessdate=2008-01-26] Although he has produced dozens of videos, Crocker gained international fame from his viral video tearfully defending Britney Spears's "lackluster MTV comeback" with over four million views in two days.cite web
last =Ramirez
first =Ramon
title=Britney Spears: Bombshell or just plain bomb?
publisher=The Daily Texan
date=September 13, 2007
url = http://media.www.dailytexanonline.com/media/storage/paper410/news/2007/09/13/LifeArts/Britney.Spears.Bombshell.Or.Just.Plain.Bomb-2966398.shtml
accessdate=2007-09-13] The video received international media attention, hundreds of parodies, criticism and generated death threats for the androgynous performer.cite web
title=Video: Gay Men's Online War Over Britney Spears
publisher=Javno.hr, Croatia
date=12 September, 2007
url =http://www.javno.com/en/lifestyle/clanak.php?id=80116
accessdate=2007-09-13] cite web
last =Davies
first =Shaun
title=Screaming Britney Defense Becomes Net Phenomenon
publisher=National Nine News, Australia
date=12 September, 2007
url =http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=295392
accessdate=2007-09-13] cite web
last =Sankey
first =Daniel
title=Leave Britney alone!
publisher=Sydney Herald News
date=12 September, 2007
url =http://www.smh.com.au/news/people/leave-britney-alone/2007/09/12/1189276861545.html
accessdate=2007-09-13] cite web
last =Teckemeier
first =Nanna Louise
title=Gal Britney-fan hitter på Youtube
publisher=Ekstra Bladet (Norway)
date=12 September, 2007
url =http://ekstrabladet.dk/flash/udlandkendte/article958682.ece
accessdate=2008-01-18] cite web
last =Roeper
first =Richard
title=Coffee, tea, or how 'bout a decent outfit?: Now THAT'S a performance
publisher=Chicago Sun-Times
date=13 September, 2007
url =http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:sCnMqojUUlYJ:findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20070913/ai_n20509494+%22Coffee,+tea,+or+how+%27bout+a+decent+outfit%3F%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us
accessdate=2008-01-18] cite web
last =Popkin
first =Helen A.S.
title='Leave Britney Alone!': Tear-stained video plea makes YouTube vlogger an Internet rock star
publisher=MSNBC
date=13 September, 2007
url =http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20750575/
accessdate=2007-09-13]

Crocker's detractors and critics have accused him of narcissism, melodramatics, histrionics, and using Spears' personal shortcomings to bolster his own fame.cite web
title=Me Me Me
publisher=The Times (from Esquire (magazine))
date=8 June, 2008
url =http://www.thetimes.co.za/PrintEdition/Magazine/Article.aspx?id=777445
accessdate=2008-06-13] cite web
last =Elsworth
first =Catherine
title=YouTube Britney Spears fan to get own show
publisher=The Daily Telegraph
date=21 September, 2007
url =http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/09/21/wbritney121.xml
accessdate=2007-09-22] cite web
last =Jafari
first =Samira
title=Leave Britney Alone Guy Is New Web Star
publisher=Associated Press
date=21 September, 2007
url =http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/21/AR2007092101280.html
accessdate=2008-01-18 (original released on AP wire and reprinted elsewhere including The Washington Post)] cite web
last =Kearney
first =Syd
coauthors = Andy Olin, Kyrie O'Connor, Bobby Hankinson, Lana Berkowitz, Nadya Shakoor
title=Too Much Information
publisher=Houston Chronicle
date=17 October, 2007
url =http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2007_4444541
accessdate=2008-01-18] Others have accused Crocker of acting in the "Leave Britney Alone" video, although he insisted it was a genuine on a September 2007 appearance on Maury Povich's "Maury" show.cite web
last =Jalees
first =Sabrina
title=Britney Proves Awful is The New Awesome
publisher=Toronto Star
date=20 September, 2007
url =http://www.thestar.com/columnists/article/258280
accessdate=2007-09-22] cite web
last =Jupiter
first =P
title=The Crock Says (youtube)
publisher=YouTube
date=20 September, 2007
url =http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FX-OsSQBDDM
accessdate=2007-09-22]

In September 2007 "Variety" magazine revealed Crocker had signed a development deal with 44 Blue Productions to star in a documentary-style reality television show.cite web
last =Adalian
first =Josef
title='Britney' guy may get TV gig
publisher=Variety (magazine)
date=18 September, 2007
url =http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117972243.html?categoryid=1009&cs=1
accessdate=2007-09-19]

__TOC__

Biography

Early life and background

Crocker "raised eyebrows" by bringing Barbie dolls to kindergarten for show-and-tell rather than the toys or action figures usually associated with boys.cite web
last =Jafari
first =Samira
title=Crocker hopes to find TV stardom after Britney video
publisher=Associated Press in USA Today
date=22 September, 2007
url =http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2007-09-22-crocker-britney_N.htm
accessdate=2007-09-22] He lived in Eastern Tennessee and was homeschooled in response to constant "death threats, bullying and glares at his clothes and makeup".citation |url=http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=232684 |title=Escape from Real Bitch Island |first=Eli |last=Sanders |date=2007-06-30 |accessdate=2007-09-13 |periodical=The Stranger] cite web
last = Crocker
first =Chris
title=MySpace Chris Crocker 20
publisher=MySpace
date=5 February, 2008
url =http://www.myspace.com/chriscrocker
accessdate=2008-02-05] Specifically after allegedly being "harassed by a homophobic high school gym coach".cite web
last =Dempster
first =Michael
coauthors =Jason Kaplan
title=More From “Real Bitch Island”
publisher=Howard Stern.com
date=12 September, 2007
url =http://www.howardstern.com/rundown.hs?d=1189569600#10371
accessdate=2007-09-13]

Crocker lives with his fundamentalistcite web
last =Flanigan
first=Kathy
title=Tops of the Tube
publisher=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
date=14 September, 2007
url =http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=672588
accessdate=2007-10-11] Pentecostal grandparents who continued raising him when his teenage parents were not able; while his grandfather reportedly knows little about his Internet fame, his grandmother has reluctantly appeared in some of his videos.cite web
last =visiontellie2
title=Chris Crocker "Leave Britney Alone" Jimmy Kimmel Live
publisher=YouTube
date=14 September, 2007
url =http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOR5lzVvMic
accessdate=2007-09-15] His uncensored and "unfiltered" work has been attributed to his isolation as an "effeminate, Southern, flamboyantly gay" adolescent in a "small-minded town" in the Bible Belt. His sexual orientation and outspokenness have been described as a "subtext... rarely addressed directly and never completely accepted" in his hometown. According to Crocker, when his grandmother found out that he was gay, she initially "said that [he] needed an exorcism". Crocker, who laments his town's lack of gay culture, said, "The only gay pride parade where I live is in my bedroom" as he held up a rainbow frosted cupcake.cite web
last =strangervideo
authorlink =The Stranger
title=Chris Crocker on Seattle Gay Pride
publisher=YouTube
date=14 August, 2007
url =http://youtube.com/watch?v=AVRmAzpoMJ8
accessdate=2007-09-16] He added, "We don't have pride and rainbows here. We have MySpace. We don't have bathhouses, we have outhouses."

Crocker's earliest experience with online networking was as an editor of an e-zine, where he met his first boyfriend, with whom he only was able to interact online and by phone. Crocker later found another online forum, where his acting skills helped him blend in on a free phone party line run out of Los Angeles "filled with flaming black men, black drag queens, and trannies from Compton", where he was outed as white and dubbed "Cracker". In June 2006, after years of experience on the Internet, Crocker started uploading self-produced videos, characterized as his "singularly bizarre and angry take on gay life and his intolerant town".

Building a following

Although his chart-topping video defending Britney Spears drew the attention of the wider public, Crocker had already become one of the most-watched video producers on MySpace and YouTube, having gathered what MSNBC described as a "cult following". Prior to Crocker's defense of Spears, some of the more than sixty videos he had posted to the two social networking websites had already been viewed more than a million times, and his YouTube channel was in the top rankings. In May 2007, Crocker was the subject of a lengthy profile in the Seattle alternative weekly "The Stranger". His rise to "pseudo-celebrity" status mirrors the recent success of the online video business from early 2006 through 2007, fueled, in part, because "the more absurd the clip, the more people will watch it, thanks to a feature that allows e-mailing clips to friends."cite web
last=Perez
first=Juan Carlos
title=US online video popularity keeps climbing
publisher=MacWorld
date=September 13, 2007
url =http://www.macworld.com/news/2007/09/13/video/
accessdate=2007-09-15] cite web
last=Zawadski
first=Alison
title=A Work in Progress
publisher=Assumption College "Le Provocateur"
date=September 13, 2007
url =http://media.www.leprovoc.com/media/storage/paper453/news/2007/09/12/Viewpoint/A.Work.In.Progress-2964495.shtml
accessdate=2007-09-15]

In addition to the "Leave Britney Alone" videos Crocker has produced and posted dozens of others with over fifty posted on both MySpace and YouTube although some are only posted on one site or the other. Many of Crocker's videos have become "viral video hits". Some consider them to be bold and seething "flares sent up by a young gay man marooned in a sea of rednecks" who is stuck in a small town that "can't tolerate homosexuality and punishes flamboyance." Crocker's videos include "sex-filled confessions" and "wild monologues" talking "about everything from AIDS to pubic hair." In many of the videos he portrays characters, such as an older deeply religious woman in the "The Earl Annie Edna show" series and exaggerated comic characterizations of Southern stereotypes earning comparisons to Andy Kaufman and being called "an insidious satiric mastermind".cite web
last =Schlenker
first =Dave
title=«Little Man, Big Mouth: Internet star cries for help
publisher=Ocala Star-Banner
date=September 28, 2007
url =http://www.ocala.com/article/20070928/FEATURES09/209280360/1001/NEWS01| accessdate=2007-09-28] cite web
last =Weinberger
first =Jill
title=«Leave Britney Alone, Chris Crocker Cries!
publisher=The Daily Reel
date=September 12, 2007
url =http://thedailyreel.com/spotlight/coffee-break/archive/2007/09/12/leave-britney-alone-chris-crocker-cries
accessdate=2007-09-15]

On September 6, 2007, "The Top (& Bottom) Gays of You Tube!", the first all-gay collaboration video by YouTube's most subscribed video bloggers, was posted by Michael Buckley ("What The Buck?!")cite web
last=Nesti
first=Robert
title=What The Buck?!: An Interview with Michael Buckley
publisher=Edge Boston
date=March 28, 2007
url =http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=entertainment&sc=celebrities&sc2=features&sc3=&id=4173
accessdate=2008-01-09] to create a "YouTube gay village." Featuring Crocker in a heavily affected persona, William Sledd,cite web
last=Fenton
first=Angie
title=Bravo, William, bravo
publisher=The Courier-Journal
date=December 10, 2007
url =http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071210/COLUMNISTS18/712100348
accessdate=2008-01-09] and "Gay God" (Matthew Lush), the video consisted of each of the four bloggers commenting on the others' vlogging, with Buckley acting as host for the various outtakes. Buckley remarked that Crocker is a unique talent and "one of the most creative video producers on YouTube." Before the "Leave Britney Alone" video aired, Crocker's subscriber base had put him below the other collaborators' rankings in the 24th position in the all-time rankings for most channel subscribers (in all categories). As of February 2008, "What The Buck?!" is 6th, Crocker's channel, "It's Chris Crocker" is 8th, Sledd is 13th and "Gay God" is 25th.cite web
title= Most Subscribed : (All Time)
publisher=YouTube
date=September 15, 2007
url =http://youtube.com/members?s=ms&t=a&g=0&p=2
accessdate=2007-09-15] As of October 2008, the video has been viewed over 1,017,500 times, with nearly 9,000 comments.cite web
last=Buckley
first=Michael
title=THE TOP (& Bottom) GAYS OF YOU TUBE!
publisher=YouTube
date=September 6, 2007
url =http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1q3rswA0p0
accessdate=2007-09-15]

"Leave Britney Alone!"

On September 9th, 2007 the video "Leave Britney Alone pt.1" was posted to Crocker's MySpace page, while the better-known "LEAVE BRITNEY ALONE!" (part 2) was posted to both MySpace and YouTube. In "Leave Britney Alone pt.1", an emotional Crocker stated that he did not want fellow Southerner and gay icon Britney Spears [cite web |url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-1446.html
title=Baby One More Time: Gay icon Britney Spears is pregnant
first=Leigh |last=May |date=11 May, 2006 |work=PinkNews.co.uk] to spiral out of control like Anna Nicole Smith, who had died in February 2007. As of January 2008, the video has been viewed over 3.4 million times and has over 55,000 comments.cite web | last =Crocker | first =Chris | title=Leave Britney Alone pt.1 | publisher=MySpace | date=9 September, 2007
url =http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=17979243
accessdate=2007-09-15] It is just a few seconds shorter than the second part, and Crocker, although emotional, remains relatively calm and composed, becoming teary only at the very end.

Crocker is most notable for his "LEAVE BRITNEY ALONE!" video, posted 10 September, 2007 to YouTube, in which he lashes out at gossip columnists such as Perez Hilton, and at reality TV star Simon Cowell, who criticized Britney Spears' onstage music performance at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards in Las Vegas.cite web
last =Camp
first =Todd
coauthors =Robert Philpot
title=Blab!: All-Britney Terror Alert:Things We Should Be Worried About This Week
publisher=Fort Worth Star-Telegram
date=14 September, 2007
url =http://www.star-telegram.com/entertainment/story/379184.html
accessdate=2008-01-18] citation|title=Leave Britney alone, she's not well |first=Lincoln |last=Archer |date=13 September, 2007
url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22411455-2902,00.html |accessdate=2007-09-13 |periodical=Melbourne Herald Sun] citation |url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,22405392-10388,00.html |title=Simon Cowell says Britney Spears's career may be over |date=2007-09-12 |periodical=News.com.au |accessdate=2007-09-13] Within the first 24 hours of its posting, the video had accumulated over 2 million views. It has had over 22 million views and is the second most discussed video of all time on the site (in all categories), with over 324,000 comments as of August 2008.cite web
last =Crocker
first =Chris
coauthors =
title=Leave Britney Alone!
publisher=YouTube
date=11 September, 2007
url =http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHmvkRoEowc
accessdate=2008-08-25] cite web
last= YouTube, LLC
title= Most Discussed : (All Time) : All Categories
publisher=YouTube
date=24 May 24, 2007
url =http://www.youtube.com/browse?s=md&t=a&c=0&l=
accessdate=2008-05-24] "LEAVE BRITNEY ALONE!" is one of YouTube's fastest "climbing" videos, reaching the minimum seven million views needed (as of September 2007) to be included in the "Top 100".cite web
last= YouTube, LLC
title=Most Viewed : (All Time) : All Categories
publisher=YouTube
date=18 September, 2007
url =http://www.youtube.com/browse?s=mp&t=a&c=0&l=&e=en_US&p=1
accessdate=2007-09-18] The video was nominated in the Commentary category in the 2007 YouTube Awards.Cite web|url= http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2008/03/20/will_the_obama_girl_win_a_youtube_award/?rss_id=Boston.com+--+Education+news |title= Will the Obama Girl win a YouTube award?|date= 2008-03-20|accessdate= 2008-03-20|last=Carlson|first= Erin|publisher= Associated Press] The video received worldwide attention and earned Crocker interviews on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, "The Today Show", "Maury", "The Howard Stern Show", "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" and Ryan Seacrest's KIIS-FM morning show.cite web
title=«Lasciate Britney» Il pianto di un fan trionfa su YouTube (1.8 Million visits; "Left Britney" Plant of a fan prevails on YouTube)
publisher=La Gazzetta dello Sport
date=13 September, 2007; Section: Gazzetta; Page 34.
url =http://archivio.gazzetta.it/archiveDocumentServlet.jsp?url=/documenti_gazzetta/archivio/gazzetta/2007/09/ga_10_070913015.xml
accessdate=2007-09-15] Crocker and his video were also commented on in the mainstream media by shows like "The View" and "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno".cite episode
title = Monday, January 28, 2008
episodelink =
series = The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
serieslink = http://www.nbc.com/The_Tonight_Show_with_Jay_Leno
airdate = 28 January 2008
season = 17
number = 3485] YouTube said "the melodramatic two-minute clip made Crocker an instant YouTube star" and named it one of the top videos of 2007.cite web
last= Adegoke
first=Yinka
title=Obama Girl, Britney Boy Top YouTube Videos
publisher=Reuters
date=28 December, 2007
url =http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSN2743102720071228
accessdate=2008-01-18] "Wired magazine" named it the top video of 2007.

Although sometimes shown in conjunction with news footage of Spears' performance, the "pure performance art" video has become its own story, with the news media and gossip industry offering opinions on the phenomenon and even joking that Crocker could be "an insidious satiric mastermind" and compared him to Andy Kaufman.cite web
title=The Situation Room: Transcripts
publisher=CNN
date=11 September, 2007
url =http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0709/11/sitroom.03.html
accessdate=2007-09-15] cite web
last =Weinberger
first =Jill
title=«Leave Britney Alone, Chris Crocker Cries!
publisher=The Daily Reel
date= 12 September, 2007
url =http://thedailyreel.com/spotlight/coffee-break/archive/2007/09/12/leave-britney-alone-chris-crocker-cries
accessdate=2007-09-15] cite web
last =Schlenker
first =Dave
title=«Little Man, Big Mouth: Internet star cries for help
publisher=Ocala Star-Banner
date=28 September, 2007
url =http://www.ocala.com/article/20070928/FEATURES09/209280360/1001/NEWS01| accessdate=2007-09-28] In the video, Crocker proclaims, "All you people care about is readers and making money off of her. She's a human! Leave Britney alone!"cite web
title=Britney Spears fan Chris Crocker screams for fans to “leave Britney alone!”
publisher=TransWorldNews
date=13 September, 2007
url =http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?storyid=22786&ret=Default.aspx
accessdate=2007-09-13] citation |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/people/leave-britney-alone/2007/09/12/1189276804214.html |title=Leave Britney alone! |first=Daniel |last=Sankey |date=12 September, 2007 |accessdate=2007-09-13 |periodical=The Age] Crocker stated that although he is often acting in his videos, his emotions were genuine and "straight from the heart"; although he described the clip as a "second take" in one interview, he clarified on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" that he meant that it was the second part of a longer video, the first part being "Leave Britney Alone pt. 1".citation |title= Obsessive Britney Spears fan lashes critics in YouTube video |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/2007/09/13/2007-09-13_obsessive_britney_spears_fan_lashes_crit-1.html |periodical=New York Daily News | date = 13 September, 2007 |accessdate=2007-09-13 |first=Nicole |last=Lyn Pesce] citation |title=Legions of the Loyal Britney's Fans Defend Her Online |url=http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=3592492&page=1 |periodical=ABC News |date=12 September, 2007| accessdate=2007-09-13 |first=Russell |last=Goldman]

Parodies

The "LEAVE BRITNEY ALONE!" video has become a satire target with response and parody videos as well as references in mainstream films, cartoons and commercially available music. Within a few weeks of its release, nearly 2000 video responses and parodies, including ones by Perez Hilton, Jimmy Kimmel, National Lampoon Inc., Rove McManus, Joe Cartoon and Charles Firth were posted, mostly on YouTube.cite web
title=YouTube user gets internet fame after defending Britney Spears
publisher=Afriqu Enligne
date=13 September, 2007
url =http://www.afriquenligne.fr/news/daily-news/youtube-user-gets-internet-fame-after-defending-britney-spears-200709148588/
accessdate=2007-09-14] cite web
last =Lampoon
first =National
title=LEAVE CHRIS CROCKER ALONE! Britney Spears Responds
publisher=YouTube
date=11 September, 2007
url =http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVcmHcHIsYc
accessdate=2008-01-25] cite web
last =Cartoon
first =Joe
title=Chris Crocker in a Blender
publisher=YouTube
date=3 October, 2007
url =http://youtube.com/watch?v=IZ_zfkNcxRQ
accessdate=2008-01-25] cite web
last =Westbrook
first =Bruce
title=Internet rant reaps its rewards: Performance artist finds fame with Britney skit
publisher=Houston Chronicle
date=21 September, 2007
url =http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2007_4428821
accessdate=2008-01-18] Actor Seth Green's parody, which included him applying eyeliner several times and promoting his show "Robot Chicken", called for people to "leave Chris Crocker alone!"cite web
coauthors =The Soup on E!
title=Seth Green Chris Crocker Outtakes
publisher=MySpace
date=13 September, 2007
url =http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=2059347815
accessdate=2007-09-14] Other parodies of Crocker's video include one of a George W. Bush impersonator begging people "to leave the Iraq War's General Petraeus alone" and one of American football team New England Patriots fans begging people to leave coach Bill Belichick alone. Many of the video responses characterized Crocker as a drama queen and "Wired magazine" noted, "sent world Schadenfreude levels zooming to heights unseen since the Fatty Arbuckle scandal."cite web
last =Moses
first =Asher
title=Britney drama queen inks TV deal
publisher=Sydney Morning Herald
date=20 September, 2007
url =http://www.smh.com.au/news/web/britney-drama-queen-inks-tv-deal/2007/09/20/1189881661178.html
accessdate=2007-09-22] cite web
last =Sjöberg
first =Lore
title=The Year in Online Video 2007
publisher=Wired
date=28 December, 2007
url =http://www.wired.com/entertainment/theweb/multimedia/2007/12/YE_onlinevideo2007
accessdate=2008-01-18]

The January 2008 parody film "Meet the Spartans" utilized pop culture references and met with generally poor reviews; the "Electronic Urban Report" called Crocker's cameo the "film's funniest moment". [cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/film/reviews/article_display.jsp?JSESSIONID=qpm9HhsDPFLpzJ9MfRpVc5QvzVf1Z16Kb64GVWKpFfFdcLTVcpfD!-1562314872&&rid=10537 |title=Meet the Spartans - Bottom Line: "300" was funnier. |accessdate=2008-01-28 |publisher=The Hollywood Reporter] cite web
last = Williams | first =Kam | title=EUR DVD Review: Meet the Spartans - Silly Spoof of 300 Released on DVD | publisher=Electronic Urban Report
date=5 June, 2008 | url = http://www.eurweb.com/story/eur44079.cfm
accessdate=2008-06-18] Both Crocker and the video were also parodied in the South Park episode "Canada On Strike" with a cartoon Crocker running around in a fight between various internet memes, telling them to "leave the others alone". [ [http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080126/OPINION03/801260361/1305/OPINION0331 You don't want to 'Meet the Spartans' ] ] [cite episode
title = Canada on Strike | episodelink = Canada on Strike | series = South Park
serieslink = South Park | airdate = 2008-04-02 | season = 12
number = 171 ] In March 2008, a "trance remix" dance single "Leave Britney Alone" was released on iTunes and other sites by "Double J" featuring quotes from Crocker's video.cite web | title=Crocker releases 'Leave Britney Alone' single
publisher=Digital Spy | date=10 March 10, 2008 | url =http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/a91157/crocker-releases-leave-britney-alone-single.html
accessdate=2008-03-14] The dance single was released after a video utilizing the single had been viewed over a million plays.cite web | last = Copycatblog | title=Leave Britney Alone - Trance Remix
publisher=YouTube | date=16 September 2007 | url =http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FAuJod1XmY
accessdate=2008-03-15] cite web | last = Copycatblog | title=Leave Britney Alone - Trance Remix | publisher=YouTube | date=31 December 2007 | url =http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IG0mH4JtY-0
accessdate=2008-03-15]

Response to Fox News

While numerous news and media outlets mocked Crocker's video, FOX News commentators on the morning news program "Fox & Friends" repeatedly questioned his gender and compared the fabric backdrop in his video to Osama Bin Laden's videos in an apparent association fallacy.cite web | last = | first =Connor
title=(CNN's) Glenn Beck on a Britney Spears Supporter (aka Chris Crocker)
publisher=YouTube | date=12 September, 2007
url =http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofyLrdF_Ag4
accessdate=2007-10-06] cite web
last =Blaze | first =Alex | title=Chris Crocker on Fox News & Friends
publisher=The Bilerico Project | date=19 September, 2007
url =http://www.bilerico.com/2007/09/chris_crocker_video_on_fox_and_friends.php
accessdate=2007-09-19] cite web
last ="lacohenga" | first =Connor | title=Chris Crocker on FOX News
publisher=YouTube | date=13 September, 2007
url =http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KexjIWy5NE
accessdate=2007-09-14] Consequently, Crocker addressed the commentators with two follow-up videos - "Poor FOX "News".." and "Rosie O'Donnell was right about FOX "News" (originally posted as "Dear Fox 'News'") - addressing what he thought was biased treatment and calling Fox News the "Republican, conservative, homophobic channel".cite web
last =Jones | first =Anthony | title=Poor FOX "News".. | publisher=YouTube
date=14 September, 2007 | url = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbdJcIG2YpM
accessdate=2007-09-14] cite web | last =Crocker | first =Chris | author link=Chris Crocker (Internet celebrity)
title=Rosie O'Donnell was right about FOX "News" | publisher=YouTube
date=17 September, 2007 | url = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQMR85Ak02Q
accessdate=2007-09-17] Crocker was concerned about the news channel calling him a "she/he" and what he felt was their needless questioning of his gender instead of commenting on the content of his video.

Nude photos scandal

A gay blog, Queerty.com, posted Crocker's self-produced soft-porn naked photos from his "Suicide Boys LiveJournal" profile. [ [http://www.omgblog.com/2007/09/omg_hes_naked_chris_crocker.php OMG, he's naked: Chris Crocker] ] Crocker said they were fakes, then later admitted the photos were real but embarrassing to him. He attributed the images to the folly of youth - he was seventeen at the time - and having too much free time as he was home-schooled. [ [http://www.queerty.com/news/chris-crocker-comes-clean-on-nude-shots-20071002/ Queerty: Chris Crocker comes clean on nude shots] ] Crocker removed them from his profile and Queerty removed them because he was legally a minor in the images.

Onch promotional deal and lawsuit

In October 2007 TMZ.com reported that Crocker was being sued by Onch Movement Jewelry for 1 million dollars, for fraud and breach of contract and provided a copy of the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles. [ [http://www.tmz.com/2007/10/05/hack-chris-crocker-sued-for-fraud/ Hack Chris Crocker Sued for Fraud - TMZ.com - Entertainment News, Celebrity Gossip and Hollywood Rumors ] ] Jewelry designer Onch, a fan of Crocker, hired him as a celebrity spokesmodel and hired him for more than two days worth of publicity work as well as appearance at World of Wonder’s "Just Britney" art show in exchange for airfare.cite web | last =Malkin | first =Marc | title="Leave Britney Alone" Heads West | publisher=E Online | date=2007-09-24 | url =http://www.eonline.com/gossip/planetgossip/detail/index.jsp?uuid=289c810a-efcf-4fbe-9938-d34b9002c4b1
accessdate=2007-10-07] It was speculated by DMW Media that Crocker had no legal representative as the agreement seemed unbalanced.cite web | last =Goldberg
first =Scott | title=Jewelry Company Sues Chris Crocker for Fraud
publisher=DMW Media | date=2007-10-05
url =http://www.dmwmedia.com/news/2007/10/05/jewelry-company-sues-chris-crocker-for-fraud
accessdate=2007-10-07] Crocker did make appearances including at gay club Rage and the art show where he was interviewed by MTV showing artwork of him in homage to Spears.cite web | last =Movement
first =Onch | title=EXCLUSIVE Onch Movement Presents Chris Crocker at RAGE in LA
publisher=YouTube | date=2007-09-23
url =http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WoMNohzbvA&NR=1
accessdate=2007-10-07] cite web | last =Carroll | first =Larry | title=Britney Spears' Highs And Lows Blown Up For Hollywood Art Show | publisher=MTV | date=2007-10-11 | url =http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1571616/20071010/id_0.jhtml
accessdate=2007-10-11] Onch's YouTube channel also posted videos of appearances which were later removed.cite web | last =Movement | first =Onch | title=Chris Crocker wearing Onch Movement Pink Razor - Gay Army
publisher=YouTube | date=2007-09-19
url =http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:joMZYEkIgb4J:www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DCnlJ74omsD8+Onch+crocker&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3&gl=us
accessdate=2007-10-07 Link too recent for internet archiving use.]

Mainstream media exposure

Prior to the attention from his September 2007 "Leave Britney Alone" video, Crocker was seen as viral and was asked by MTV pioneering vlogger and news staffer Matt Sunbulli to provide video for MTV's website which also broadcasts on MTV itself.cite web
last =Gannes | first =Liz | title=The Deal with MTV’s First Videoblog | publisher=NewTeeVee | date=26 January 26, 2007 | url = http://newteevee.com/2007/01/26/the-deal-with-mtvs-first-videoblog/
accessdate=2007-09-14] Crocker has indicated that he hopes to develop his acting career and has agreed to develop ideas for a TV show with Los Angeles producer Glenn Meehan and has met with representatives from MTV's gay-themed channel LOGO. According to "Variety", Crocker has signed a development deal with 44 Blue Productions to create a "docusoap" reality television show, which will be called "Chris Crocker's 15 Minutes More".cite news |first=Chris |last=Azzopardi |title=15 Minutes ... More; Chris Crocker can't make pizza. But he's cooked up a smart way to super stardom: Defending Britney |url=http://www.pridesource.com/article.shtml?article=27184 |work=PrideSource.com |date=2007-10-04 |accessdate=2007-10-16 ] Said Rasha Drachkovitch, the production company's co-founder: "It's going to pretty much be the Chris Crocker experience. We consider him a rebel character that people will find interesting. He's going to be a TV star."

Post-meme career

After the widespread recognition of the "Leave Britney Alone" viral video Crocker has been involved in several projects.

In a June 2007 autobiographical comic strip, where Crocker discusses future plans, he states, "I'm going to make the leap from living with my Pentecostal grandparents to living with drag queen roommates. I'm going to star in my own TV show. I'm going to make the leap from outhouses to bathhouses...to my very own house."cite web | last =Crocker
first =Chris | title=What You Need To Know About...2008 | publisher=The Stranger
date=2007-06-20 | url = http://thestranger.com/chriscrocker | accessdate= 2007-09-16]

In October 2007, Crocker opened Fox Reality channel's "Reality Remix Really Awards".

Crocker was one of Lily Allen's internet correspondents on the February 2008 premier episode of BBC's "Lily Allen and Friends" where he posed questions for the guest celebrities, in this case David Mitchell and later, Cuba Gooding, Jr..cite episode
title = Lily Allen and Friends (Premier - February 12, 2008) | series = Lily Allen and Friends | serieslink = http://www.bbc.co.uk/lilyallen/
airdate = 12 February, 2008 | season = 1
number = 1] cite web
last = Iheartchriscrockerr | title=Chris Crocker on Lily Allen part 2
publisher=YouTube | date=16 February, 2008
url =http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMvd_s3rY7Q
accessdate=2008-06-19] cite web
title=David Mitchell: Confirmed for Show One - 12th Feb 10:30pm on BBC Three
publisher=BBC | date=2008 | url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/lilyallen/celeb_davidmitchell.shtml
accessdate=2008-06-19] cite web
last = Iheartchriscrockerr | title=Chris Crocker on Lily Allen and friends
publisher=YouTube | date=16 February, 2008 | url =http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltbsHRdE6VQ
accessdate=2008-06-19] cite web
title=Cuba Gooding Jr.: Confirmed for Show One - 12th Feb 10:30pm on BBC Three
publisher=BBC | date=2008 | url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/lilyallen/celeb_cubagooding.shtml | accessdate=2008-06-19]

In a 9 April, 2008 video blog Crocker announced he refused the television network's offer to star in his own show on the grounds that it would be censored. Outraged, Crocker refused the deal and claimed he will continue to post his videos on YouTube.com in a effort to draw in more viewers to the video hosting web site."cite web | last =Crocker | first =Chris | title=Chris Crocker Tells All | publisher=YouTube
date=2008-04-09 | url= http://youtube.com/watch?v=p48f0ZLQn9w | accessdate= 2008-04-24]

At a 3 May, 2008 performance at the "The Bamboozle" music festival, Crocker was a special guest performer during Jeffree Star's song "We Want Cunt" - "cunt" being a nickname for Star.cite web | last = YOUxBEAST | first =Anna | title=Jeffre Star & Chris Crocker- We Want Cunt
publisher=YouTube | date=2008-05-04 | url = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-817nEvnrg | accessdate=2008-06-23] cite web | last = xkayluhhFUCK | title=Jeffree Star and Chris Crocker and other. | publisher=YouTube | date=2008-05-07 | url =http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDI8dPaVQJo
accessdate=2008-06-23] Weiner, Jonah (11 April, 2006). [http://www.slate.com/id/2139691/ "Tila Tequila for President"] . Slate.com. Retrieved 29 July, 2006.] cite web | last =Immediato | first =Linda | title=Jeffree Star: The Fairest One of All | publisher=LA Weekly | date=9 May, 2007 | url =http://www.laweekly.com/la-people-2007/jeffree-star/16316/
accessdate=2007-06-09] cite web | title=Jeffrey Star: Electro / Pop / Rap | publisher=Virb | url =http://www.virb.com/jeffreestar | accessdate=2007-07-21] cite web
last =Catalyst | first =Clint | title=The Future is Jeffree Star: Inside the cult-like following of the Internet's most popular queer icon
publisher=Frontiers | date=2006 | url =http://www.frontierspublishing.com/mag/index.php?o=art&article=637
accessdate=2007-07-20] Star, also a gay Internet celebrity, and Crocker kissed romantically in front of the audience as part of the performance and later posted a video of the two again making out that was later deleted.cite web | last = tetheredd | title=The Kiss. | publisher=YouTube | date=2008-05-011 | url =http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECyOL3wboDs | accessdate=2008-06-23]

On 23 May, 2008 rock band Weezer released a viral music video for their song "Pork and Beans" - "a natural anthem for the self-expression that’s been taking shape on YouTube" - which featured mash-ups of viral videos like the Diet Coke and Mentos eruption and Kevin Federline's "PopoZão" as well as Youtube celebrities including the Numa Numa guy (Gary Brolsma), Tay Zonday and Crocker all playing themselves. [cite web | url = http://valleywag.com/392972/weezer-undestands-how-to-work-youtube | title = Weezer understands how to work YouTube: allude to these 24 viral videos | publisher = Valleywag | first = Nicholas | last = Carlson | date = 2008-05-24 | accessdate = 2008-05-24] cite web | url = http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,25642,23772877-5014108,00.html | title = Spot the memes in Weezer's Pork and Beans | date = 2008-05-28 | accessdate = 2008-05-29 | publisher = News Limited] cite web | url = http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/webscout/2008/05/some-more-notes.html | title = Mathew Cullen, director of Weezer's 'Pork and Beans,' shares some secrets | publisher = Los Angeles Times | first = David | last = Sarno | date = 2008-05-30 | accessdate = 2008-05-30] cite web | url = http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2008-05-28-weezer-youtube-pork-beans_N.htm | title = YouTube stars, Weezer dine out on 'Pork & Beans' | publisher = USA Today | date = 2008-05-29 | accessdate = 2008-05-29 | first= Mike | last = Snider] cite web | title=The Man Behind the Memes: An Exclusive Interview With Weezer ‘Pork and Beans’ Video Director Mathew Cullen | publisher=MTV | date=30 May, 2008 | url =http://buzzworthy.mtv.com/2008/05/30/the-man-behind-the-memes-an-exclusive-interview-with-weezer-pork-and-beans-video-director-mathew-cullen/#more-2778
accessdate=2008-06-22]

On 25 July, 2008 Crocker posted a video, "www.MsChrisCrocker.Com", in which he states he is leaving YouTube citing issues of censorship from YouTube for removing him from the most viewed and talked about lists and excluding him from their events. [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cb5KydkJp4] ]

Music Career

On 19 September, 2008 Crocker released his first single "Mind In the Gutter" from his debut album "Turned On" set for release in January 2009. [ [http://celebrity.rightpundits.com/?p=4359 " Chris Crocker: Mind in the Gutter"] ] It has yet to be confirmed if he is signed to a label or not.

elected videography

As of August 2008 Crocker has 50 videos on YouTube, and 62 on MySpace
* "This & that." was posted 28 December, 2006 to Myspace and 25 February, 2007 to YouTube.cite web
last =Crocker
first =Chris
title=This & that.
publisher=MySpace
date=28 December, 2006
url =http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=4841862
accessdate=2007-09-19] cite web
last =Crocker
first =Chris
title=Chris Crocker - This & that.
publisher=YouTube
date=25 February, 2007
url =http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrQX2Dhrl8I
accessdate=2007-09-19] Crocker's first video, where he starts very serenely then quickly escalates yelling "You wanna fight me?" in a menacing manner while revealing his scrawny chest belying the absurdity "that anyone would see this waify kid as a threat worthy of violence." This has been interpreted as a "brilliant way of mocking his virtual haters" but can also be seen as a fantasy fight that he could only win in a virtual world because of his obvious diminutive stature. The video was hosted on Salon.com and remains one of his most popular with over 4.5 million views and over 19,000 comments as of October 2007.

* "Bitch, please!" was posted 29 December, 2006 to MySpace and 25 February, 2007 to YouTube.cite web
last =Crocker
first =Chris
title=Bitch, please!
publisher=MySpace
date=29 December, 2006
url =http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=4848648
accessdate=2007-09-19] cite web
last =Crocker
first =Chris
title=Chris Crocker - Bitch, please!
publisher=YouTube
date=25 February, 2007
url =http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6Bqf23u-40
accessdate=2007-09-19] One of Crocker's first videos to receive over a million viewers showed Crocker's self-assuredness as he offers increasingly angry versions of the phrase "Bitch, please" "complete with hair flips, bared teeth, and hand gestures." The video has had over five million views and nearly 30,000 comments as of June 2008.

* "Watch it." was posted 24 January, 2007 to Myspace.cite web
last =Crocker
first =Chris
title=Watch it.
publisher=MySpace
date=24 January, 2007
url =http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=5553691
accessdate=2008-01-26] One of Crocker's shortest videos at just 1:25 minutes features him dancing erotically and provocatively to Nivea's "Watch It". The video has over 1.4 million views and nearly 7,000 comments as of March 2008. Likewise "Chris Crocker is Damaged!", posted 4 March, 2008 to YouTube, shows him dancing to Danity Kane's "Damaged" and has nearly 2.8 million views and over 34,000 comments as of June 2008.cite web
last =Crocker
first =Chris
title=Chris Crocker is Damaged!
publisher=YouTube
date=4 March, 2008
url =http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXiouCrEnG0
accessdate=2008-06-22]

* "Why I'm Gay.." was posted 10 August, 2007 to both YouTube and MySpace.cite web
last =Crocker
first =Chris
title=Chris Crocker - Why I'm Gay..
publisher=YouTube
date=10 August, 2007
url =http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1VB3oNEEHI
accessdate=2007-09-19] cite web
last =Crocker
first =Chris
title=Why I'm Gay.
publisher=MySpace
date=10 August, 2007
url =http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=15500315
accessdate=2007-09-19] Crocker discusses why he has no need to "come out" of the closet as gay. The video was hosted on Salon.com and has had over 1.2 million views and nearly 12,000 comments as of September 2007.

* "Kids SHOULD Cuss" was posted 23 August, 2007 to YouTube.cite web
last =Crocker
first =Chris
title=Chris Crocker - Kids SHOULD cuss!
publisher=YouTube
date=23 August, 2007
url =http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DuiRs09wz0
accessdate=2007-09-19] Crocker discusses language and the use of curse words like "fuck" asking "why is "shit" more profane than "poop"?" He ties the discussion to free speech and encourages everyone to use swear words and teach them to children to ensure freedom of speech is assured. The video was hosted on Salon.com and has had over 427,000 views as of September 2007, it was subsequently removed by Crocker.

* "Back up, Britney haters!" was posted 1 September, 2007 to YouTube.cite web
last =Crocker
first =Chris
title=Chris Crocker - Back up, Britney haters!
publisher=YouTube
date=1 September, 2007
url =http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dohJmVKcgQM
accessdate=2008-03-13] Crocker's first major departure from describing his gay life in a Bible Belt town and instead on Britney Spears which he thought would be poorly received by his fans. From a floor covered in Spears-related magazines and memorabilia Crocker asserts he is "a real Britney fan." The video has over two million views as of March 2008.

* "Britney, this is for you" was posted 3 September, 2007 to YouTube.cite web
last =Crocker
first =Chris
title=Chris Crocker - Britney, this is for you
publisher=YouTube
date=3 September, 2007
url =http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h863nXDqCM0
accessdate=2008-01-26] Crocker pays homage to Spears' recently released single "Gimme More". Just two days after his first video about Spears this precedes his most known video "Leave Britney Alone" by eight days. The video has been viewed over 4.1 million times and received over 55,000 comments as of January 2008.

* "Watch Chris Crocker blink." originally titled "Best video EVER!" was posted 17 March, 2008 to YouTube.cite web
last =Crocker
first =Chris
title=Watch Chris Crocker blink.
publisher=YouTube
date=17 March, 2008
url =http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbr1EiIC2Ro
accessdate=2008-06-22] cite web
last = Sevits
first =Matt
title= I Don't Know Why I Love Chris Crocker
publisher=Daily Emerald
date=17 April, 2008
url =http://media.www.dailyemerald.com/media/storage/paper859/news/2008/04/17/Pulse/I.Dont.Know.Why.I.Love.Chris.Crocker-3330671.shtml
accessdate=2008-06-22] One of the shortest viral videos - at less than five seconds long - and likely the shortest one Crocker has ever posted shows a close-up of just his face as he smiles into the camera and blinks twice. The "unwitting Andy Warhol homage" (see 15 minutes of fame) was explained by Crocker that he needs to only "blink to get the video views I do."cite web
last = Popkin
first =Helen A.S.
title= Don't Cry for Chris Crocker: The 'Leave Britney Alone' Guy Isn’t Fretting His YouTube Awards Loss
publisher=MSNBC
date=24 March, 2008
url =http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23748983/
accessdate=2008-06-22] cite web
last = Savage
first =Dan
title= Chris Crocker Blinks
publisher=The Stranger
date=19 March, 2008
url =http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/chris_crocker_blinks
accessdate=2008-06-22] The video was viewed over a million times in the first two days and nearly 4.7 million times and received nearly 49,000 comments as of June 2008.

References

ee also

* Celebrity branding
* Famous for being famous
* Gender-bender
* John Gabriel's Greater Internet Fuckwad Theory
* Tila Tequila
* Viral marketing

External links

* [http://www.myspace.com/chriscrocker Chris Crocker] at MySpace
*
*
* [http://www.sharenow.com/relations/profile/chriscrocker/ MsChrisCrocker.com] (Official Website)