Vancouver tattoo artist fools millions with hot dog prank
A few weeks ago, Rad Carney was looking to fill time on a slow day at the shop.
“I’ve been pulling pranks my whole life,” said the artist working out of Adrenaline VanCity Granville.
“So it was just another day for me, you know?”
Inspired by the East Van cross symbol, Carney decided to make a Tik Tok video of him tattooing the words "hot dogs" on the forehead of a co-worker.
Carney used a stencil and simple photo editing to make it appear as though the tattoo was real. Even well-known online news outlets fell for the prank.
So far, the video has garnered nearly 10 million views and thousands of comments.
“A lot of really funny messages,” said Hunter Walls, the "star" of the video, who happily sacrificed his time and forehead.
“People kind of worshipping me in a sense, where it’s like, ‘Woah, the hot dog man.’”
Walls says viewers have even sent him fan art.
Carney, meanwhile, says more than 80 per cent of the comments have been negative and directed towards him.
“People telling me that I have no ethics, I shouldn’t be tattooing if I don’t have any respect for my clients,” said Carney. “(I) got mail saying I offended the whole Christian religion for putting hot dogs in a cross.”
Carney says he was shocked to receive that sort of passionate response for such a harmless video.
“The hot dogs seemed to push society and especially tattoo artists over the edge,” said Carney. “I was kind of watching myself get cancelled in real time.”
Carney posted another video to clear the air and help lighten the mood, but it only received a fraction of views compared to the first post.
In hindsight, he regrets posting the video due to the never-ending amount of notifications and unnecessary stress.
“I couldn’t use my phone for a week,” he says.
But, he admits, the post was good for business. He said he’s received several requests for his new signature "hot dogs" design.
“It’s just hilarious and people want it,” said Carney with a laugh.
So far, no one has requested the tattoo on their forehead, he added.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.