What: A viral video parodying an angry rant about a recent NASCAR decision.
Who: Comedian Brent Terhune.
Why we care: On Wednesday afternoon, NASCAR announced it would no longer tolerate Confederate flag paraphernalia at any of its races. The organization’s move came during a week in which elite racer Dale Earnhardt Jr. came out in support of Black Lives Matter, and Bubba Wallace, the only black driver in the sport’s Cup Series, called for a ban on displays of the flag at races. The banning of what is widely considered a symbol of hate may seem like an obvious, grossly belated decision to many, but those who consider it an entrenched part of their heritage will have a tough time letting go. In a video recorded hours after NASCAR’s announcement, comedian Brent Terhune savagely sums up their questionable position in a pitch-perfect parody.
The Indianapolis-based comic designed his video to be confused with the real thing. Anyone casually scrolling through their Twitter feed yesterday afternoon might have come across the low-angle video of a burly man ranting directly to camera, beneath the caption “Nascar wants to ban the CONFEDERATE FLAG??? I DON’T THANK SO” and braced themselves for a certain kind of rant. What they got instead is an in-character obliteration of everything that makes progress-aggrieved sports fans’ position untenable. In a breezy two minutes, with a barely exaggerated Southern accent, Terhune channels the righteous fury of the MAGA boycotter. It’s a spot-on caricature of the loneliness that comes from much of the world denouncing your values, and the bewilderment of never questioning whether they may have a point.
Have a look at the full video below.
Nascar wants to ban the CONFEDERATE FLAG??? I DONT THANK SO pic.twitter.com/whISiC5ead
— Brent Terhune Bloomington IN May 3&4 (@BrentTerhune) June 11, 2020
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