Jack Karlson, the Australian man behind the “democracy manifest” meme who became a worldwide sensation later in life after a 1991 clip of his arrest for consuming a “succulent Chinese meal” went viral, has died. He was 82.
News.com.au reported that Karlson died Wednesday surrounded by family after battling cancer. He also had many other health conditions, including systemic inflammatory response syndrome.
“He walked a full and colorful path and despite the troubles thrown at him, he lived by his motto – to keep on laughing,” the family said in a statement to news.com.au.
Though the original incident which made Karlson famous, and much loved, occurred in 1991, it wasn’t until footage of his arrest was uploaded to internet video sites in 2009 that he gained worldwide notoriety. The surreal clip captured Karlson’s booming voice, his dexterous and vivid use of language, his natural theatricality as well as his love of succulent Chinese food, instantly making him a cult hero, and immensely quotable figure.
In the clip of the incident that occurred in Oct. 1991, Karlson is seen being led out of the China Sea Restaurant in Brisbane by a quite ludicrous number of police officers. Karlson was accused of using a stolen credit card, although ultimately it was a case of mistaken identity, things escalated as police tried to arrest him. Waiting outside the restaurant is a gaggle of press as they witness first hand Karlson verbally spar with authorities.
“You just assured me I could speak,” says Karlson as he exits the restaurant. As six police officers attempt to put him inside a car, they tell him he is under arrest.
“I’m under what? Gentlemen, this is democracy manifest!” an indignant Karlson booms to the watching press.
Things begin to get testy. “Have a look at the headlock here,” says Karlson as the police try to man handle him. “See that chap over…. get your hand off my penis! This is the bloke who got me on the penis, people,” he cries, although it is difficult to see what is happening from the clip.
“Why did you do this to me?” pleads Karlson.
“Get in the car,” says a police officer, seemingly frustrated with the situation. “For what reason?” replies Karlson. He adds, “What is the charge? Eating a meal? A succulent Chinese meal?”
Things begin to escalate. “Oh that’s a nice headlock, sir,” Karlson says as the police step up their attempts to put him in a car. “Oh! Ah I see that you know your judo well. Good one.”
Noticing a police officer waiting for him inside the car, Karlson inquires, “And you sir, are you waiting to receive my limp penis?”
“How dare you?!” screams Karlson as he is finally overpowered. “Get your hands off me.”
Defeated, Karlson bids adieu to the crowds. “Tata! And farewell!”
In a May 2021 interview with 7News, Karlson spoke about the incident, saying that “we’re supposed to be living in a democracy, and here they are dragging me out of a restaurant, halfway through a succulent Chinese meal. Well I thought, ‘Gentleman, this is democracy manifest.”
He added that when he saw the cameras outside the restaurant, he saw it as a chance to proclaim his innocence to the world. “I thought, ‘well here’s an opportunity to prove my innocence. Because they’ve dragged me out, thinking I was some sort of international gangster, when I knew that I wasn’t.”
“So here’s a chance, for the camera, for the people of Australia, to let democracy manifest itself gloriously, and that’s why I carried on like that. Of course, I had been somewhat influenced by the juice of the great grape,” Karlson said.
Karlson, who has dabbled in acting but was also a professional painter, rarely spoke about the incident until it went viral on the internet. He told 7News that he didn’t realize how famous he was until someone approached him with a business idea. “It took me many years for someone to show me it was up there on the internet. Until someone approached me and said can we put it up, and sell bottles of wine with your face. The wine incidentally is called Get Your Hands Off My Pinot Noir. And I said ‘go ahead, as long as I get a cut out of it.'”
News.com.au reports that Karlson is the subject of a documentary, The Man who Ate a Succulent Chinese Meal, currently in production. Directed by Heath Davis, the doc feature is set to be released in early 2025.
Karlson is survived by his daughter Heidi; son Erik; nieces Kim, Kelly and Kerry; and nephew Karl; grandchildren Terri-Lace and Nec; and many grandnieces and nephews.
