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RFK Jr Brain Worm meme example.

RFK Jr.'s Brain Worm

Part of a series on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.. [View Related Entries]

Updated May 09, 2024 at 02:55PM EDT by Zach.

Added May 09, 2024 at 07:21AM EDT by Philipp.

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Related Explainer: Why Is It Funny That RFK Jr. Had A Literal Brain Worm? The Jokes And Memes Mocking Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Explained

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About

RFK Jr.'s Brain Worm refers to a series of jokes and memes about a dead parasite that was discovered in United States presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s brain in 2010. The story about the parasite, told by Kennedy in a 2012 deposition, resurfaced online after a May 2024 article by The New York Times and went viral on social media.

Origin

On May 8th, 2024, The New York Times[1] published an article about a dead parasite that was discovered in Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s brain in 2010.

In a 2012 deposition reviewed by The New York Times, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK) said that in 2010 he experienced memory loss and mental fogginess and consulted top neurosurgeons over concerns of developing a brain tumor. The brain scans revealed a dark spot in Kennedy's brain, which turned out to be a cyst formed around a dead brain parasite that "ate a portion of [his brain] and died."

In the 2012 deposition, Kennedy said that he had cognitive problems such as short-term and long-term memory loss. In an interview with The Times, Kennedy said that he had since recovered from these symptoms and had no aftereffects from the parasite.


R.F.K. Jr. Says Doctors Found a Dead Worm in His Brain The presidential candidate has faced previously undisclosed health issues, including a parasite that he said ate part of his brain.

On May 8th, 2024, multiple users on X / Twitter made posts about RFK Jr.'s diagnosis, with the news spreading on the platform. For example, X[2] user @whstancilp posted a snippet of The New York Times article on the 8th that received over 1,700 reposts and 11,000 likes in one day (shown below, left).

Also that day, X[3] user @hannahcrileyy also shared the snippet, commenting, "sorry but if worms had eaten part of my brain you couldn’t waterboard that information out of me". The post (shown below, right) garnered over 120 reposts and 1,600 likes in one day.


Hannah Riley @hannahcrileyy sorry but if worms had eaten part of my brain you couldn't waterboard that information out of me R.F.K. Jr. Says Doctors Found a Dead Worm in His Brain The presidential candidate has faced previously undisclosed health issues, including a parasite that he said ate part of his brain. • 8:33 AM May 8, 2024 60K Views • Hannah Riley @hannahcrileyy sorry but if worms had eaten part of my brain you couldn't waterboard that information out of me R.F.K. Jr. Says Doctors Found a Dead Worm in His Brain The presidential candidate has faced previously undisclosed health issues, including a parasite that he said ate part of his brain. • 8:33 AM May 8, 2024 60K Views •

Spread

The news became a viral subject of jokes and memes online in the following days, with multiple posts going viral. For example, on May 8th, 2024, X[4] user @TheAndrewNadeau made a post that received over 910 reposts and 17,000 likes in one day (shown below, left).

Also on May 8th, X[5] user @MortytheRN posted an image of MSN Earthworm captioned, "the moment the worm gets to RFK's brain and realizes he is going to starve." The post (shown below, right) received over 440 reposts and 8,300 likes in one day.


Andrew Nadeau @TheAndrewNadeau This is incredible because he's like the only person in the world where if you find out a worm ate part of his brain instead of being horrified you go, "oooh, yeah that explains a lot then". R.F.K. Jr. Says Doctors Found a Dead Worm in His Brain The presidential candidate has faced previously undisclosed health issues, including a parasite that he said ate part of his brain. • 12:01 PM May 8, 2024 402.1K Views ... call me Morticia @MortytheRN the moment the worm gets to RFK's brain and realizes he is going to starve 12:19 PM • May 8, 2024 151.3K Views

Later on May 8th, 2024, Vanity Fair posted a response from RFK Jr's campaign, which said the worm "will not affect his ability to serve as president" on X.[6] The post was followed by more jokes and memes shortly after.

For example, on May 9th, X[7] user @CantEverDie posted a Dracula Flow clip captioned, "RFK JR day 1 presidency after the worms take back over." The post (shown below) gained over 1,800 reposts and 16,000 likes in one day.


Various Examples


Patton Oswalt @pattonoswalt ••• "The worm that ate part of my brain will not affect my ability to serve as president" is the kind of dynamic campaign slogan that's gonna seal the deal for ol' Brainworm Bobby! VF VANITY FAIR @VanityFair. 12h RFK Jr.'s campaign says the worm that ate part of his brain will not affect his ability to serve as president. vntyfr.com/K7PMNab 7:16 PM ⚫ May 8, 2024 576.8K Views itsonlyzach @itsonlyzach "Selina, you're not going to believe this. He's got a literal. F------. Brainworm." EYER 8:12 PM May 8, 2024 · 150.8K Views america's lounge singer @KrangTNelson it's so wild that you can say "the guy running for president who's suffering from major cognitive impairment" and it doesn't narrow down who you're talking abt even a little bit VF VANITY FAIR @VanityFair. 13h RFK Jr.'s campaign says the worm that ate part of his brain will not affect his ability to serve as president. vntyfr.com/K7PM Nab 12:55 AM • May 9, 2024 170K Views ...
Hbomberguy @Hbomberguy Then why vote for him? VF VANITY FAIR @VanityFair · 12h RFK Jr.'s campaign says the worm that ate part of his brain will not affect his ability to serve as president. vntyfr.com/K7PMNab • 10:23 PM ⚫ May 8, 2024 198.2K Views ... atrophy wife @zuza_real Robert... it is time to unlock your full potential. VF VANITY FAIR @VanityFair 13h • RFK Jr.'s campaign says the worm that ate part of his brain will not affect his ability to serve as president. vntyfr.com/K7PMNab 12:25 AM May 9, 2024 29.9K Views ... Roshan Rinaldi @Roshan_Rinaldi ... Two REALLY good ways to destroy your political career: 1.) Brag about shooting a puppy. 2.) Announce that a worm has been eating your brain. • 4:11 PM • May 8, 2024 127.5K Views

Search Interest

External References

[1] The New York Times – R.F.K. Jr. Says Doctors Found a Dead Worm in His Brain

[2] X – @whstancil

[3] X – @hannahcrileyy

[4] X – @TheAndrewNadeau

[5] X – @MortytheRN

[6] X – @VanityFair

[7] X – @CantEverDie

Related Entries 3 total

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