This year, 2017, marks the fifth anniversary of Maria’s asshole art spreading like diarrhea throughout the internet, eliciting much delight, shock, and disgust. And it was at the South Florida Tattoo Expo that writer, videographer, and then clubs editor Jacob Katel and I found the subject of the soon-to-be-viral video. To put that into perspective, 2012 was also the year of the tragic 'Miami Zombie.' Not long after the video racked up millions of views, “viral” videos became a corporate social media marketing tool.Īt the time, I was the music editor of New Times Broward-Palm Beach, interested in drawing more hits to the blog via video interviews with people living alternative lifestyles (mostly porn stars) and truly talented hip-hop artists (check out ' Rick Ross Beard Girl'). It was deemed the number one insane thing to happen in Florida that year by BuzzFeed. The butthole tattoo video was one of the last organically created viral sensations. Not only was I in it, but also I had interviewed the star of the YouTube hit, Maria, the ' Butthole Tattoo Girl.' A friend sent a text that the video had been featured as a 'New Rule' on Real Time With Bill Maher, a show my mom and dad watch regularly.Ī quick call home yielded many questions but also some excitement.
There was a moment when I knew I’d have to tell my parents that a video I’d been in went viral.
