The famous man called Jack Karlson, known for his “democracy manifest” viral clip, died of prostate cancer at 82 years. In 1991, this Brisbane restaurant’s dramatic arrest which was finally proved wrong got him the internet fame. Kim Edwards, his niece started a GoFundMe campaign to support her cancer stricken uncle’s medical expenses.
Jack Karlson went viral on the internet when a video of his arrest in 1991 resurfaced online in 2009. He was arrested while having a meal at a Brisbane restaurant and showed resistance using several memorable quotes in that video footage.
Charles Dozsa: eating a meal… a succulent chinese meal…
This led to police coming into the restaurant and dragging him off his stool assuming he was an international fugitive who robbed restaurants. All this drama was due to mistaken identity—as shown on tape. As they were taking him towards the police van, Jack Karlson turned round and said to the news camera crew – “Gentlemen this is democracy manifest. Have a look at the headlock here.”
Another quote from that incident was: “Get your hand off my penis! This is the bloke who got me on the penis, people.” The questioning continued as Karlosn asked famously: “What is the charge? Eating a meal? A succulent Chinese meal?” He added further that, “That’s a nice headlock Sir… Ahh yes I see that you know your judo well.”
The iconic meme spread like wildfire on social media after it resurfaced nearly two decades later as one of the earliest memes. Several uploads and edits of this video have accumulated hundreds of millions of views.
Chris Reason, Seven Network reporter recently told how he received information from someone claiming one of Queensland’s most wanted had used stolen credit card payment for his dinner bill. Reason raced over to be able to watch what would happen as he learned about the arrest.
Karlson’s niece, Kim Edwards, started a GoFundMe page in June to help raise money for her uncle’s treatment. She wrote on it: “I’m Kim and I am Jack Karlson’s niece. He is also having cataract surgery and has recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer. I know that Jack has brought many people joy from his video and there are even memes, t-shirts, etc. That have developed as a result of him over the years but he himself is having a hard time. He has never had much money but always treated my family well and friends too. His carer lives in regional Queensland with him week-to-week on a voluntary basis. I hope we can all give generously as he deserves at least a cool beer or perhaps even a six pack.”
According to Edwards, the donations will be used for medical expenses, transportation to doctor’s appointments as well as general living costs during Jack Karlson’s fight against cancer. The aim of the campaign was to raise $50k AUD ($54,362) by August 8th. And by that date $8572 had been raised for Karlson.
Last week she gave an update regarding her fundraising efforts stating her uncle wasn’t doing good according to him his niece.
“She had written, ‘He has been at the hospital for a fortnight now; many procedures have been undertaken on him, but it does not look good. He felt better after seeing that GoFundMe was doing well. Besides the donations and comments he received, he is very grateful. ” A film titled The Man Who Ate a Good Chinese Meal by Jack Karlson will come out in 2025.
