I love you, Kenneth Bone.
Tonight's presidential debate was run as a town hall, meaning that during the course of the 90-minute event, some audience members (undecided voters from Missouri) took the mic and asked candidates specific questions. Among these participatory and inexplicably undecided citizens was a man named Kenneth Bone, whose vibrant red sweater, pure and earnest face, and enthusiastically delivered question about energy sources have boosted him to internet-celebrity status.
Select All is proud to introduce the man, the myth, the legend: Kenneth Bone.
Tonight.. A star was born. World, meet Kenneth Bone. Ken Bone, meet the world. https://t.co/O9zMvjicmh
— Jordie 🔵 (@BarstoolJordie) October 10, 2016
KENNETH BONE IS HERE TO REMIND U IT'S SWEATER WEATHER pic.twitter.com/bkRHorygn6
— an actual ghost tbh (@thecultureofme) October 10, 2016
please, call me Kenneth Bone
Wish Bone was my father— Alexandra Petri (@petridishes) October 10, 2016
"Secretary Clinton, my family and I pray and we pray and we pray and we pray and we pray. Every day every day every day every day." pic.twitter.com/VLvWGYSLDx
— Ryan Nanni (@celebrityhottub) October 10, 2016
Kenneth Bone is real, and he's strong, and he's my friend.
— Mickey McCauley (@Mickey_McCauley) October 10, 2016
Can somebody anybody tell me why?
Hey, can somebody anybody tell me why we die, we die?
I don't want to die pic.twitter.com/yuu77OeRdX— PAPPASCREAMMASK (@PAPPADEMAS) October 10, 2016
Kenneth "the bone man" bone's sweater is brighter than my future.
— Kenneth Ronin 🌐 (@DeadlyRonin) October 10, 2016
Dibs on Kenneth Bone costume for Halloween
— Michael Roston (@michaelroston) October 10, 2016
TFW you're holding a cup of eggnog in your off-screen hand pic.twitter.com/gAPuVJO6p4
— another Precariat (@dadparts) October 10, 2016
That energy question was mad adorable
— B.J. Novak (@bjnovak) October 10, 2016
kenneth bone. Sorry i cant think about anything else tonight. the debate is whatever now. kenneth bone kenneth bone kenneth bone
— leon (@leyawn) October 10, 2016
Can somebody anybody tell me why?
Hey, can somebody anybody tell me why we die, we die?
I don't want to die pic.twitter.com/yuu77OeRdX— PAPPASCREAMMASK (@PAPPADEMAS) October 10, 2016
Bone wrapped up his evening with a handshake from former president Bill Clinton. Which was definitely the high point of Bill's night (other than starring in a burgeoning meme).
Bill Clinton making plans with Kenneth. "I wanna party with you, K-Bone!" #Debate https://t.co/LAtlAEhxK6
— BigHeadSports (@BigHeadSports) October 10, 2016
Ken Bone taking a picture with his disposable camera so it lasts forever. Legend https://t.co/VU3ChYEaen
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) October 10, 2016
God bless America and God bless Kenneth Bone.
When someone asks to borrow my phone: me – "yeah just one second" #KenBone #debate pic.twitter.com/oRK7TEnZvl
— Nick Gallinger (@NickGallinger3) October 10, 2016
Update 10/10/16: Following his meteoric rise to fame, we've learned several new and important details about Mr. Bone. We've updated this post accordingly.
Bone actually hadn't planned to wear the now-iconic red sweater, but had to make a spur-of-the-moment change after ripping his suit.
From #KenBone on @TMASTL: My red sweater was Plan B. I actually had an olive suit, but I split the rear of my pants getting in the car.
— Tim McKernan (@tmckernan) October 10, 2016
From #KenBone on @TMASTL: I split my olive suit (leading to the red sweater), because I eat like an athlete but I don't work out like one.
— Tim McKernan (@tmckernan) October 10, 2016
He appeared on the news this morning still rocking said sweater.
Yay! Ken Bone is on CNN and still wearing the same thing! pic.twitter.com/QRLMTC1Fdj
— Amanda Terkel (@aterkel) October 10, 2016
And while many parody and impostor accounts popped up last night, we finally know where to find Bone on Twitter, @KenBone18.
Ken Bone, on CNN now, says he only had 7 Twitter followers and two were his grandma (she had 2 accounts). Now he has "several hundred."
— Phil Mattingly (@Phil_Mattingly) October 10, 2016
Once again, God bless America and God bless Ken Bone.