VP Debate 2020: Fly on Pence's head gets over 100 Twitter accounts, Internet says ‘Covid test for the fly please!’
Vice-president Mike Pence or his Democratic rival Kamala Harris, who won at the first and only Vice Presidential Debate 2020? Surprisingly, neither could take the winning crown as someone else stole the limelight. As the two braved each other at Kingsbury Hall, Salt Lake City, Utah, on Wednesday, October 7, 2020, the real star of the show turned out to be a fly! No, we're not kidding.
A massive fly landed on Pence's head during Wednesday night's showdown and stayed there for quite a long time. As the 61-year-old debated Democratic vice-presidential candidate Harris, he seemed to be ignorant of the insect's presence. A local TV news reporter from California clocked the fly's screen time and it turned out to be exactly two minutes and three seconds, as per a New York Times report.
Now the fly is creating much buzz all across America. While some want the fly to star in a movie, others are selling merchandise based on the fly. Well, if that was not enough, the number one question floating around on Twitter is — does the fly have its own Twitter account?
“Houseflies live for 28 days,” the fly that stayed stuck on Mike Pence's very white hair appeared to say on its Twitter handle. With an apt name — @flyonmikepence3 — the Twitter handle was dishing out fun facts and puns on social media. One tweet even read: “I finally landed on a pile of shit that I’ve dreamed of!!” Surprisingly, that's not the only one. Around a hundred Twitter handles have surfaced on the microblogging site since the fiasco on live television. “There are already MORE THAN A HUNDRED 'Fly on Mike Pence's head' Twitter accounts,” one Twitter user revealed.
Houseflies live for 28 days! That means I will get to see Biden/ Harris win the nominee!!! Go vote! #FlyonMikePence
— FlyOnMikePence (@FlyOnMikePence3) October 8, 2020
I finally landed on a pile of shit that I’ve dreamed of!!
— FlyOnMikePence (@FlyOnMikePence3) October 8, 2020
There are already MORE THAN A HUNDRED "Fly on Mike Pence's head" Twitter accounts. pic.twitter.com/KrVmcONHsT
— Angus Johnston (@studentactivism) October 8, 2020
Many others butted into the fly jokes on social media. Journalist Peter Suderman tweeted, "The Fly already has a twitter account, an Instagram, a Tik Tok, an influencer deal, a collab house, and a Maserati!" A few complained about how the fly had got more followers in a few minutes than they did in years. "I’ve been on Twitter > 8 years, still not even at 5,000 followers. Meanwhile, this pretty fly for a white boy has had an account for two hours and has 75K followers. @MikePenceFly__" one sighed. Another chimed in, "What am I doing wrong that the 20-minute old account for the fly on Mike Pence’s head has more Twitter followers than I do?" "Covid test for the fly please! I’m worried for its health," one tweeted. The banter continued as one user said, "His Twitter account says it was negative lol," and the user replied: "I don’t buy it."
The Fly already has a twitter account, an instagram, a Tik Tok, an influencer deal, a collab house, and a Maserati.
— Peter Suderman (@petersuderman) October 8, 2020
I’ve been on Twitter > 8 years, still not even at 5,000 followers.
— Tairāwhiti Doc 🏳️🌈 (@DocPNW) October 8, 2020
Meanwhile this pretty fly for a white boy has had an account for two hours and has 75K followers. 😐@MikePenceFly___ pic.twitter.com/DBqLa89QRp
What am I doing wrong that the 20-minute old account for the fly on Mike Pence’s head has more Twitter followers than I do?
— Dr. Emily Porter, M.D. (@dremilyportermd) October 8, 2020
Covid test for the fly please!
— Josh Fox BlackLivesMatter (@joshfoxfilm) October 8, 2020
I’m worried for its health.
Not just that, many are hellbent on naming it. "And by the way, I am not simply a fly. I have a name too. My name is MAGA. I am a MAGA fly," one said and another tweeted, "Even the fly is a #MAGA fan." Another posted, "Bringing his own #MAGAFly along was a stroke of genius." But many others were more innovative and a thousand names were floating around on social media. "What's the name of Mike Pence's fly?" one tweeted. And some responded with names like "Coronoflyus" and "Coviditis". One Twitter user tweeted, "Is Pence Fly the new Notorious RBG?" Another said, "I think we should name the fly on Pence's head Gregor." What's more, one went on to fabricate a story around it: "It's his emotional support fly. His name is James and he travels with Pence to make him feel better when other women besides Mother is around."
And by the way, I am not simply a fly. I have a name too. My name is MAGA. I am a MAGA fly.
— The Debate Fly (@TheDebateFlies) October 8, 2020
Even the fly is a #MAGA fan pic.twitter.com/dzGif40eQz
— Jesus_Family_America (@juanjacobs316) October 8, 2020
Bringing his own #MAGAFly along was a stroke of genius.
— Rev. Dr. Martha M. Cruz (she/her/hers; ella) (@CubanMatriarch) October 8, 2020
Is Pence Fly the new Notorious RBG
— :jack_o_lantern::ghost:baby it's halloween and we can be anything:jack_o_lantern::ghost: (@ryan2changz) October 8, 2020
I think we should name the fly on Pence's head Gregor.
— Samantha Rose Hill (@Samantharhill) October 8, 2020
It's his emotional support fly. His name is James and he travels with Pence to make him feel better when other women besides Mother is around.
— Chrisa (@mayhew_chrisa) October 8, 2020
Cashing in on the bizarre moment, Joe Biden was quick to post, “Pitch in $5 to help this campaign fly. https://joe.link/3nvsFwL.” The Biden campaign soon unleashed a motto for the swatter saying it “swats away flies and lies,” along with a link to “flywillvote.com” and photo that read: “Don't let this debate BUZZ off!”
Pitch in $5 to help this campaign fly. https://t.co/CqHAId0j8t pic.twitter.com/NbkPl0a8HV
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) October 8, 2020
Swats away flies and lies. Get yours today: https://t.co/ehsECKfDPO pic.twitter.com/oVLHHmq85c
— Team Joe (Text JOE to 30330) (@TeamJoe) October 8, 2020
Don't you wish you were a fly too for all the fame the little insect is getting right now? Share your thoughts in the comments below.