They thought he was just some vaguely good-looking, otter-esque copywriter, complete with that obligatory ironic sense of humor and overextended social media presence.
But they soon came to realize Parks Denton was not a real person at all: Gay Twitter had just been hardcore catfished by someone who latched onto the handle @ParksDenton and sent out a flurry of DMs, befriending dozens of smitten gay men along the way. Today, everyone is reeling from the blow.
They trusted him. Conversed with him. Agreed to go out for drinks — even if he never showed up.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
And then one day…
As you can see below, now everyone is freaking right the fuck out, and some devilish internet prankster – who’s out there, somewhere – is cackling with the most wanton abandon:
After further investigation…I just found out that…I too…was messaged by this Parks Denton catfish ? pic.twitter.com/3LcyhZdCeM
— Y'all got a T-Rex?? (@EmilioEmm) September 6, 2017
People were catfished by someone claiming their name was Parks Denton? pic.twitter.com/2nRovglHOz
— Stephen Games ???? (@StephenGamesXB1) September 6, 2017
Should I be offended #ParksDenton didn't try to Catfish me? pic.twitter.com/G5Z87gnWbT
— Kevin Savoie (@KevinTheWriter) September 6, 2017
#ParksDenton is an anagram for Dankest Porn pic.twitter.com/H4GDstK2ne
— it's lambtime, binch (@julp) September 6, 2017
Ok nvm found the real person, who called out the evil twin days before Parks Denton was destroyed. pic.twitter.com/GJ6tCdskie
— Gabe Gonzalez (@gaybonez) September 6, 2017
Oh wait, he's my boyfriend…:) #parksdenton pic.twitter.com/CaE2lsjYPU
— Tim Flynn Boyd (@0007666meckie) September 6, 2017
I think I was ??-ed tonight… Men are trash.
I ate (literal) ? pudding tho and now I feel better.
Deciding if I should out his @ or not ?
— Alexander M4Milton (@thedealwithalex) August 25, 2017
Is this a #ParksDenton ? pic.twitter.com/B9UdMAKx7t
— Sam Herbst (@mrsamherbst) September 6, 2017
*me, searching for #ParksDenton on Twitter*?????? pic.twitter.com/qRgXljxqgZ
— Half-Pint (@HalfPintOfInnes) September 6, 2017
For a hilariously thorough investigation into the entire Parks Denton brouhaha, you can check out this meticulously researched New York magazine story.
Armiya
Wow. People get cat fished daily. Another boring day at the office Queerty?
DCguy
I’m not sure what the point of this story was. If you wrote it because somebody at Queerty got catfished, maybe put that in the article so there is some context as to why anybody on here should care.
Paco
And the world continues to turn.