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Who Is Burger King Man? Unpacking The Viral Stories

The 10 Best Burger Joints In The World - Travel and Food Network

Jul 17, 2025
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The 10 Best Burger Joints In The World - Travel and Food Network

Have you ever wondered, "who is Burger King man?" It’s a question that, you know, might bring to mind a few different images, perhaps even some unexpected tales. This phrase, it seems, has actually attached itself to more than one memorable public story in recent times, each one quite distinct and rather compelling in its own right. We're going to look closely at these happenings, separating the various threads that make up this curious question.

The name "Burger King man" doesn't just point to one single person or event, which is interesting. Instead, it seems to capture a couple of rather different public moments that caught people's attention, so to speak. One story, a bit heartbreaking, involves a person found near a restaurant of that name, while another, more recent one, tells of an incident on an airplane that spread very widely online. It’s a bit like two separate paths leading from the same starting point, really.

These stories, in a way, show us how quickly certain moments can grab the public's eye and how a simple phrase can get connected to them. Whether it’s a case of someone needing help or a situation that sparks a lot of conversation about how people act in public, the "Burger King man" label has certainly stuck. We'll explore each of these instances to give a clearer picture of what people are usually talking about when they ask who this person is, you know, and what exactly happened.

Table of Contents

The Amnesia Mystery: Benjaman Kyle

One instance where the phrase "Burger King man" might come up, perhaps less commonly these days, relates to a truly puzzling human story. This story involves a person known as Benjaman Kyle, a name he chose for himself because he had a very serious memory loss, or amnesia. His true identity, it turned out, was William Powell, which is quite a discovery for someone who couldn't remember who he was. This particular situation, you know, really highlights the fragility of memory and personal history.

On August 31, 2004, a discovery was made that set this whole saga in motion. He was found, without clothes and with some injuries, next to a trash bin right behind a Burger King restaurant. This happened in Richmond Hill, Georgia, and the details were quite stark. There were no belongings, no papers, no identification whatsoever, which left him completely without a way to know who he was or where he came from. It was a very stark beginning to a long search for answers, actually.

This man's story became a public quest to help him regain his memory and find his family. For years, people tried to figure out who he was, sharing his picture and details of his case far and wide. The connection to the Burger King restaurant where he was found gave him that informal title, "Burger King man," in some circles. It’s a very human story, a bit sad in a way, about someone completely lost to their past, and it just goes to show how unexpected life can be.

The JetBlue Incident: A Viral Outburst

The more widely recognized, and arguably more infamous, "Burger King man" in recent public memory refers to a specific, rather upsetting event aboard an airplane. This incident, which unfolded on a JetBlue flight, became a very big deal online, leading to lots of talk about how people act when traveling and the strong influence of shared online videos. It was a moment that, you know, pretty much captured everyone's attention for a time.

This whole situation, you see, truly defines who the "Burger King man" is for many people right now. It wasn't about someone lost or in need of help, but about someone whose actions, captured on video, caused a significant stir. The events that happened were, in a way, quite a public display, drawing eyes from all sorts of places and sparking a lot of conversation. It really shows the power of video in today's world, honestly.

The details of this particular story are quite specific and, in some respects, rather unfortunate. It involved a passenger, a paper Burger King crown, and a loud, upsetting exchange that quickly went viral. This person's actions and the immediate reactions from others on the flight, and then from the wider internet, created a lasting impression. It’s a moment that, you could say, really became a focal point for discussions about passenger conduct and the reach of online content, you know, for better or worse.

The Flight and the Tirade

The incident that many think of when they hear "who is Burger King man" happened on October 20. A man, who was on JetBlue flight 1760, traveling from Jamaica to New York, started a racist rant just minutes after getting on the plane. The situation, you know, escalated very quickly from there. It was a moment that, frankly, caught many people off guard.

Reports suggest the man became very upset. It all began because there wasn’t enough space in the overhead bins for his belongings, which is a common enough problem, but his reaction was anything but common. At the start of the first video that went public, the man, who was wearing a paper Burger King crown, was yelling at the flight crew. He told them to call the police, claiming another passenger had kneed him in the stomach before the flight even really began. This was, in a way, the spark that lit the fuse.

In one of the videos taken on the aircraft, the man, still wearing his Burger King cardboard crown, kept claiming the woman had kneed him. The video, which TMZ obtained, clearly showed the man, who is white, shouting very hurtful racial slurs at the passenger right before the plane was supposed to take off. It was a very public display of anger and prejudice, and you know, it was quite shocking for those watching, both on the plane and later online.

The Online Reaction and Memes

As soon as the video of the incident began to spread online, the reaction was immediate and very strong. People were, of course, quite taken aback by the man's behavior and the racist language he used. The fact that he was wearing a paper Burger King crown, a rather innocent item, made the whole scene even more jarring and, in some respects, quite memorable. This detail, you know, really helped the video stand out and become widely shared.

The video showed the man joyfully holding a Burger King bag during the flight at one point, which was a strange contrast to his earlier outburst. His very enthusiastic way of acting in that particular moment, despite everything else that happened, really connected with viewers. This led to him getting a lot of recognition online, and the "Burger King guy" nickname stuck because of that bag and the crown. It was, honestly, a very odd combination of events that led to his fame.

What's more, in October 2020, users on 4chan, a popular online forum, took his appearance and turned it into a meme. They started calling him "the King," and in a rather troubling twist, some characterized him as a kind of folk hero. They even saluted his use of racist language, which is, you know, a very concerning aspect of the online reaction. This shows how some online communities can twist real-world events into something quite different, sometimes even celebrating harmful actions.

The Identity of the JetBlue Passenger

For a while, the identity of the man in the Burger King crown remained a bit of a mystery to the wider public, though the videos were everywhere. People were naturally curious about who this person was, the one whose actions had caused such a stir on an airplane and then across the internet. It was a question that, you know, many wanted an answer to, to put a name to the face.

Eventually, the man who was in the videos, the one causing the trouble, was found out to be an American man named Ryan Brewer. This revelation, of course, added a new layer to the story, giving people a specific individual to connect with the viral incident. It's a pretty common pattern for online events to eventually lead to the identification of the people involved, for better or worse, actually.

Ryan Brewer, it turned out, even had a YouTube channel where he spoke about his personal life. This provided a bit more insight into the person behind the viral moment, though it also brought up some new questions. Some people, for instance, have wondered if he might have an interest in young girls, due to the channels he was subscribed to on YouTube. This kind of speculation, you know, often follows when someone gains public attention, adding more layers to their story.

Consequences and Further Incidents

The immediate consequences for the "Burger King man" were quite swift, as you might expect. A man was arrested in Kingston, Jamaica, on October 20, the same day the incident happened, after he was filmed shouting racial slurs at other passengers on that JetBlue flight that was supposed to go to New York. This was, you know, a very direct outcome of his actions on board.

The airlines themselves also took action against him. The infamous "Burger King" racist passenger was banned by JetBlue, the airline where the incident took place. But it didn't stop there. American Airlines also put a ban on him, which meant he couldn't fly with two major carriers. This shows how seriously airlines take such behavior, and, you know, it's a pretty strong message they send.

Despite being banned by these airlines, the man tried to get up in the air again to head back to the states. This time, he attempted to fly American Airlines, but he was, in fact, kicked off a plane for a second time because he used racial slurs. This happened again, showing a pattern of behavior. Gary Leff, a travel writer, even reported on January 3, 2025, that the "racist Burger King" passenger was his "favorite misbehaving passenger of the pandemic" and that he was soaring with a new airline. This suggests that, you know, even with bans, some people find ways to travel, which is a bit surprising.

The Original Burger King Mascot

Before any of these human stories, the phrase "Burger King man" or "the King" actually referred to the brand's official mascot, a character that has been around for a long time. The very first version of this "King" was part of a sign at the initial Burger King restaurant, which opened its doors in Miami, Florida, back in 1955. This was, you know, a very simple start for what would become a well-known figure.

As time went on, the King's image changed a bit. Later signs showed the King sitting on a special burger throne, which sounds pretty regal, doesn't it? He was also sometimes seen perched atop the Burger King sign itself, holding a drink, which was a pretty distinctive pose. These images helped build the brand's identity and, you know, made the King a recognizable symbol for many years.

In the early 1970s, Burger King really started to use the King more actively in their advertising. This marked a period where the character became a more prominent part of their public image, moving beyond just a sign to a more active presence. This historical King is, of course, very different from the people who later became known as the "Burger King man" through unexpected public events, which is, you know, a bit of a funny twist of fate for the phrase.

Ryan Brewer Personal Details

Here's a brief look at some personal details known about Ryan Brewer, the person involved in the viral JetBlue incident:

DetailInformation
NameRyan Brewer
NationalityAmerican
Notable ForViral JetBlue flight incident (wearing a paper Burger King crown, shouting racial slurs)
Online PresenceHas a YouTube channel where he has discussed his personal life
Airline StatusBanned by JetBlue and American Airlines due to behavior
Further IncidentsAttempted to fly again after initial ban, was removed from another flight for similar behavior.

Frequently Asked Questions About The Burger King Man

Who was the man found with amnesia near a Burger King?

The man found with severe amnesia near a Burger King restaurant was Benjaman Kyle, which was an alias he chose. His actual name was later found to be William Powell. He was discovered naked and hurt, without any way to identify himself, next to a dumpster behind a Burger King in Richmond Hill, Georgia, on August 31, 2004. This was, you know, a very unusual circumstance.

What happened on the JetBlue flight involving a man with a Burger King crown?

On October 20, a man wearing a paper Burger King crown on a JetBlue flight from Jamaica to New York was arrested after he started shouting racist slurs at other passengers. He also assaulted a flight attendant. The man claimed another passenger had kneed him in the stomach. This incident was filmed and became a viral video, leading to his widespread recognition as the "Burger King man." It was, you know, quite a scene.

Is the "Burger King man" still flying after being banned by airlines?

The passenger from the JetBlue incident, identified as Ryan Brewer, was indeed banned by both JetBlue and American Airlines because of his disruptive and racist behavior. However, there were reports, even as recently as January 3, 2025, that he managed to fly with a new airline. This suggests that, you know, despite bans from major carriers, he found other ways to travel, which is a bit surprising to some.

What We Learn From These Stories

The stories associated with the phrase "who is Burger King man" really show us how complex and, at times, very public human experiences can become. From a person struggling with memory loss to a passenger's outburst caught on video, these events, you know, leave a lasting impression. They remind us of the varied ways people can come into public view, sometimes through unfortunate circumstances.

These incidents also highlight the considerable reach of online content. A single video can quickly turn a private moment into a global discussion, sparking conversations about behavior, identity, and the consequences of actions. It’s a pretty powerful tool, the internet, for sharing stories, and, you know, it means that what happens in one place can be seen everywhere very quickly. To learn more about online behavior and its impact on our site, you can explore other articles.

Whether it’s the search for a forgotten past or the fallout from a viral moment, the "Burger King man" label, in its different forms, points to compelling narratives that stay with us. These stories, in a way, serve as reminders of the unexpected turns life can take and how public memory shapes our understanding of events. You can also link to this page for more stories about surprising public figures, if you like your stories with a bit of a twist.

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