Since Joker came out, New York locals have feared that the stairs from one of the film’s most iconic scenes would become a go-to spot for Joker fans and cosplayers. It turns out they were right, and that a subset of people have indeed started to flock to the Joker stairs.
This really a tragedy https://t.co/AsSFoP3cN1
— GravitysEnemy (@GravitysEnemy) October 21, 2019
These spontaneous gatherings are frustrating for some local residents that use those stairs for their primary purpose of getting around. Hopefully, the “it moment” for these stairs will be over soon, and locals can return to their daily routines.
It is also worth noting that these stairs are the subject of one of the most controversial scenes in the film, not for the story content but for the filmmaking content. As the Joker dances down these now-famous stairs, a snippet of Gary Glitter‘s “Rock and Roll (Part 2)” plays as the background music. Glitter has a history of sex offenses and is currently serving a 16-year prison sentence. Even though the record label has now claimed that Glitter won’t receive royalties for this use of the song, its use in the movie is still giving attention and glorification to a predator.
So influencers, it might be a good idea to think about the scenes you’re reenacting and their cultural impact, along with taking into account that the places you’re using for clout may have other purposes that you’re getting in the way of. It’s fun to reenact scenes, and to visit the sites of your favorite movies, but it’s good to still have respect for the people that live there.
