'Keeping Up With the Zimmermans': George's brother wanted to 'rebrand' him as reality TV star
'I learn a lot from watching "Keeping Up With the Kardashians,"' Robert Zimmerman Jr. tells GQ
George Zimmerman's brother wanted to turn him into a reality television star.
In a 5,000-word GQ profile of the Zimmerman family, Robert Zimmerman describes his attempts to rebrand the 30-year-old former Sanford, Fla., neighborhood watchman after he was found not guilty of second-degree murder in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. The case sparked an international debate about race. Martin was black and unarmed. Zimmerman is described as mixed-race Hispanic.
"I learn a lot from watching 'Keeping Up With the Kardashians,'" Robert Zimmerman told the magazine. "Like, use the s--- you've got."
The show, a mix between the "Kardashians," "America's Most Wanted" and "Candid Camera," would have featured George punking, say, unsuspecting self-defense instructors.
Another idea Robert had for rebranding the family: launching a signature line of home-security company products aimed at women.
"They all start with Z," Zimmerman said. "There's the Z Bar, the Z Rock, and the Z Beam. They're all targeted to women. One is to secure sliding doors. One is to put in the front door. The light is to carry and is designed by George. It has a little alarm — you know, 'Help me, help me!'"
The Zimmerman family has been living in fear since George was identified in the Feb. 26, 2012, shooting:
The family formalized new security protocols. They watched the movie "Argo" to learn how to live like CIA. Code names for everyone. No mail delivered to the house. No visitors. No talking to the few neighbors they had. No long phone conversations — keep it short and vague to outwit surveillance. Never discuss your whereabouts via phone or text. Keep a weapon close by at all times. Robert slept with his gun. Still does.
And in case someone — or multiple someones — decided to mount an attack on the house, the Zimmermans pre-packed their own "go-bags" filled with everything they would need to flee in a rush, as well as what they called "footballs" — like the one President Obama has with the nuclear codes — that contained laptops, cell phones, and other essential electronics.
They also memorized a color-coded threat-ID system. Code blue: Law enforcement at the door. Code brown: Draw your weapons. Code black: Come out guns blazing.
That includes Gladys, George's 87-year-old mother.
"Personally, I love my .45!" she told the magazine.
According to GQ, George Zimmerman did not participate in the interview because the magazine refused to put him up for a week in a luxury hotel.
Last month, George Zimmerman told the Orlando Sentinel that he was homeless, jobless and deeply in debt due to legal bills that, according to GQ, total $2.5 million.
Beyond bankruptcy, Zimmerman's fear is that he'll ultimately be charged with federal civil rights violations for Martin's killing, says his father, Bob Zimmerman.
"He's worried that if FBI agents come and kick in his door, he's probably gonna shoot a few of them," he said.
