Reporter At Press Conference For Escaped Convict Asks About 'Little Rascals'
Journalists are supposed to ask the tough questions, but one reporter covering the apprehension of escaped fugitiveDanelo Cavalcante may have asked the most bizarre, most off-topic question ever.
Spoiler alert: It involved “The Little Rascals.”
The 34-year-old fugitive was arrested Wednesday morning after a two-week manhunt. He was found in a wooded area about 30 miles from the Chester County Prison where he’d been housed.
A few hours after the arrest, Lt. Col. George Bivens held a press conference to explain how Cavalcante was taken into custody without any shots fired.
However, one unidentified reporter had a theory about how Cavalcante managed to elude capture for two weeks ― and it called upon a famous scene in the 1994 “Little Rascals” movie.
The reporter’s question seemed to be based on the fact that Cavalcante is relatively short. But it was still a stretch.
“Was there any concern he would team up with another small man to step inside of a trench coat, ′Little Rascals’-style?” the reporter asked.
Bivens nipped that theory in the bud with a quick “No!”
And, yes, we know: Pictures or it didn’t happen.
OMG this question at the #DaneloCavalcante press conference. 🤣
REPORTER: Was there any concern he would team up with another small man to step inside of a trench coat, 'Little Rascals'-style?"
PSP Lt. Col. George Bivens: "No." pic.twitter.com/GWcWD16b2M— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) September 13, 2023
Just to be clear what the reporter was referring to, here’s a clip from the 1994 film where some of the gang wear trenchcoats and fake beards to convince people they’re adults.
While it’s doubtful the reporter will win a Pulitzer for the hard-hitting inquiry, he did get his flowers from users of X, formerly known as Twitter.
What a time to be alive. https://t.co/cvYRniBsHY
— Meara (@MillennialOther) September 13, 2023
I don’t think I have convulsed laughing so hard at something this entire century. Who was this reporter? I want to thank him personally. https://t.co/wyEMRk4cur
— Robert Mills (@Millsy11374) September 13, 2023
Shout out to the reporter at the press conference who asked if he was concerned if Danelo Cavalcante would escape in a trench coat Little Rascals style… pic.twitter.com/FqBYVJmw3C
— Lana Del Taco (@phlfrdm) September 13, 2023
After the exchange went viral, a podcaster named Michael Rainey claimed to be the man who asked the question that he said “needed to be asked.”
He also said officials politely asked him to leave afterward.
I had to attend the Danelo Cavalcante press conference because I knew no one else would ask the questions that needed to be asked. Also, they were very polite in asking me to leave. https://t.co/LjVi5DEELg
— Michael Rainey (@mikerainey82) September 13, 2023