joker-stairs-instagram

Joker/DC Comics

‘Joker’ stairs latest Instagram spot; locals joke about potential robberies

'Please make sure you’re carrying cash. And don’t be worried about the locals around the area they’re nice individuals.'

 

Tiffanie Drayton

Internet Culture

Posted on Oct 20, 2019   Updated on May 20, 2021, 1:02 am CDT

Instagrammers are flooding the Bronx in New York City to visit the Joker stairs, as seen in the movie, and locals seem far from excited about it.

Photos taken by Joker fans on the stairs, connecting Shakespeare and Anderson avenues at West 167th Street, run the gamut from normal to next level. In the movie, Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker dances down the stairs.

For the most part, people just try to imitate the scene, then post the pictures to Instagram and Twitter as proof.

“Went to them Joker Stairs,” Twitter user @MEtriAndReyes wrote, along with his photos imitating the super villain’s poses.

https://twitter.com/MetriAndReyes/status/1183112981447614467

https://twitter.com/aesthdistance1/status/1185300659211509760

Cosplayers, like Veronica Rae, have gone all out to recreate the scene.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3pSyNDBzM0/

But Bronx residents aren’t so happy about all of the attention their borough is getting from tourists and are going to great lengths to convince Joker fans that a trip to the stairs is a bad idea

“Legally as a Bronx resident you’re allowed and encouraged to tax anyone visiting the Joker stairs,” Desus Nice, from Showtime’s Desus & Mero, tweeted.

Others are joking that Instagrammers are at risk of being robbed.

“Please make sure you’re carrying cash. Everything around that area is cash only so make sure you have a lot of cash. And don’t be worried about the locals around the area they’re nice individuals,” Twitter user @BornHooligan_ wrote.

https://twitter.com/Baekhyuns___/status/1185560473552510976

https://twitter.com/OBC4LBenji/status/1185559603926487040

https://twitter.com/KalelFelder/status/1185040244212715522

https://twitter.com/willlopez23/status/1184559368773275648

https://twitter.com/_BeautifulAmazn/status/1184953410321297408

Some also took notice that the stairs now seem to be called “Joker Stairs” on Google Maps.

“Those awful stairs on 167 are now renamed ‘the Joker stairs; so I just want to remind everyone that the bronx is not a friendly place for tourist attractions you will get robbed beloved,” Twitter user @kailaniskye wrote in a PSA to anyone thinking about visiting.

https://twitter.com/kailaniskye/status/1184060766497980416

READ MORE: 

Share this article
*First Published: Oct 20, 2019, 10:30 am CDT