Is This Allowed?

About

"Is This Allowed?" refers to a 2014 Vine video in which a teenage couple gets roasted by an onlooker for their public display of affection at a restaurant. In early 2018, the video clip resurfaced on social media with a rumor that the boy featured in the footage may have been a mannequin.

Origin

On August 29th, 2014, Vine user Daniel Gomez published the original Vine, which has since gained over 417,000 likes, 227,000 revines, and 33 million loops (shown below).

Spread

On March 14th, 2015, the Vine was cross-posted to YouTube, where it gained over 1 million views (shown below).

The Vine began seeing more popularity when it was announced Vine would soon be discontinued in 2016. On November 3rd, 2016, Twitter user @maxmstein included it in a long thread of Vines, gaining over 7,800 retweets and 17,000 likes.^[1] It also saw some parody use. On June 10th, 2017, YouTuber TalentLacking made a World War II edit that gained over 12,000 views (shown below, top). On January 24th, 2018, Twitter user @badkuthi69^[2] uploaded an object labeling using a still from the Vine, gaining over 2,400 retweets and 9,300 likes (shown below, bottom).

Mannequin Rumor

In late 2017 and early 2018, a rumor spread that the boy in the couple was actually a mannequin.^[3][4]

It is unconfirmed whether or not the boy is a mannequin. Blog studybreaks^[5] wrote about the rumor, saying:

The fingers on his left hand are so stiff, almost resembling plastic. He’s also got a very specific beachy, boyband, dreamboat kind of look; you definitely saw him chilling lifelessly in Hollister a couple of years back. So far, this is pretty damning evidence, yes, but none quite as much as the fact that he literally doesn’t move an inch one single time.
As far as evidence in favor of his humanity, why would anyone make a mannequin that assumed such an odd posture? Additionally, how would she have gotten him into the Panera if he didn’t walk?

Search Interest

External References