One of the internet’s most iconic memes is being immortalised in Australia’s national film archive.
In 1991, Jack Karlson gave a dramatic monologue as he was hauled from a Chinese restaurant in Brisbane into a police car during a reported fraud arrest, crying: "What is the charge? Eating a meal? A succulent Chinese meal?”
The clip resurfaced after being uploaded onto YouTube in 2009 and quickly became a viral hit, spawning parodies and making its way into songs and television shows.
National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA) said that the video demonstrates how “voice and performance can transform an everyday news event into a lasting piece of cultural folklore”.
Karlson’s arrest was sparked by an accusation of credit card fraud, 7 News reports, though police dismissed the charges as it was a case of mistaken identity. He died in August 2024 at the age of 82.
