Cat in the Hat that chased B.C. teenage girl appears part of viral social media trend
- On Aug. 24, West Kelowna RCMP began investigating an incident where someone dressed in The Cat costume with a Hat chased a teenager, occurring amid a viral social media trend.
- AI-Generated Cat images featuring captions like "watch out" or "you're next" characterize the viral trend, prompting Police to warn that such Posts may have real-world consequences if taken too far.
- Kris Clark said Police in Nechako Lakes are monitoring similar activity, while Tennessee and Colorado have arrested People for making threats using AI-generated Cat Posts.
- Potential charges include criminal harassment or uttering threats, Cpl. Devon Gerrits said, emphasizing "Regardless of whether the individual intended the behaviour as a joke, following a young person and causing them to fear for their safety is extremely concerning."
- The 2003 live-action movie starring Mike Myers inspired the costume causing this horror-inspired trend, prompting Nechako Lakes and Other People to report threatening Posts to Police.
38 Articles
38 Articles
Cat in the Hat suspect who chased a teen girl in B.C. appears to be a trend copycat
A disturbing incident in which someone dressed in a Cat in the Hat costume chased a teenager in West Kelowna, B.C., occurred amid an online trend that twists the popular children's character into something sinister, leading police in some jurisdictions to warn of offline consequences.
Cat in the Hat That Chased BC Teenage Girl Appears Part of Viral Social Media Trend
A person dressed in a Cat in the Hat costume is shown in this Aug. 24, 2026, police handout photo taken from a security camera in West Kelowna, B.C. (The Canadian Press/Handout — West Kelowna RCMP)
Cat in the Hat case remains unsolved, mirrors social media trend across the globe
West Kelowna's costumed Cat in the Hat case has received international attention, with references to the creepy kitty following a teen through a darkened street appearing everywhere from the New York Post to Newsweek. Despite the attention gained across the globe, officials still have little informa...
Winnipeg Free Press
Cat in the Hat that chased B.C. teenage girl appears part of viral social media trend
A disturbing incident in which someone dressed in a Cat in the Hat costume chased a teenager in West Kelowna, B.C., occurred amid an online trend that twists the popular children's character into something sinister, leading police in some jurisdictions to warn of off-line consequences.
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