Marlon Bundo

Marlon Bundo, also known as Bunny of the United States (BOTUS), is a rabbit belonging to the family of Mike Pence, the 48th and current Vice President of the United States.

For the actor who is the namesake of this rabbit, see Marlon Brando.

Marlon Bundo
Bundo in May 2017
SexMale
Born2012/2013 (age 7–8)[1]:6[2]:19
Chicago[3]
OwnerMike and Karen Pence
ResidenceNumber One Observatory Circle (upstairs)[4]
AppearanceBlack and white
Named afterMarlon Brando
instagram.com/marlonbundo/

Bundo was initially adopted for a film project by Pence's daughter Charlotte Pence during her freshman year. His name is a pun on actor Marlon Brando, chosen after Bundo's previous owner said "Make me an offer" when Pence asked about his price. He was the first rabbit to travel on Air Force Two, has a popular Instagram account, and is the subject of two children's books.

Biography

The rabbit Marlon Bundo was named after actor Marlon Brando and has been with the Pence family at the United States Naval Observatory since 2017. Other pets owned by the second couple include an Australian Shepherd named Harley, and two cats named Hazel and Pickle.[5][6]

Marlon Bundo was acquired via Craigslist by Pence's daughter Charlotte Pence in 2013 when she was a freshman at DePaul University.[3] At the time she needed a rabbit for a short film student project.[7][8] In the film, Bundo portrayed a "symbol of rebellion in a world of conformity" as a rabbit who repeatedly escapes from his cage.[9] Before this, Bundo was "just another scrappy Chicago bunny".[3]

Pence texted Bundo's owner to ask how much the rabbit cost, and the owner replied, "Make me an offer."[10] In Mario Puzo's novel The Godfather and the 1972 film of the same name, Marlon Brando's Don Vito Corleone says, "I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse."[3] Pence's friend, a Brando fan, noticed the similarity between the seller and Corleone, and suggested naming the rabbit Marlon Brando.[3][11] Pence finally decided to name him Marlon Bundo.[3] Speaking to The Chicago Tribune Charlotte recalled:

We drove out to the suburbs, my friends and I, and we picked him up. I think he was like $20. He was in the short film, and I just kept him after that.[3]

Bundo lived with Charlotte throughout college in Chicago, for four years, and was part of a student friends group.[8][12]:2[2]:19 Bundo traveled to Washington, D.C. from his home in Indianapolis, Indiana aboard Air Force Two in January 2017, making him the first rabbit to ever travel on the plane.[13] He made his official debut in May 2017, appearing at an event honoring Military Appreciation Month at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, where he was "admired", according to the official transcript of the event.[13][14]

Bundo was featured on the White House's Flickr landing page on May 11, 2017, detailing his first trip to the White House.[15] Bundo has not been in the Oval Office, as of 20 March 2018.[1]:7 President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump met Bundo at a dinner at the Naval Observatory. Melania Trump invited Karen and Charlotte Pence to read their book at the 2018 White House Easter Egg Roll, but the Pences did not accept because they – and Marlon Bundo – were taking a "mini-spring vacation". Karen Pence said, "You have to have the bunny on Easter."[7]

The Pence family originally drew criticism online and questions regarding their care for Bundo, based on the observation that his nails were "far too long". As Callie Beusman, a senior editor with Vice Media commented:

The Pence family cannot claim ignorance on these issues because insane rabbit people (including myself) frequently comment on Marlon Bundo's Instagrams with alarm and concern.[16]

The piece went on to observe that "BOTUS otherwise seems well-loved". The White House press office did not respond to a related request for comment on the matter.[16] The Washington Post later observed that Bundo "promptly got a pedicure".[9]

Social media

Bundo has his own Instagram account, which has over 33,000 followers as of May 2019.[4][17] Charlotte created his Instagram account after her father's inauguration, "not knowing if anybody would follow it".[3] Four former U.S. presidents have had rabbits; Bundo is the first in such circles with a social media account.[lower-alpha 1]

According to The Fresno Bee, Bundo generally avoids partisan politics online, preferring instead to stick to "posting pictures of his bunny life, including being hugged by his mom, Charlotte Pence, the vice president's ... daughter, hopping around the house, and playing hide and seek with Pickle, the family cat".[18] Photographs on Bundo's Instagram account show him "reading the Constitution, taking phone calls, signing documents, and working out on the treadmill".[19] Because of Bundo's popularity on Instagram, Charlotte and Karen decided to create a children's book about him "at one point".[8]

Children's books

Bundo is the main character in two children's books.

Marlon Bundo's A Day in the Life of the Vice President features Bundo accompanying Vice President Pence through his daily activities as seen from Bundo's perspective. It is written by Charlotte Pence and illustrated by Karen Pence.[20] Bundo posed for all illustrations in the book.[2]:28 As of March 2018, Bundo was scheduled to accompany Charlotte and Karen on the press tour for the book.[3] Proceeds from the book benefit Tracy's Kids, an art therapy program, and The A21 Campaign, which works to combat human trafficking.[9] As of late March 2018, the book had sold approximately 100,000 copies, entered the top-ten books on Amazon, and was the No. 7 Children's Picture Book on The New York Times Best Seller list.[7][21]

A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo is a book published by the television show Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. It details a gay romance between Marlon Bundo and a rabbit named Wesley. Authorship is attributed to Bundo as well as Jill Twiss.[22][23] Speaking of the book on Instagram, Bundo's account says, "Not gonna lie, I do look pretty fly in a bow tie. The only thing better than one bunny book for charity is ... TWO bunny books for charity."[24] Proceeds from the book benefit The Trevor Project, which operates a crisis hotline for members of the LGBTQ community, and AIDS United.[25] As of late March 2018 the book had sold approximately 400,000 copies, spent several days as the top-selling book on Amazon, and was the No. 1 Children's Picture Book on The New York Times Best Seller list.[7][21]

Reception

In December 2017, President of the United States Donald Trump reportedly described the presence of Bundo and the other family pets in the Vice Presidential residence as "low class".[26] Writing for Jezebel, Ellie Shechet acknowledged Bundo's cuteness, but continued that it is "an indisputable fact that underneath his huge blinky eyes and nice fat tummy lies the twisted heart of a dirty trickster", and further accused him of using his "good looks and pleasant demeanor as a fluffy tool of mass obfuscation".[27]

The Washington Post praised Bundo as "ridiculously cute" and "a natural actor".[9] Others have called him the "only positive thing in Washington, D.C."[28] Writing in Vogue, Bridget Read summarized Bundo as "clearly a lover, not a fighter, based on how much he loves snuggling", but also that he is "clearly not new to navigating his own PR, and has demonstrated some media training". Read concluded by saying that Bundo's "social media rollout" may be an indication that he is planning to run for public office.[25] Speaking to Ellen DeGeneres, comedian John Oliver described Bundo as a "fantastic rabbit", adding, "if you have a problem with that bunny you're dead inside".[29]

See also

Notes
  1. U.S. Presidents Abraham Lincoln, Chester Arthur, Theodore Roosevelt, and John F. Kennedy also owned rabbits.[9]

References
  1. "Video: Charlotte Pence on her new book, family and more". The View. ABC News. March 20, 2018. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  2. Pence, Charlotte; Pence, Karen (March 27, 2018). "Karen & Charlotte Pence". The Eric Metaxas Show (Interview). Interviewed by Eric Metaxas. Empire State Building, New York City: Salem Radio Network. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  3. Schoenberg, Nara (March 14, 2018). "Charlotte Pence talks about Marlon Bundo: The vice presidential bunny (a Chicago native) with a book deal". The Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  4. Koncius, Jura (April 18, 2018). "The Pences: How the vice president's family has made their historical residence home, complete with a bunny and bees". The Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
  5. "Pence family welcomes two new four-legged residents". CBS News. June 19, 2017. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  6. Kavit, Brooke (January 12, 2017). "Mike Pence debuts new family pet -- and it has the best name ever". AOL. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  7. Luppi, Kathleen (March 29, 2018). "Second lady Karen Pence and daughter Charlotte promote children's book at Nixon Library". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  8. Pence, Charlotte; Pence, Karen (March 26, 2018). "Q&A: Mike Pence's daughter is not mad John Oliver wrote a competing Marlon Bundo book. In fact, she bought a copy". The Denver Post (Interview). Interviewed by Danika Worthington. Colorado Springs. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  9. Roberts, Roxanne (March 14, 2018). "He's Bunny of the United States. And now he's the hero of a children's book, too". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  10. Leppert, Michael (March 26, 2018). "Charlotte Pence wins the bunny fight with class". Hendricks County Flyer. Archived from the original on March 26, 2018. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  11. Pence, Charlotte (March 19, 2018). "Leftism is for Kids | The Andrew Klavan Show Ep. 479". The Andrew Klavan Show (Interview). Interviewed by Andrew Klavan. Los Angeles: The Daily Wire. 39 minute mark. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  12. Pence, Charlotte; Pence, Karen (April 24, 2018). "Charlotte Pence hopes bunny book 'Marlon Bundo' brings people together". PBS NewsHour (Interview). Interviewed by Judy Woodruff. Washington, D.C.: PBS. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  13. Klein, Betsy (May 9, 2017). "Pence family rabbit hops into spotlight at White House event". CNN. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  14. "Remarks by the Vice President and Mrs. Pence to Military Families". whitehouse.gov. May 9, 2017. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  15. Novak, Matt (May 11, 2017). "Russia's Flickr Shows Meeting With Trump, While the White House Flickr Has Mike Pence's Rabbit [Updated]". Gizmodo. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  16. Emerson, Sarah (November 22, 2017). "Mike Pence's Instagram-Famous Bunny Has Tragically Overgrown Nails". Motherboard. Vice Media.
  17. Londberg, Max (December 7, 2017). "Outcry erupts after Trump reportedly calls pets low class and the Pences 'yokels'". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  18. Rodriguez, Robert (July 24, 2017). "You know who POTUS is, but have you heard of BOTUS?". The Fresno Bee. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  19. Harwood, Erika. "Karen Pence Illustrated a Children's Book About Her Nonpartisan Pet Rabbit". Vanity Fair. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  20. Groppe, Maureen (March 16, 2018). "A day in the life of Vice President Pence — through the book of his rabbit, Marlon Bundo". USA Today. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  21. "Sales multiply for Pence and Oliver rabbit books". AP News. New York: Associated Press. March 26, 2018. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  22. Perkins, Dennis (March 19, 2018). "John Oliver hijacks homophobe Mike Pence's bunny book with a better one in A Day In The Life Of Marlon Bundo". The A.V. Club. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  23. Guild, Blair (March 19, 2018). "John Oliver releases children's book about gay bunny to spite Pence". CBS News. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  24. Purdom, Clayton (March 20, 2018). "John Oliver's bunny book is handily outselling the Pence bunny book". The A.V. Club. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  25. Read, Bridget (March 20, 2018). "The Battle for Marlon Bundo: Conservative Pence Family Bunny or Gay Icon?". Vogue. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  26. Darby, Luke (March 20, 2018). "Mike Pence's Gay Rabbit Is the Newest Kid-Lit Sensation". GQ. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  27. Shechet, Ellie. "Marlon Bundo Is Complicit". Jezebel. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  28. Brotherton, Bill. "Brotherton: Good Hare Days". itemlive.com. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  29. de Moraes, Lisa (March 20, 2018). "John Oliver's Marlon Bundo Book Sells Out In A Day; Another Printing In Works". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
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