David Vance SubstackRead More
Although the mainstream media conspicuously avoids talking about it, the “cardboard ayatollah” is a surreal meme that has emerged following the death of Iran’s long-time tyrant Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.
His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was quickly appointed as the new Supreme Leader. However, Mojtaba has conspicuously stayed out of public view since the leadership transition— leading to widespread speculation that he is either:
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Dead or seriously injured
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In hiding due to assassination fears
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Physically unable to appear
So in place of an actual appearance, Iranian state events and rallies (including allegiance ceremonies by the IRGC and public gatherings in Tehran featured life-size cardboard cutouts of Mojtaba Khamenei.
Cue massive online mockery! Little of this has appeared in the fakestream media.
This is the regime that has gone from ‘Death to America’ to a cardboard ayatollah in a week!
Think of the humiliation of pledging loyalty to a flat piece of cardboard instead of an actual living leader!
In short, this “cardboard ayatollah” has become shorthand for the absurdity of Iran’s leadership transition.
