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🇻🇪 Venezuela /Culture & Society

Everyone was running, he kept eating: Who is the man who remained unfazed during the shooting at the Correspondents' Dinner?

From El Nacional · (11m ago) Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Michael Glantz, an agent, became a viral sensation for calmly eating his salad during a security incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.
  • While others ducked for cover, Glantz remained seated, continuing his meal.
  • He attributed his composure to being a New Yorker accustomed to sirens and also cited back pain and a desire not to ruin his tuxedo as reasons for not hitting the floor.

In a moment of unexpected calm amidst chaos, Michael Glantz, an agent with Creative Artists Agency, became an internet sensation after footage showed him unfazed by a security scare at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. As Secret Service agents rushed in and attendees scrambled for safety, Glantz was captured serenely finishing his burrata salad, earning him the moniker 'the salad man'. This image, contrasting sharply with the surrounding panic, quickly went viral across social media platforms.

Soy neoyorquino. Vivimos con sirenas y actividad todo el tiempo. No estaba asustado

— Michael GlantzExplaining his calm reaction during the security incident.

Glantz, when asked about his remarkable composure, offered a distinctly New Yorker's perspective. "I'm a New Yorker. We live with sirens and activity all the time. I wasn't scared," he explained to local media. His nonchalance wasn't solely a testament to his urban upbringing; he also humorously cited practical reasons for staying put. Glantz mentioned a bad back that would make getting on the floor difficult and, with a touch of self-deprecating wit, added that he had no intention of soiling his new tuxedo on the "dirty floor."

Tengo mal la espalda. No podía tirarme al suelo, y si lo hacía, tendrían que traer gente para levantarme

— Michael GlantzGiving a humorous reason for not taking cover.

The incident occurred during a tense moment at the traditional event, which President Donald Trump was attending. Reports indicate that shots were heard in the vicinity of the venue, prompting an evacuation and the deployment of Secret Service personnel. One agent was reportedly injured by a bullet but was protected by body armor. While the event itself was marked by security concerns, Glantz's calm demeanor provided an unexpected, and for many, humorous, counterpoint to the unfolding drama. His reaction, so different from the norm, highlights a unique individual response to a high-stress situation, resonating with a public often saturated with dramatic news.

Eso no iba a pasar

— Michael GlantzReferring to his refusal to lie down on the floor.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Nacional in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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