New York Times columnist David Brooks continues to be roasted on social media, and we are absolutely here for it.
The purportedly struggling author, who was once incorrectly described as a “moderate conservatism” by someone somewhere, was busy snapping a photo of his burger, fries, and what appeared to be an alcoholic beverage (always expensive at airports), and then posting it on Twitter, complaining about the $78 cost for his “meal.” He said that this was the reason why Americans thought the economy was bad.
Here’s his Wednesday post for those who missed it, or just want to laugh again.
This meal just cost me $78 at Newark Airport. This is why Americans think the economy is terrible. pic.twitter.com/1qeV9qOBL3
— David Brooks (@nytdavidbrooks) September 21, 2023
We also noted that at the time it didn’t really take long for Twitter detectives to figure out that, while the meal was around $18, it was the drinks that pushed the bill to almost $80.
Maurice Hallett of 1911 Smoke House BBQ confirmed this in an interview with the New York Post, saying that Brooks probably had “two doubles,” or around $28 per item. The cost of two doubles, along with the burger/fries combo is around $74.
The restaurant responded to the viral tweet with a first Facebook post that said, “Looks as though someone is downing some serious drinks.” The bar tab was nearly 80% of the total bill and he complained about his meal.
This story’s update, it turns out, is even more hilarious than Brooks’ original tweet. It has now been viewed over 33 million times as of the time this article was written and has also received Community Notes.
In honor of Brooks’s legacy, 1911 Smoke House BBQ added a special “David Brooks Special”, where travelers could get a burger with fries and a double whiskey shot for less than $18. What was the hashtag? “#youcantbeatourmeat”:
The two also enjoyed a bit of fun with the reviewers, one of whom wanted to do the “David Brooks Challenge”:
One Twitter user joked that Brooks “charged an extra fee” because he “demands the waiters to have perfect creases on their pants”, a reference from a 2005 article where Brooks bizarrely remembered meeting Senator Barack Obama in 2005 and being impressed by, among other things the “perfect” fold in his pant leg.
Brooks still remembers that first encounter. Brooks recalls a vivid image: “I was sitting on one of his couches and I remember looking at his leg and seeing his perfectly creased pants,” Brooks said. “And I thought, a) this guy is going to be the president, and b), he will be a good president.”
Obama became president. Brooks did what Obama could not (and didn’t want to) do: he united the country in opposition to an elitist snob who gave “out of touch”, a new meaning.
