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Video: Sad Panda, Behind the Mask
By
Jen Carlson
Published Nov 18, 2009
Modified Nov 18, 2009
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Nov 18, 2009
Modified Nov 18, 2009
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Be warned: this video of Sad Panda will melt even the coldest of hearts. The fact is that Sad Panda (sometimes Spongebob Squarepants) is actually pretty sad, and that makes us Sad Humans.
Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism student Michelle Tay has sent us this exclusive interview with the man behind the mask. The audio is in Mandarin, but there are subtitles that tell the 62-year-old Jialing Chen's story — which includes a hard luck tale of being forced to leave his former restaurant job. Unable to find work again, he started out his journey as Sad Panda, where on a good day he'll make 30 bucks. His wife works 7 days a week as a private nurse, so the family can afford health care. Yeah, get out the tissues...
Just think about how many more sad stories are hidden behind masks out there.
Tagged
health care reform
Jialing Chen
revealed
sad panda
video
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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