Viral Marketing Stunt Charlie Charlie Fooled Everyone, Even Vatican Exorcist
- By Alison Lesley --
- 01 Jun 2015 --
Even an official Vatican Exorcist fell for a viral marketing campaign in which teens summoned a demon playing the Charlie Charlie Challenge.
A new internet craze has emerged that has given a whole new power to the pencil and the name Charlie. Popular especially among teens, the “Charlie Charlie Challenge” is about using pencils and a piece of paper to call upon a Mexican demon. Even a Vatican approved exorcist has warned against the dangers of playing the game. However, the whole game has been a viral marketing stunt for an upcoming movie, The Gallows.
The “Charlie Charlie Challenge” is simple to play. All you need is two pencils and a piece of paper. You draw a grid on the paper with “yes” and “no” in the boxes and balance the pencils in the shape of a cross. Then you ask “Charlie, Charlie are you here?” or “Charlie, Charlie, can we play?” Then one of the pencils starts to move to one of the boxes depending on your question. People usually film their game and share it online.
The stories have been so prevalent that even an official Vatican exorcist thought the game was dangerous as it involves the summoning of spirits. Spanish priest Jose Antonio Fortea said that “some spirits who are at the root of that practice will harass some of those who play the game.” He also said that the demon which is summoned “will stay around for a while,” and warned that other spirits will eventually start appearing as well.
The game has surged to the top of the global social media charts and “Charlie Charlie” is searched more in Google than other news events. Before the it was revealed that the the whole story was a viral marketing campaign, the internet fad apparently gained traction after a local TV news station in the Dominican Republic reported that a “Satanic” game was overtaking local schools in the province of Hato Mayor.