A number of protesters in Beirut have adopted the Joker as a symbol of protest as demonstrations against the Lebanese government continue.
Demonstrators are demanding that the government be held accountable for the country’s ongoing financial crisis, with a series of austerity measures issued last Thursday (October 17) causing outrage and sparking protests in numerous cities and towns across Lebanon.
As Comicbook.com reports, some of those who have joined the demonstrations in the capital Beirut have been painting their face or donning masks to look like Joaquin Phoenix’s version of the villainous character from the recent DC and Warner Bros.-produced movie.
You can see a selection of Joker-themed images from the Beirut protests below.
Quite a few of Lebanon's protesters seem to have been inspired by 'Joker'. #lebanon #joker #beirut #lebanonprotests pic.twitter.com/GviqJYMS71
— Tamara Qiblawi (@tamaraqiblawi) October 19, 2019
There’s a Joker facepaint station at the protests in Beirut pic.twitter.com/C7BSRyOjS1
— Helen Sullivan (@helenrsullivan) October 18, 2019
Beirut’ta Joker tarafindan karsilandik. pic.twitter.com/cZC3UcINlp
— Canergb (@canergb) October 19, 2019
A protester wearing The Joker’s mask in today’s protests in Beirut #لبنان_ينتفض pic.twitter.com/eySDPUyGkg
— 🦇 (@fade_toblack6) October 18, 2019
#Joker in the streets of Beirut. #لبنان #لبنان_ينتفض pic.twitter.com/RAPXVIssC1
— Fatima (@fatimalmahmoud) October 18, 2019
In other Joker news, the flight of steps which provided the backdrop to one of Joker‘s most memorable scenes has quickly become a popular tourist attraction among fans of the movie.
The steps, which are located at 167th Street in the Bronx borough of New York City, have attracted a host of tourists already, with some dressing up as Phoenix’s version of the character in an effort to recreate the scene.
Joker director Todd Phillips recently said that he will never release deleted scenes or an extended cut of the film.