Who Is The 'Toronto Joker' And Why Was He Swatted? The Story Behind Michael Stamatakos's Arrest Explained

If you thought society peaked back when the Indian Joker was on TikTok, you aren't ready for what Toronto's Joker brings to the table.

The tattooed man has long been a menace to Canadian police, but his fame was amplified only recently after he began broadcasting his shenanigans on TikTok.

The man sporting some wild face tattoos and a rap sheet that includes the time when he set someone's RV on fire recently entered the limelight yet again, this time for getting arrested in real time on TikTok LIVE. In a bizarre twist, his arrest footage went viral online for looking like a scene straight out of a prestige black-and-white film.

Here's the low down on who "Toronto Joker" is, and why he's infamous.

Who Is Toronto's Joker, And When Did He First Go Viral?

Toronto's Joker first went viral in October 2023 after he posted videos mocking Canadian police for putting out a BOLO on him. The video showed the Joker, whose real name is Michael Stamatakos, dressed in a hat and sunglasses that barely disguise him as he wiggles his head in front of a poster with his mugshot.

Another video shows Stamatakos posing with his tongue out in front of a cop car, with special effects showing him engulfed in smoke and flame. While all of Stamatakos's accounts from this time have since been deleted, the posts can be seen via a news report.

Why Is Toronto's Joker Wanted By The Police, And What Are The Crimes He Was Arrested For?

YouTuber Ray William Johnson posted a video discussing Stamatakos, aka Toronto's Joker, back when he first went viral in 2023, delving into his history of arson, disrupting a peace officer and possessing illegal substances, among other things.

It wasn't until December 2023 that he was actually apprehended by the police, nearly two months after he first posted the incendiary videos.

What's Up With Toronto's Joker Getting Swatted, And Why Are People Calling The Footage Cinematic?

Toronto's Joker was arrested while livestreaming on TikTok in July 2024. In now-viral footage, the shirtless man can be seen opening up a garage door with his arms wide open, flinching when he sees the heavily armed police standing outside.

The oddly cinematic footage drew the attention of cinephiles online, who compared the black-and-white scene to La Haine, a French film shot entirely without color.

For the full history of Toronto's Joker, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.