When we last left Ed and Brian Krassenstein, they were upset at people laughing at their attempt to profit off the online “resistance” that has cropped up to President Donald Trump, by publishing an illustrated children’s book about taking down the president.
They even were upset with the Daily Dot’s coverage of their book, which many on Twitter said depicted Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) being carried away in a “rape sack.”
The first Book review is out before anyone has even received a copy! Great journalism by the Pro-Trump @dailydot
— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) August 1, 2018
They even disgustingly say we are teaching kids about rape. https://t.co/i8floBpotT
Buy my book, “rape sacks” and all. Pre-order here:https://t.co/8omdCxilR3
Where are they three weeks later?
Still upset about it. But this time, they’ve resorted to an entirely new strategy to defend their book: sharing topless selfies. It’s odd.
Twitter has been laughing at the Krassensteins ever since their new book, How the People Trumped Ronald Plumb, a fever dream about a president being impeached, was tweeted about by Brian Krassenstein in July.
So excited. Look what just arrived. The first copies!! pic.twitter.com/QDjjh1qJH8
— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) July 30, 2018
Their work went viral again this weekend when Brian Krassenstein tweeted it was available for pre-order, and Twitter aggregator Twitchy covered their depiction of Special Counsel Robert Mueller as a shirtless superhero named Robert Moral.
Sneak Peek at the last page of my upcoming book: “How The People Trumped Ronald Plump”
— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) August 18, 2018
Available for Pre-order now – Ships Nov 6th (Election Day):https://t.co/9CrreZMrU5
And YES, I am teaching our children that Trump’s actions are NOT ok.
DEAL WITH IT!
Meet Robert Moral! pic.twitter.com/19PUFGv7VC
Peak Resistance: Robert Mueller now portrayed as heroic Chippendales dancer in new children’s book https://t.co/Aabe6qcPKL
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) August 20, 2018
That prompted a (very) unusual line of defense from Brian Krassentein, who said he wasn’t afraid to let his son see men without their shirts on.
It began with Brian Krassenstein saying he wasn’t afraid to let kids see people shirtless, which doesn’t explain why he drew a picture of Robert Mueller shirtless.
I’m not afraid to let my son see men without shirts on, are you? https://t.co/vs6IqLA0tP
— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) August 20, 2018
He also shared more shirtless pictures of other superheroes, who are fictional and not real people.
https://twitter.com/krassenstein/status/1031348462107934720
Brian was backed up by his brother Ed, who shared a photo of the two of them shirtless with one of their children, which again doesn’t prove any point.
(As this article was in writing, Ed began deleting these tweets.)
As well as a picture of Barack Obama shirtless at the beach (also deleted).
No one is saying children should be blindfolded in the presence of men at the beach, just that it’s weird to depict Mueller as shirtless but also wearing a tie. And posting pictures of yourself topless with children doesn’t change that equation one bit.
And when people made fun of them for that behavior, they got upset all over again and started calling for a reporter with the Daily Beast, Lachlan Markey, to be fired.
WOW! @Lachlan Markay of @thedailybeast really just did this!
— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) August 20, 2018
Yesterday I posted this image of myself, Brian and my son on vacation.
Lahlan crops it & adds a headline to make it appear as though Brian is doing something inappropriate with my son!
Does DailyBeast approve of this? pic.twitter.com/VMJNfkKCPh
Just because you don’t agree with me, doesn’t give you the right to post cropped photos of my children in order to attempt to smear my name.
— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) August 20, 2018
Not much upsets me, but when a journalist (@lachlan) posts disgustingly insinuatory photos of my children I won’t relent!@thedailybeast
Still waiting on a comment from @thedailybeast about their staff writer @lachlan https://t.co/MuNGFqYOJT
— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) August 20, 2018
The two haven’t been able to get out of their way online since their book went viral, but at least it’s meant some jaw-dropping and hilarious gaffes.
Maybe they’re hoping all this drama is good publicity?