About

“Gingers Do Have Souls” is a catchphrase associated with a vlog-style video created by YouTuber CopperCab (born Michael Kittrell^[11]), who goes on an emotional rant about how she has been bullied in school because of her red hair color.^[1] Marked by teenage awkwardness and highly exploitable quotes like “I’m Ginger, and proud of it!”, CopperCab’s heartfelt monologue led to an extensive pool of remixes and mash-up videos, not to mention hundreds of response videos on YouTube.^[2] (See also: LILSHOWSTOPPA, ChristianU2uber, and Angry German Kid)

Origin

The phrase “gingers have no soul” comes from the South Park episode “Ginger Kids” that first aired on November 9th, 2005. At the beginning of this episode, Eric Cartman gives a class presentation on the subject of red-headed children and “Gingervitis,” a made-up disease.

On January 14th, 2010, an 18-year-old CopperCab uploaded a video titled "GINGERS DO HAVE SOULS!!" to her YouTube channel passionately expressing her frustrations with red-headed discrimination.

Coppercab's video received over 3.1 million views and over 600 response videos in the first month of being uploaded. The same clip has been featured as a spotlight video in 23 regional categories and has over 210,000 comments.

Spread

In 2008 and 2009, the South Park episode became the subject of a minor controversy in Canada^[3] and the United States^[4] after several reports surfaced about school violence that were allegedly acted out against red-headed classmates. The episode has been cited as an inspiration for the Facebook group named “National Kick a Ginger Day, are you going to do it?” which had over +20000 members at one point. While the group no longer exists on Facebook, dozens of anti Kick-a-Ginger-Day remain accessible.^[5]

Notable Examples

Response Videos

Remixes & Parodies

Parents' Response

On February 24th, 2010, YouTuber CopperMomandDad^[8] posted a video “apologizing” for their son’s rants, before they break into a rage of ginger pride:

South Park's Parody

As a promotional clip for the premiere of South Park‘s 14th season, a ginger-haired Eric Cartman spoofed Coppercab’s Youtube video.

Return of CopperCab : Apology For Slavery

On January 19th, 2011, YouTuber CopperCab made her return with a new video titled "APOLOGY FOR SLAVERY", on the day of Martin Luther King Jr. Day (U.S. federal holiday) or about a year after the debut of her "Gingers Have Souls" video. Donning a red stubbly beard and shot on the same location (presumably a house backyard) as her previous upload, CopperCab offers a highly emotional apology for the atrocities of slavery that her ancestors have caused upon African Americans.

Account Hack

In May of 2011, Coppercab launched the YouTube channel CopperVision^[6] as a daily vlog for her grandmother Mema and herself. According to an article on Scribbal^[7], CopperVision became Coppercab's main account in August of 2011 after her official channel was hacked. The hacker uploaded a video showing how to use a condom, and another video outlining how he managed to hack the account. Coppercab responded by making two videos, one starring his grandmother, pleading for the hacker to give her account back.

Transition Video

On July 31st, 2016, CopperCab tweeted that he had been off YouTube for five months because he was going through hormone replacement therapy.^[10] On August 2nd, CopperCab uploaded a video announcing that he had been transitioning, is now a woman, and that his new name was Claire.

TheLadBible^[9] picked up the story and applauded him for his bravery. CopperCab has since returned to identifying as male.

GINGERS STILL HAVE SOULS! 2020 Video

On January 14th, 2020, a decade after the original viral video, CopperCab published a follow-up video to his YouTube^[12] channel under the title "GINGERS STILL HAVE SOULS!!" The clip (seen below) depicts CopperCab continuing his rant about gingers having souls, accumulating nearly 350,000 views, 17,000 likes and 6,200 comments in eight months.

Search Interest

External References