Hijinks/

All hijinks... ever

These are projects carried out over the years by the Yes Men and their student and organizational partners.

For a timeline of when and why they occurred, see our timeline (coming soon). For why we did certain actions, and how well we think they succeeded, see our press pages. For the full, gory stories behind actions, take a peek behind the curtain. 

bankparty-1
Party in a bank
The Royal Bank of Canada was funding oil extraction in the Alberta Tar Sands, the hugest climate crime on the planet. We were in Toronto for the premiere of our third movie, and so we decided to throw a party in an RBC branch. (We were inspired by…
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Reed Divests
Graduating Reed College students and their parents gave a standing ovation to an announcement by their commencement speaker that the college had decided to divest from fossil fuels. But the President and Chair of the Board of Trustees, who were…
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Operation Second Thanks
To a dance-ready crowd of security and defense contractors at the Homeland Security Congress in Washington, one "Benedict Waterman"—a crazy-haired, bespectacled official supposedly from the U.S. Department of Energy—announces a revolutionary new…
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Black Pete is beloved, totally racist
In the form of entertaining caricature, black face has been used throughout the Western world to justify slavery, to emphasize white superiority, and to reinforce racial segregation. It has taken many different appearances over the last few hundred…
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SaveCanada
Update Nov. 18, 2014: TransCanada freaks out, plays dirty In towns across Canada, troupes of mischievous activists, dressed as TransCanada reps (with "SaveCanada" logos instead), successfully derailed the attempts of TransCanada (the company…
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The Gazprom/Shell Polar Partnership
In 2012, Royal Dutch Shell failed to drill a single hole in the Arctic off the coast of Alaska thanks to a series of dangerous blunders and mismanagement that led to the U.S. government calling the company "screwed up." This year, they trained their…
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Monsanto and the Carnival of Corn
On August 14, 2013, the St. Louis based biotech corporation, Monsanto Company, released an announcement saying the Mexican government had finally, after months of debate, approved the commercial sale of their patented, genetically modified seeds in…
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Deport the Statue
Every year, hundreds of thousands of undocumented people face deportation. Under the Obama administration, the number of deportations has hit record highs. In 2012 alone, the United States deported 409,849 people. In June of 2013, a video, released…
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DREAMers Keep On Dreaming
The college application process is a grueling rite of passage for many high-schoolers, but for students without papers (called DREAMers), it can be an insurmountable wall. Despite having grown up in the U.S. - often after being brought here…
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slim
Carlos Slim Laugh Machine
We decided to make Carlos Slim as uncomfortable as possible, while highlighting the absurdity of trivial philanthropy as a solution big world problems. Inspired by the Laughing Farmers of Karnataka!
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Bank’s Dodgy Climate Portfolio Revealed
The mandate of the European Investment Bank (EIB) is to further EU sustainable development objectives, including Europe’s 2050 Energy Roadmap, which calls for quickly cutting carbon emissions. On their website, the EIB claims to be "among the…
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The Dalai Lama Welcoming Committee
On October 12, 2012, Middlebury College welcomed His Holiness the Dalai Lama to campus. An announcement was made that in honor of the visit from the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize Recipient, the College had chosen to demonstrate ethical leadership in…
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Fake websites

Because a so-called fake website started the Yes Men, we've made dozens more over the years.

These websites represent our opponents more transparently than they ever present themselves — making these true websites, not fake! Also, whereas sinister people use trickery to get outcomes, we reveal hoaxes to mobilize.

McDonalds rtmark
Fake McDonalds "shell"
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Fake Shell shell of RTMark.com
Our first fake website
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RTMark.com
RTMark.com
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Videos

These are videos that reveal actions, are used within actions, or come out of actions.

For standalone shorts, see our movies page.

Somos El Muro
SomosElMuro Video
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Refugreenergy
Refugreenergy reveal video
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Refugreenergy
Refugreenergy: there's gold in their legs
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DNC Takeback talk and Q&A highlights reel
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Share the Safety
The Yes Men Share The Safety (2017)
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TERD
Our bloody Trump mess
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TERD
Our bloody Trump mess (trailer)
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TERD
Trump voting machines ad
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The NRA shares the safety
NRA Shares the Safety "official"
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ss4b
Moby says: Just skip showers for beef
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ss4b
Team takes over mic to announce Skip Showers for Beef
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ss4b-reveal
Skip Showers for Beef - reveal (Guardian)
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Behind the curtain

These are the secret stories of actions that Yes Men have been a part of—in all their complexity, and not as a movie or press release represented them.

For why we did certain actions, and how well we think they succeeded, see our press pages.  And be sure to check out the lessons we learned from these and other adventures; some might even be useful!

salsburg
The story behind the story of the Yes Men's first project
How technical frolicking led to decades of fun
capt
The story of the Yes Men's first impersonation

Fake press releases

These are fake press releases used in our actions.

Note: we always reveal our fakes in short order — and that's what distinguishes these from the bad kind of fakes. For why we did certain actions, and how well we think they succeeded, see our press pages.

#DNCTakeBack announcement
DNC LAUNCHES #DNCTakeBack TOWN HALLS TO HIGHLIGHT UNSEEN ASPECTS OF "BETTER DEAL" Medicare for all, tuition-free college, strong unions, and the end of corporate lobbying are among the progressive positions largely missed in last Monday's announcement. Join the conversation on Twitter at #DNCTakeBack Official announcement video (longer highlights video coming tomorrow) Announcement…
Associated Hijinks: DNC Takeback
Fake press announcement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Nov. 9, 2016 New Voting Machine Launched Sabotage Foiled at Trump Soho Hotel New York - An attempt to sabotage the launch of President-Elect Donald Trump’s new voting machine company was narrowly averted due to quick-witted security guards and bystanders.  "This morning’s event was a wonderful way to launch the new President’s voting machine in style," said Chase Holbrook…
Associated Hijinks: Trump Election Reporting Devices
The "NRA" denounces the activists
NRA Denounces "Arm Everyone" Hoax On June 22, an unidentified group of anti-gun "activists" sent out a fake press release claiming that the National Rifle Association was partnering with Smith & Wesson to distribute guns to inner-city victims of police violence, as a first step towards arming everyone in America. This claim is completely fraudulent, as is the accompanying website, www.…
Associated Hijinks: NRA Shares the Safety
NRA shares the safety with the media
NRA and Smith & Wesson Partner to "Share the Safety" Fairfax, Va.— American cities are hotbeds of crime, from gang violence to police brutality, but a major part of the problem is that the most vulnerable populations cannot afford to defend themselves. A new program from the National Rifle Association, in partnership with Smith & Wesson, seeks to change that. Share the Safety is a…
Associated Hijinks: NRA Shares the Safety
UN celebrates "420"
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:   UNODC Unveils Historic "4/20" Policy Redirect at UNGASS 2016   NEW YORK, 19 April 2016 - On the first day of the UN General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on the world drug problem, the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) announced that they will adopt extensive reforms to their decision-making processes and encourage evidence-based drug policy that…
Associated Hijinks: UN Ends the War on Drugs
"UN" kills the buzz
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:   United Nations Denounces “4/20” Hoax Press Release UN urges pot smokers to opt out of drug violence by home growing   NEW YORK - A hoax press release was sent out from the UN Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) yesterday claiming that the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on the world drug problem had been scheduled for April 19-21 in order to…
Associated Hijinks: UN Ends the War on Drugs
Beef lovers find novel ways to keep up their lifestyle
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Saving Water Can Be Savory Beef lovers find novel ways to combat drought in California (Los Angeles, CA) A growing number of California meat aficionados have found a sustainable way to consume locally-raised cattle products despite growing concern about the large water requirements of beef production in this drought-stricken State…
Associated Hijinks: Skip Showers for Beef
"Charred-dog" hoax is insult to senior firefighters
Press Release Eric Pickles condemns "charred-dog" hoax as insult to senior firefighters From: Department for Communities and Local Government and The Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP First published: 26 March 2015. Online version here. Part of: Firefighting Training Standards and Fire Brigades Reform Secretary of State calls for legal action against perpetrators of…
Associated Hijinks: Dog burning fiasco
Divestment Announcement Is a Fake
Deplorable Prank Announcement Untrue FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Portland, Ore (May 19, 2014) -- A press release distributed by an unknown party and an announcement by the 2014 commencement speaker, both released today, contained false information regarding Reed College's divestment from fossil fuels. Reed College is not divesting from fossil fuels, nor does it intend to in the foreseeable future. "…
Associated Hijinks: Reed Divests
Reed Announces Divestment From Fossil Fuels
Divestment News Celebrated at Commencement Ceremony Portland, OR (May 19, 2014) - Reed College's Board of Trustees approved with a majority vote a plan to divest its endowment of direct coal and oil industry investments and redirect funds to environmentally conscious investment managers and community owned renewable energy projects during a special meeting convened near the end of the academic…
Associated Hijinks: Reed Divests
Bana Slowhorse's Speech
This speech was presented on April 30, 2014 at the Homeland Security Congress (Crystal City Hilton, Arlington VA) by "Bana Slowhorse" of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (actually Gitz Crazyboy), just after the Department of Energy speech. It was followed by a "traditional" Indian circle dance.   I just want to say good morning and thank you for your time. I am Bana Slowhorse. I am the Director…
Associated Hijinks: Operation Second Thanks
Department of Energy Speech
This speech was presented on April 30, 2014 at the Homeland Security Congress (Crystal City Hilton, Arlington VA) by "Benedict Waterman," Undersecretary Of Policy Implemetation at the U.S. Department Of Energy. It was followed by "Bana Slowhorse's" speech.   Ladies and gentlemen, it is a great pleasure to be here, and to make this announcement here.   On behalf of the Department of Energy, I…
Associated Hijinks: Operation Second Thanks