The phony interpreter from Nelson Mandela's funeral has got a new gig, Thamsanqa Jantjie, who infamously flapped his hands in meaningless gestures while working as a sign language interpreter during the South African icons memorial service last December, is starring in a viral ad campaign for a new Tel Aviv-based video sharing app.
I am really really sorry for what happened. Now I want to make it up to the whole world, Jantjie says in a YouTube video posted Tuesday by Livelens, an app that lets users broadcast live video of themselves on their social media pages - and charge people to watch them if they wish.
Jantjie appears to make fun of himself and embrace his notorious actions in the bizarre video, which includes clips of him signing at a podium before rows of hundred-dollar bills. He is shown making hand gestures that a voiceover interprets as, Me famous celebrity. Now I do campaign for money. His head also appears to pop off in one scene.
We needed something surprising, said Sefi Shaked of Livelens. We wanted to choose a presenter who is the worst presenter for a live app possible; you know, the person who did the worst screw up on live TV - ever.
The fake deaf interpreter shocked the world last winter when he signed nonsensical words such as prawns and rocking horses rather than translating what speakers such as President Obama were saying. Jantjie said he started hearing voices and seeing hallucinations during his performance, and was later admitted into Sterkfontein Hospital outside of Johannesburg for treatment.
The bizarre ad puts Jantjie in some unusual situations. YouTube The bizarre ad puts Jantjie in some unusual situations.
Shaked claims his company hired a South African journalist to pose as a relative to break him out of the mental institution to film the ad in February.
He said that he had a family wedding - and that's how he was released for one day when he did the shoot in Johannesburg, said Shaked, who added that Jantjie has since been released and returned home to his family.
The ad man said Jantjie is a nice guy who is sorry for what happened - and therefore the perfect face for an oversharing app.
Livelens launched for iOS and Android phones on May 1, and Mashable recently named the new platform one of its Can't-Miss Apps.
A rep for Livelens told The News the Jantjie ad is the first in a series from the company that will mix quirky celebs and mainstream players.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com
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The phony interpreter from Nelson Mandela's funeral has got a new gig, Thamsanqa Jantjie, who infamously flapped his hands in meaningless gestures while working as a sign language interpreter during the South African icons memorial service last December, is starring in a viral ad campaign for a new Tel Aviv-based video sharing app.
