The best viral videos are the ones that make you say, Wow, do I freakin’ miss Vine. You say this because the best videos are quick. They happen in the blink of an eye. You wish they looped because you want to watch them over and over again. This video — you already know there’s a video, you clicked the link, I’m not spoiling anything, quit whining — is one of those videos. Some soup. A salad. A lizard. Some drama. And then it’s over. Intelligencer caught up with Conner Hallmark, a 19-year-old from California, to get the full story on his dinner date gone wrong.
Hi, Conner. Can you tell us little about your lizard?
His name is Iggy and he is a green iguana. He is 5 years old and I have had him since [he was] a hatchling. He was very aggressive as a baby and it took a long time to tame him and become buddies! Now he has free [rein] of the house like a cat or a dog and is even potty-trained.
LOL, very original name there, Conner.
Thanks, I try.
What does Iggy normally eat?
He eats leafy greens like dandelion greens, spring mix, other vegetables and fruits. He loves grapes and strawberries the most.
Does he often eat at the counter with you?
Most of the time! He might slip onto the chair then climb back up.
Let’s talk a little about the video specifically. Did you set up the dinner scene intending to film it?
I did not at all, it just happened to be perfect timing.
So you’re sitting at the counter eating your soup and you put some food out for Iggy and then …
Yep! He came out for food so I put it on the counter for him to hop out and eat with me, and I was going to take a video because it looked like he was sitting in the chair next to me, and then he fell.
The video is iconic. It happens so fast. What was your reaction in that moment?
I trimmed the video because I yelled and then started laughing.
Does he fall often? Is this normal? I was so worried.
I checked him and he’s fine, as I knew he would be. He’s very durable; he jumps off of stuff all the time.
Do you think Iggy knows he’s a viral star?
Nope! He wouldn’t care if he did.
Anything else you think we should know about Iggy?
He is a great pet! But iguanas are a lot of hard work […] to take care of, so many people should think twice before adopting one.
