by TruthFL
Arrested in West Palm Beach
On Friday, January 24th, 2025, Shannon Atkins, a well-known South Florida comedian, community activist, and performer in the Drag community was scheduled to perform at a comedy show in West Palm Beach, Florida. Instead, he was arrested. Online reports that Atkins’ social media posts contained alleged threats against the POTUS were submitted to the FBI. TMZ broke the story early on Saturday, read it here.
Controversial Post Was Reported to Facebook
The Palm Beach County and Secret Service detectives investigated Atkins’ Facebook account after a report called into the FBI’s National Threat Operation Center on Sunday night. As a result, the drag queen was arrested on Friday. Atkins reportedly told the arresting officers that these posts were made humorously and meant to be taken as jokes. Palm Beach County Chief Araujo told Atkins that “these things are never jokes” and referred to the statements as “disturbing”. The comedian also allegedly had cocaine on his person and was charged with drug possession.
“These things are never jokes”
A Pillar of the Local LGBTQ+ and Drag Community
Atkins, or “Big Mama” to the local LGBTQ+ and Drag community, theatre, and local comedy communities, had his bond posted on Wednesday. He is currently on house arrest with no access to social media or a passport. Shannon can continue his work as a chef. Atkins’ bond was minimal compared to the state’s request for him to be detained until his next appearance in court presently scheduled for February 24th, 2025.
Detectives Investigate Atkins’ Facebook
The case report outlined the details of these Facebook posts that allegedly threatened President Trump’s life. An officer verbally cited Atkins’ post of “Please Jesus save us” in court, in an attempt to flag Atkins as ‘dangerous’. Another post quoted by the ever-inflammatory TMZ news source stated; “America needs one good bullet to be saved” followed by a laughing emoji. While social media outlets are chock-full of posts like this, or worse, it seems that this was not taken into consideration when investigating Atkins’ account. The detectives only investigated Atkins’ Facebook and not his comedic or public presence.
An officer verbally cited Atkins’ post of “Please Jesus save us” in court, in an attempt to flag Atkins as ‘dangerous’.
Facebook Posts in Question Contained Emojis
Many of the Facebook posts in question contained various emojis in addition to their language. The detective on the case stated that the “emojis are smiley faces”, when asked about the context of these emojis. He did not clarify that these posts included “laughing emojis” or similar. It is well known that in the social media age, laughing faces generally imply jokes or humor. It seem humor did not translate into the detectives’ investigation. Combined with his presence as a local comedian, performer, and Drag Queen, with no violent offenses, and no access to a firearm; one must question both the case’s legitimacy and its credibility. Especially as the Judge determined that a fairly minimal bond would suffice, at least until the case was set to be heard.
The reporting officer told the court during this initial hearing that Shannon was respectful and cooperative. Atkins waived his Miranda rights to say that the posts “were jokes” but “could be perceived as threats.” On the stand, Atkins could not recall saying the second half of that statement—a stark reminder of the importance of Miranda Rights and invoking the Fifth Amendment if ever questioned without legal representation.
On the stand, Atkins could not recall saying the second half of that statement—
West Palm Needs Big Mama
On the date of his first hearing, Courtroom 11H was filled with supporters from the West Palm Beach community. Shannon grew up there, currently cares for his mother, and regularly provides chef-cooked, healthy food for at-risk children across Palm Beach County. Atkins is a pillar of the community, evoking witnesses of family, friends, fellow advocates, and even fellow comedians and performers. In the courtroom, Shannon was permitted to turn around and see the wall of supporters that stood behind him as he choked back tears.
The judge listened intently to the myriad of causes to which Atkins dedicated his time, money, and chef-cooked meals. She heard about the disenfran-chised children who had already missed out on ‘Chef Shannon’s Spaghetti and Meatballs‘ the night before, while Atkins was curled up on a cot in jail. Atkins’s family members were firm about their viewpoint of this case, with his niece stating “He doesn’t even know how to hold a gun”. She was just one of the many people who confirmed their belief that Shannon had no intention of hurting anyone, much less the President himself.
Community Rallies Amid Controversy
Not only does Atkins not own a firearm or hold a gun license at all, but he is also a comedian, and comedy is very often intertwined with politics and social issues. Many comedians across the board have been known to make controversial statements or jokes about not only political parties but politicians and even presidents as well. While Atkins is not as famous of a comedian quite yet, the First Amendment doesn’t discriminate.
“He doesn’t even know how to hold a gun”.
Others Arrested in West Palm
An autistic man in Wellington, Florida was also arrested for similar charges the same week of Atkins’ arrest. Proximity to the president’s Mar-a-Lago address has been cited, likely as a key factor in attempting to show probable cause, in both arrests.
Atkins is loud and passionate, a natural performer who, despite the tight chain and handcuffs, couldn’t help but crack a light joke on the stand and adjust the microphone to be better heard in the courtroom. He knows the importance of people hearing him. He speaks up for those who are silenced. He chose to dedicate his life to his community and his community was behind him when his character was questioned. I saw this as clear as day in courtroom 11H.
A Comedian With No Audience
While Atkins’ allowance is limited he is permitted to work. His business will inevitably suffer as he can not access his social media accounts; the vast majority of the comedian’s audience. He has many court appearances to come and a lengthy, costly battle. Whether he is permitted to continue performing at this time is still being debated. For the time being he has been cut off from these accounts, pushed into a corner, “all six feet whatever of (him)”, as Atkins stated while on the stand; much like the cell he was forced to endure from Friday to Wednesday where, he reported, he was too scared to even eat, drink, or sleep.
Facebook Posts Controversial; Still Jokes
All statements in general have some meaning and intention, and jokes do as well. Their objective is to kill, but only onstage, with laughter (and the occasional peed pants casualties). And of course, social media is today’s primary audience for comedians and influencers. Though not everyone finds jokes about presidents or firearms funny, as long as guns are around, they will also be satirized, like anything else. In stark contrast, the online culture that the current administration promotes is a violent presence with jokes that punch down on the very communities that Big Mama, on the other hand, uplifts. A quick visit to the MAGA shop website where tee shirts printed with statements such as “Arrest This”, “God, Guns, and Trump”, “In God We Trust, Guns Are Just Backup”, “Shut Up Hippie”, and “Just the Tip, I promise” (next to a bullet) are for sale. Demonstrating the overall irony of the situation.
The Right to Joke.
You may or may not find Atkins’ statements to be funny, but Atkins says they’re jokes. And that is everyone’s right in the United States of America. The right to speak freely. The right to joke. Surely, the designers of the above-mentioned pro-Trump merchandise would say the same if these statements were reported as well. As stated by Atkin’s Niece, “His stage name is Big Mama, not just because he’s big, but also because he takes care of people”.
Many voices made clear that the passion he expresses daily is not a dangerous one, but a vital one to his community. Though Atkins himself has been silenced, his voice and message of love, compassion, and care for his community and the people in it, still must be heard.
TruthFL
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