Company News
April 5th, 2007:
Montreal's 'Cigarette Butt Hero' gains YouTube fame
A Montreal man who exacted revenge on a littering driver is gaining fame as "The Cigarette Butt Hero," and even the city's mayor is a fan.
Claude Landry and his friend Martin Thibaudeau were trying out a new camera, when they saw a driver toss the refuse from his ashtray onto the sidewalk.
"I was angry," Landry told CTV Montreal. But that's putting it mildly.
Landry scooped the ashes up with his bare hands and dropped the garbage into the driver's lap -- before making a hasty exit.
"He's always hated people littering," explained Thibaudeau.
"He's been telling people that for a while. But I've never seen him do anything like that, that's for sure."
Thibaudeau recorded the entire scene on his camera and later posted the video on YouTube. It can be found http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070404/cig_vigilante_070404/20070404?hub=TopStories
More than 2,000 people have viewed the clip and dozens have left supportive comments.
"If the guy thinks he has the right to litter our city, we have the right to litter his car," reads one.
The pair have done several media interviews about the incident, and Landry has been nicknamed "le hero des megots'' -- "The Cigarette Butt Hero."
Even Montreal Mayor Gérald Tremblay has thrown his support behind the pair.
"You know what I could do? Receive them in City Hall ... and get them to sign the golden book," said the mayor's brother, Marcel Tremblay, of the Montreal Executive Committee.
The mayor spent Tuesday tackling the issue of littering himself, and Thibaudeau joked he may have gotten the idea from the video.
"My theory is the mayor saw the clip and decided to come out on garbage patrol," he said.
Meanwhile, Landry said the attention has made him feel like a superhero -- specifically Batman.
"May you be Robin?" he asked Thibaudeau.
"Sure, I'll be your Robin," his friend replied. "But I have to wear the tights, though."
Written By: Tarah Schwartz
Visit the News page here..
