Warner Bros.
In news that should surprise no one who has been conscious the past several years, people, especially “influencers,” have been flocking to the infamous stairs in the Bronx featured in the Joker movie. And in other news that should also surprise absolutely no one, it’s making residents of the Bronx very upset.
The stairs are located along West 167th Street and listed as being at 1165 Shakespeare Ave. in the Bronx. We know this because there, as of this writing, 945 posts on Instagram with the hashtag #jokerstairs and who knows how many more on Twitter.
U.S. Representative for New York’s 14th congressional district, and Bronx native, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez told TMZ, “When I was growing up, everyone would tell us to stay away from those steps or go with a friend.”
She also would prefer it if tourists didn’t make such a scene, saying, “I think the way a lot of us feel is, listen, like, keep your Instagram posts outside of the Boogie Down. Like, this is for us.”
AOC, however, was just being nice – something other residents of the Bronx haven’t felt compelled to be in their social media posts about #jokerstairs.
It’s really called the Joker Stairs on google now (I just searched it).
Please, if you’re reading this and you’re not from around here (or ever been to the Bronx, Yankee stadium does not count) PLEASE DO NOT COME HERE.
Thanks,
Bronx Resident pic.twitter.com/s5u9gVPtyM— C (@_cvndy) October 15, 2019
is it bad that i hope those people visiting the joker stairs gets robbed 😭 like ya ruin everything
— Cierra Leone (@CierraJaneille) October 16, 2019
https://twitter.com/TheShoeSnob/status/1186002790667214848
This really a tragedy https://t.co/AsSFoP3cN1
— GravitysEnemy (@GravitysEnemy) October 21, 2019
Go to the #Bronx to see the #167stairs aka the #Jokerstairs and learn the hard way about the Bronx. By all means do it. 🙄😑 pic.twitter.com/OP6LcGO4fE
— David Castro (@IronDave_MMA) October 21, 2019
Others just felt the need to issue a warning.
Why are they promoting the stairs on West 167th in the Bronx as a tourist location? Just because the Joker danced down them in a movie?! White folks, that's a sure fire way to get robbed at gunpoint! Those stairs are legendary… For criminal activity. 😂😂😂
— Nippy Hooston (@leodafoodie) October 20, 2019
https://twitter.com/KalelFelder/status/1185040244212715522
https://twitter.com/kailaniskye/status/1184060766497980416
For people out there taking pictures at those stairs off 167 " joker stairs " , I would advise you to stay away as a young 18 year old Brooklynite , I've seen a nigga get thrown down them shits at 4 pm , you have been warned #Jokerstairs #bronx
— hiddenintheclouds ⛈ (@Mueses34) October 22, 2019
Now everyone wants to take pics at the 167 stairs! Ok, I don’t wanna hear shit when people either get robbed or break an ankle. 😂🃏 #Joker #TheJokesGonnaBeOnYou Siguen Jodiendo! 🤦🏻♀️ #TheBronx pic.twitter.com/EbajF5yPEH
— 🦋🍷📺 (@Vee1313) October 18, 2019
For what it’s worth, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. tweeted that he hopes all these people visiting the #jokerstairs “decide to spend money while they’re here in our local businesses and vendors.”
https://twitter.com/jetpack/status/1187079239901700096What a time to be alive.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3x1bnPASTF/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B39FI0nJRtY/