If you’re familiar with the Blue Whale game, you might have come across the name Jonathan Galindo. During the Blue Whale game’s peak popularity, Jonathan, also recognized as Cursed Goofy, garnered attention. While his name isn’t directly connected to the Blue Whale game, it bears some resemblance.
Instagram had a challenge named the Jonathan Galindo challenge. This name carries a sad backstory, and in this blog, we will delve into who Jonathan Galindo is and explore the reasons behind his rise to social media fame.
Who is Jonathan Galindo?
Jonathan Galindo, also known as Cursed Goofy, is associated with the Blue Whale Challenge, particularly during its resurgence in 2020. He’s often portrayed as a person wearing a Goofy dog mask.
Typically, anonymous users create profiles under “Jonathan Galindo” and use various images of Cursed Goofy. They then contact users on social media and invite them to participate in a game.
This game is the Blue Whale Challenge, which resembles the Momo Challenge. If someone refuses to participate, the user threatens to disclose their personal information (doxing) until they agree to join.
Despite “JG” becoming a well-recognized name, the true identity behind the mask and the name remains unknown. It all started on TikTok with the account @jonathangalindo54, believed to be the actual Jonathan Galindo who contacts young people.
In 2019, he expanded to the video-sharing platform, reintroducing the Blue Whale Challenge. However, Jonathan Galindo initiated this, and TikTok became the primary platform for encouraging kids to participate.
The challenge initially emerged in 2016 but was largely forgotten due to its dangerous nature. As the story gained more online attention, numerous fake profiles claiming to be Jonathan Galindo surfaced on the platform.
This risky Blue Whale trend first appeared on Spanish-speaking websites before capturing the interest of English-speaking users.
Origin of Jonathan Galindo
The profile pictures used for these accounts were created by a cosplayer and mask designer named Samuel Canini, also known as Dusky Sam. These images have been around since at least 2012 or 2013.
Although we have yet to determine the original Jonathan Galindo, the most recent resurgence is associated with a TikTok user named Jonathangalindo54. They set up this profile in the fall of 2019.
Since the creation of this profile, numerous imitation accounts have emerged on platforms like TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, Discord, and others. These accounts reach out to people, attempting to persuade them to participate or using threats to make them play the Blue Whale Challenge.
Spread of Jonathan Galindo
One of the initial people to mention Jonathan Galindo on Twitter was a user named Voxsis on July 2, 2020.
Her tweet received almost 72,500 retweets, 54,300 likes, and 2,000 comments.
On July 3, a video of a conversation between one of these anonymous Twitter users and Lavenderxio was shared. This tweet garnered over 1,800 likes, 356 comments, and 334 retweets.
Then, on July 6, a Redditor named Thebigyoinker posted a thread titled “Jonathan Galindo, what we know so far” on the /r/SomeOrdinaryGmrs subreddit. The post delves into the resurgence of the Blue Whale Challenge and the efforts of anonymous users to entice new players into the game.
This post received 274 upvotes and 159 comments.
Furthermore, on July 6, another Redditor named LABoy12 initiated a discussion, and Redditor thatcakester69 provided the top answer.
YouTuber Terivent uploaded a video to their channel on July 7 featuring a conversation with a Discord user. This video garnered approximately 200,000 views, 9,100 likes, and 2,700 comments.
Jonathan Galindo and Blue Whale Challenge: Why is Jonathan Galindo Famous?
In 2026, a disturbing trend emerged on the Russian internet through a flash game called “Blue Whale.” This game initially lured kids and teenagers to play but eventually instructed them to harm themselves.
Because of the significant danger associated with this trend, it caused a considerable outcry online, and everyone unanimously agreed that it needed to be stopped.
As time passed and memories of the game faded, a similar challenge resurfaced on platforms like TikTok and Twitter. Jonathan Galindo played a crucial role in its revival.
In 2020, Jonathan Galindo gained notoriety on TikTok and Twitter for bringing back the Blue Whale game. Numerous accounts using his name sent messages to kids, enticing them to participate in the game.
The Blue Whale game is said to consist of 50 stages, with the last few supposedly encouraging harmful behaviour. However, it’s crucial to note that there isn’t concrete evidence to support these claims, and they are more like urban legends.
Despite the dangerous nature of this challenge, it managed to gain popularity online. Nevertheless, TikTok has removed videos from Jonathan Galindo’s original account, believed to be his genuine one.
The Reason Why Jonathan Galindo Wears A Dog Mask
Presently, a spooky character has gained recognition as a symbol for scary content on the internet.
You might remember the unsettling story of Momo, who was accused of sending frightening messages on WhatsApp. Momo’s appearance drew inspiration from a sculpture made by the Japanese artist Keisuke Aiso.
In the case of Jonathan Galindo, a similar situation occurred because Dusky Sam, a cosplayer and mask maker, created the image associated with him. This picture was crafted between 2012 and 2013 and has become connected to Jonathan Galindo. Dusky Sam responded to Jonathan Galindo’s online activity.
In a letter, Dusky Sam clarified, “This Jonathan Galindo phenomenon appears to be causing fear among many young, impressionable individuals. The photos and videos belong to me from the years 2012-2013. I created them for my peculiar amusement during that time, not for someone in today’s world who seeks to frighten and bully others.”
FAQs
Here are some of the questions people commonly ask about Jonathan Galindo.
Q1: Who is The Original Cursed Goofy?
In reality, the original “cursed goofy”, or Jonathan Galindo, is a mask designer and cosplayer named Samuel Canine. When he’s online, he goes by the name Dusky Sam.
Q2: What Was Jonathan Galindo’s Internet Challenge To People?
The challenge pushes young people to participate in a game involving self-harm, and unfortunately, there have been reports of teenagers losing their lives.
Conclusion
That concludes our conversation about Jonathan Galindo and why he has gained notoriety. If you ever receive a message or request from an account using Jonathan Galindo, it’s crucial to promptly report that account and block it immediately to ensure your safety.
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