# Antoine Dodson Bed Intruder

> Antoine Dodson Bed Intruder is a 2010 viral video meme centered on Antoine Dodson's passionate news interview about a home intruder, known for the iconic catchphrase "hide yo kids, hide yo wife" and spawning an Auto-Tuned Billboard-charting remix.

Antoine Dodson / Bed Intruder is a viral video meme originating from a July 2010 local news interview in Huntsville, Alabama, where Antoine Dodson passionately warned his neighbors about an intruder who tried to assault his sister Kelly. The clip spawned the "Bed Intruder Song," an Auto-Tuned remix by the Gregory Brothers that hit the Billboard Hot 100, sold over 250,000 copies on iTunes, and became the most-viewed non-major-label YouTube video of 2010[1]. The meme's catchphrase "hide yo kids, hide yo wife" became one of the most quoted lines of the early 2010s internet, while also sparking debate about race, class, and media exploitation.

## Origin
On July 28, 2010, WAFF-48 News reporter Elizabeth Gentle covered an attempted sexual assault at the Lincoln Park housing projects in Huntsville, Alabama. That morning, Kelly Dodson woke to find an intruder in her bed. Her brother Antoine rushed in after hearing her scream, struggled with the attacker, and chased him out through a window[3]. The suspect left behind his shirt and fingerprints[9].

Antoine's on-camera interview was electric. Rather than a typical victim statement, he spoke directly into the camera with a mix of rage and sass, warning everyone in the neighborhood to "hide your kids, hide your wife"[1]. The unfiltered intensity of his delivery, combined with his vernacular and direct address to the would-be rapist ("We gon' find you"), turned a routine local crime segment into appointment internet viewing.

YouTube user CrazyLaughAction uploaded the news footage several hours after it aired[12]. On July 29, Reddit user panhead posted the video to r/Funny, where it picked up 810 upvotes and 225 comments[5]. That same day, BuzzFeed, Dlisted, and Best Week Ever all shared the clip[7][8].

- **Platform:** WAFF-48 News broadcast (source video), YouTube / Reddit (viral spread)
- **Creator:** Antoine Dodson (interview subject), the Gregory Brothers (Auto-Tune remix creators), Elizabeth Gentle (WAFF-48 reporter)
- **Date:** 2010

## Overview
The Bed Intruder meme centers on a clip from WAFF-48's local news coverage in which Antoine Dodson, visibly furious and flamboyant, addresses the camera about a man who broke into his family's apartment and tried to rape his sister Kelly. Speaking directly to viewers and the suspect, Dodson's delivery mixed genuine anger with theatrical flair: "Well, obviously, we have a rapist in Lincoln Park. He's climbing in your windows, he's snatching your people up, trying to rape them, so you need to hide your kids, hide your wife, and hide your husband, because they're raping everybody out here"[1].

The raw emotion and quotable phrasing made the clip irresistible to remixers. The Gregory Brothers, known for their Auto-Tune the News YouTube series, transformed Dodson's interview into a polished R&B track that gave the meme a second, even bigger life[2].

## How It Spread
The video's spread was rapid even by 2010 standards. Within 48 hours of airing, the original news clip had racked up millions of views and dozens of blog write-ups[4]. But the real accelerant came on July 30 when the Gregory Brothers dropped their Auto-Tuned "Bed Intruder Song" on YouTube[5].

Michael Gregory of the Gregory Brothers explained to Wired that he listened carefully to the contours of Dodson's voice and the way he emoted, hearing a natural melody that he then placed in a specific key and built an instrumental track around[2]. The result sounded like a genuine R&B song, not a joke. At the end of the video, the Brothers challenged YouTube users to create their own cover versions, and hundreds did. Within ten days the video broke eight million views[2]. By that weekend, the song had sold 10,571 copies on iTunes[2].

The song climbed to #3 on the iTunes R&B chart, #25 on the overall chart, and eventually entered the Billboard Hot 100 at #89[3]. CNET's Chris Matyszczyk wrote that the Gregory Brothers had "accessed a far more beautiful and palatable way of presenting not merely news, but life"[4].

NPR's Andy Carvin documented over 750 Bed Intruder cover videos on YouTube within the first week, noting their striking multicultural range. Performers of various racial backgrounds recorded acoustic folk, marching band, punk rock, and choral versions[1]. A punk rock cover was recorded by a supergroup including Hayley Williams of Paramore, Jordan Pundik of New Found Glory, and Tony Lucca[3].

On August 31, 2010, Dodson appeared on NBC's Today Show, where his video was called "one of the most watched online videos ever" with over 16 million views at the time[3]. He also performed the "Bed Intruder Song" with Michael Gregory at the 2010 BET Hip Hop Awards in October[3], appeared on Lopez Tonight singing a "Chimney Intruder" parody about Santa Claus, and was featured on Tosh.0 for a "Web Redemption" segment[3].

By September 2010, the Gregory Brothers reported selling over 250,000 copies on iTunes[3]. The "Bed Intruder Song" was the most-watched YouTube video of 2010, excluding major label content, and won both the People's Choice and Editors' Choice "Meme of the Year" at the 2010 Urlies[3].

## How to Use
The Bed Intruder meme is typically used in a few ways:
1. **Quote the catchphrase** — Drop "hide yo kids, hide yo wife" (or variations) in response to any alarming or absurd situation, especially exaggerated threats. The phrase works as comedic hyperbole.
2. **Auto-Tune remix format** — Following the Gregory Brothers' template, creators take passionate speech from news clips or public figures and Auto-Tune it into a song. The Bed Intruder Song popularized this as a meme format.
3. **Reaction clip** — Use the original news footage or GIFs of Dodson's animated expressions to react to situations involving outrage, sassiness, or dramatic warnings.
4. **"Run and tell that"** — Dodson's sign-off phrase is used when sharing information urgently or dramatically.

## Cultural Impact
The Bed Intruder meme was a watershed moment for Auto-Tune remix culture and viral video monetization. The Gregory Brothers parlayed its success into a Comedy Central pilot[2] and built their Schmoyoho channel into a lasting brand. NPR called the meme "a perfect storm of race, music, comedy and celebrity"[10].

The meme also forced a public reckoning with how viral entertainment intersects with real crime victims and class dynamics. Multiple outlets including NPR, Jezebel, The Washington Post, and theBVX published think pieces about whether the internet was exploiting a low-income Black family's trauma for laughs[1][6].

Dodson was referenced in multiple episodes of The Cleveland Show. In "Dancing with the Stools," the character Roberta enters wearing Antoine's bandana and says, "Rallo, you are so dumb, you are really dumb, for real." In "B.M.O.C.," Roberta lists "Hide your kids, hide your wife" among famous non-college-graduates[3]. Korean-American singer Jay Park also did an impression of Dodson in an episode of Jay Park TV[3].

In September 2022, Dodson announced plans to launch his own beer, "Run N' Tell That," in partnership with Huntsville brewery Straight to Ale[3].

## Fun Facts
- The Gregory Brothers split all iTunes revenue and licensing income from the song 50/50 with Dodson, and gave him full co-writing credit. The same deal was offered to their other "unintentional singers"[2].
- Dodson used his earnings to move his family out of the Lincoln Park projects and set up a foundation for Type 1 diabetes, which affected both his sister and mother[3].
- Antoine Dodson was born on June 27, 1986, grew up in Chicago, and moved to Huntsville in 2004, where he attended Virginia College and worked as a hairstylist[3].
- The alleged intruder, Rashaad Cooper, later claimed he was actually dating Kelly Dodson and was not an intruder. He and Dodson fought twice in celebrity boxing matches. Dodson won the first in 2014; Cooper won the rematch in 2015[5].
- WAFF-48's correspondent Elizabeth Gentle officially responded to criticism of the interview by stating that "censoring people, like Antoine, is far worse" than airing their unfiltered reactions[1].

## Frequently Asked Questions
### What is the Bed Intruder meme?
The Bed Intruder meme is based on a July 2010 local news interview with Antoine Dodson of Huntsville, Alabama, who warned his neighbors about a man who broke into his sister's bedroom. His passionate delivery and catchphrase "hide yo kids, hide yo wife" went massively viral, especially after the Gregory Brothers turned it into an Auto-Tuned song[1].

### Where did the Bed Intruder meme come from?
It originated from a WAFF-48 News segment that aired on July 28, 2010, covering an attempted sexual assault at the Lincoln Park housing projects in Huntsville, Alabama. The news footage was uploaded to YouTube and posted on Reddit the next day[5].

### What does "hide yo kids, hide yo wife" mean?
Dodson was genuinely warning his Lincoln Park neighbors about a home intruder who had tried to assault his sister. The phrase is used online as humorous hyperbole for any alarming or dramatic situation[1].

### How do you use the Bed Intruder meme?
The catchphrase "hide yo kids, hide yo wife" is dropped as a reaction to absurd or exaggerated threats. The Auto-Tune remix format inspired creators to turn other passionate speech clips into songs. GIFs of Dodson's animated expressions also serve as reaction images[2].

### Is the Bed Intruder meme still popular?
The meme is a classic of early 2010s internet culture. While no longer a daily fixture, "hide yo kids, hide yo wife" is still widely recognized and quoted. The Bed Intruder Song had over 130 million YouTube views as of 2017[5].

### Who are the Gregory Brothers?
The Gregory Brothers (three brothers and a sister-in-law) are the creators of the Auto-Tune the News YouTube series. They produced the "Bed Intruder Song" and split all revenue 50/50 with Dodson, setting a precedent for compensating "unintentional singers"[2].

### How much money did the Bed Intruder Song make?
The song sold over 250,000 copies on iTunes by September 2010 and over 10,000 in its first two days alone[2]. Revenue was split equally between the Gregory Brothers and Dodson, who earned enough to move his family out of the projects[3].

### Did the Bed Intruder Song chart on Billboard?
Yes. The song entered the Billboard Hot 100 at #89, reached #3 on the iTunes R&B chart, and peaked at #25 on the overall iTunes chart[3][2].

### Was there controversy about the Bed Intruder meme?
Yes. Multiple outlets including NPR, Jezebel, and theBVX criticized how the internet turned an attempted sexual assault into entertainment, debating whether viewers were laughing "with" or "at" Dodson, and whether it reinforced racial and class stereotypes[1][6].

### What happened to Antoine Dodson after going viral?
Dodson moved his family out of the projects, launched merchandise lines, appeared on the Today Show and BET Hip Hop Awards, and attempted to launch a reality TV show. He also had two legal run-ins with marijuana charges in 2011[3][10][11].

### Did Antoine Dodson fight the intruder?
In 2014, a celebrity boxing match was arranged between Dodson and Rashaad Cooper, who claimed to be the alleged intruder. Dodson won in the first round. Cooper won a 2015 rematch by knockout[5][3].

### Was the Bed Intruder Song in Rock Band?
Yes. The track was released as DLC on the Rock Band Network for Rock Band 3 on June 26, 2011, credited to Antoine Dodson and the Gregory Brothers featuring Kelly Dodson[5].

## References
1. [UPDATE: Antoine Dodson Reacts to Internet Fame; Looks Fabulous Obviously | Best Week Ever](<https://web.archive.org/web/20120101225001/https://www.bestweekever.tv/2010-07-31/update-antoine-dodson-reacts-to-internet-fame-looks-fabulous-obviously/>)
2. [All That Antoine | ...for Serious](<https://web.archive.org/web/20110101144247/https://antoine-dodson.com/>)
3. [(PDF) How Antoine Dodson and the Bed Intruder Keep Climbin' in Our Windows: Viral Video Appropriation as Performance](<https://www.academia.edu/145865311/How_Antoine_Dodson_and_the_Bed_Intruder_Keep_Climbin_in_Our_Windows_Viral_Video_Appropriation_as_Performance>)
4. [Antoine Dodson / Bed Intruder - Know Your Meme](<https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/antoine-dodson-bed-intruder>)
5. [Antoine Dodson](<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antoine_Dodson>)
6. [Antoine Dodson, 'Bed Intruder Song' Star, Charged With Pot Possession : The Two-Way : NPR](<https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2011/04/25/135703056/antoine-dodson-bed-intruder-song-star-charged-with-pot-possession>)
7. [Don't Cross Antoine Dodson](<https://www.buzzfeed.com/rebeccae/dont-cross-antoine-dodson>)
8. [Dlisted | A Name To Remember: Antoine Dodson](<https://dlisted.com/2010/07/29/a-name-to-remember-antoine-dodson/>)
9. [Antoine Dodson Arrested for Marijuana Possession](<https://www.tmz.com/2011/04/23/antoine-dodson-arrested-marijuana-possession-huntsville-alabama-police-department/>)
10. [Antoine Dodson is an Internet Star But at What Cost? - theBVX.com](<https://web.archive.org/web/20110422082622/http://www.thebvx.com/2010/08/04/antoine-dodsons-internet-fame-at-whose-cost/>)
11. [The YouTube 'Bed Intruder' Meme: A Perfect Storm of Race, Music, Comedy And Celebrity : All Tech Considered : NPR](<https://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2010/08/05/129005122/youtube-bed-intruder-meme>)
12. [Antoine Dodson -- I've Got My Own Reality Show!](<https://www.tmz.com/2011/01/21/antoine-dodson-reality-show-bedroom-intruder-kali-hawk/>)
13. [New Internet Celebrity Antoine Dodson Reacts to Fame: ohnotheydidnt — LiveJournal](<https://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/49502125.html>)
14. [Home](<https://jezebel.com/#!5601835/the-new-viral-video-hero-comes-with-complications>)
15. [News | VH1](<https://www.bestweekever.tv/2010-07-29/dear-vh1-give-this-man-a-show-hell-give-him-this-blog/>)
16. [Gregory Brothers of 'Bed Intruder' Fame Discuss TV Pilot, Antoine Dodson | WIRED](<https://www.wired.com/2010/08/gregory-brothers-bed-intruder-antoine-dodson-autotune/>)
17. [Antoine Dodson -- Hide Ya Penises ... I'm NO LONGER GAY](<https://www.tmz.com/2013/05/03/antoine-dodson-renounces-gay/>)
18. [Antoine Dodson arrested for failing to appear on earlier marijuana bust - al.com](<https://www.al.com/breaking/2011/09/antoine_dodson_arrested_for_fa.html>)
19. [Antoine Dodson Reality Show - PopCrunch](<https://web.archive.org/web/20160723050243/http://www.popcrunch.com/antoine-dodson-reality-show/>)
20. [How Auto-Tune makes the news funny - CNET](<https://www.cnet.com/news/how-auto-tune-makes-the-news-funny/>)

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