A 13-year-old boy is going viral after delivering an unexpectedly lighthearted TV interview following a terrifying attack in Daytona Beach.
Sullivan Clarke was randomly assaulted on Valentine’s Day (February 14) while in town for the Daytona 500. Reports say 44-year-old Jermiane Lynn Long approached the teen and, after “lingering around [him] for a period of time,” suddenly slashed his throat.
Speaking with WESH, Clarke’s mother, Lori, said she noticed Long had “a strange look in his eyes” as he gestured toward her son. Clarke sustained a serious neck wound and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he received 13 stitches.
Now, Clarke is making waves online for the way he calmly broke down the ordeal during a Fox News interview that aired Wednesday (February 18). Sitting beside his parents, the teen kept his hands folded over his stomach for the entire segment, striking a cool and collected pose while recounting the shocking moment.
When his mom mentioned that he’d been having nightmares since the attack, Clarke shot her a stunned look, almost like he couldn’t believe what she was saying. Later in the interview, he even stroked his chin dramatically — like a cartoon villain — as she spoke about the emotional toll the incident had taken on his brother.
The clip quickly made the rounds online. Don Keith, host of The Real Beef with Don Keith, reposted it and wrote: “The 13 year-old kid, Sullivan Clarke, who got his neck slashed was hilarious on Fox News.”
Others chimed in on X, with one person suggesting his calm demeanor might’ve had something to do with medication. “Those pain meds were treating him right,” they joked, adding a laughing emoji. Another user commented: “I’ve closely observed this species of teen males in the wild, & this is a perfect example of how they can be just freaking horrible & absolutely glorious all at the same time.”
Another X user, Shawnee Gregorio, also reposted the video, writing: “Watch this kids face the entire interview especially when his mother starts to speak.”
The comments quickly poured in. One person wrote: “How dare anyone harm this hilarious young man,” while another added: “Please stop falling for the psyops Gen Z is NOT going to play by the rules… this kid knew she was lying.”
Not everyone found humor in the situation, though. A third user pushed back, writing: “A random man comes up and nearly slices this teen’s head off. His mom and dad were nearby. I just don’t find anything about that situation funny and I pray that no one else finds themselves in this same situation.”
Jermiane Lynn Long was taken into custody and charged with aggravated battery. During questioning, he admitted he “put his hands on” Sullivan Clarke but stopped short of confessing to slashing the teen’s throat.
Speaking with WESH, Clarke’s father, Jerod, shared just how close the family came to tragedy. “We’re so lucky our son’s alive,” he said. “The doctor said if it would’ve been one millimeter deeper, we would probably be having a different conversation.”
