Aberdeen’s ‘Horseboy’ turns out to be a 50-year-old man
0 Comments | Herald, The; Glasgow (UK), Jul 2, 2010 | by CHRIS WATT
INTERNET phenomenon Horseboy has apparently broken cover to reveal that he is a 50-year-old businessman – named Dobbin Horsome.
In an exclusive interview with Channel 4 News, the shadowy figure told all about his inexplicable rise to fame, but refused to disclose his true identity or – tellingly, perhaps – to prove that he really is the man in the picture.
The online world has been awash with rumours about the appearance of a man in a horse mask on Google Street View, but the original picture has now been blocked to web users.
Fans of the cult phenomenon feared their hero had been consigned to history after the Internet giant announced it had removed the image from its photographic map service, in response to a request from a member of the public.
However, a second image showing Horseboy standing next to a schoolgirl on the other side of Aberdeen is still online, and several people have come forward to claim responsibility.
A Google spokeswoman said anyone was able to block images on the site if they felt that their privacy was being infringed, and it was not necessarily the case that Horseboy – who on closer inspection appears to be a pot-bellied, middle-aged man – did it himself.
The anonymous interviewee yesterday said it was “a combination of luck and prior research” that had enabled him to appear twice in front of the camera.
“On a more mundane level I do a lot of business analysis specialising in technology and communications,” he added.
He also revealed that his father was proud of his cult status, while his wife wavered between bemusement and horror.
