Marlon Bundo

{{Short description|Former Bunny of the United States}} {{For|the actor who is the near namesake of this rabbit|Marlon Brando}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2018}} {{Infobox animal | name = Marlon Bundo | image = White House Photo of the Day 2017-05-10.jpg | caption = Bundo in 2017 | gender = Male | birth_date = 2012 or 2013<ref name="theview2018">{{cite web|title=Video: Charlotte Pence on her new book, family and more|url=https://abcnews.go.com/theview/video/charlotte-pence-book-family-53881738|website=[[The View (talk show)|The View]]|publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|access-date=March 27, 2018|language=en|date=March 20, 2018}}</ref>:6<ref name="metaxas2018" />:19 | death_date = {{circa}}{{nbsp}}{{dts|2022|1|15}} (aged{{nbsp}}8{{ndash}}10) | species =[[Domestic rabbit]] (''Oryctolagus cuniculus domesticus'')<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/pets/pet-tales/2018/03/23/Pet-Tales-Marlon-Bundo-Pence-rabbit-book-John-Oliver-Humane-Animal-Rescue-tips-bunny/stories/201803230031|title=Pet Tales: Why rabbits aren't for everyone|website=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]}}</ref> | appearance = Black and white | namedafter = [[Marlon Brando]] | owner = [[Charlotte Pence Bond|Charlotte]], [[Mike Pence|Mike]], and [[Karen Pence]] | birth_place = [[Chicago]], Illinois, U.S.<ref name="ct"/> | website = {{URL|https://instagram.com/marlonbundo/}} | known_for = Pet of the Pence family | years_active = }} {{Marlon Brando sidebar}} '''Marlon Bundo''' (2012/2013 – {{circa}}{{nbsp}}January 15, 2022), also known as '''Bunny of the United States''' ('''BOTUS'''), was a [[rabbit]] belonging to the family of [[Mike Pence]], the 48th [[Vice President of the United States|vice president of the United States]] from 2017 to 2021.<ref name="ct_koncius">{{cite web|last1=Koncius|first1=Jura|title=The Pences: How the vice president's family has made their historical residence home, complete with a bunny and bees|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/home/ct-pences-home-history-cat-dog-bunny-bees-20180418-story.html|website=The Chicago Tribune|access-date=April 20, 2018|date=April 18, 2018}}</ref>

Bundo was initially adopted for a film project by Pence's daughter [[Charlotte Pence Bond|Charlotte Pence]] during her freshman year of university. His name is a pun on actor [[Marlon Brando]], chosen after Bundo's previous owner said "[[The Godfather|Make me an offer]]" when Pence asked about his price. He was the first rabbit to have traveled on [[Air Force Two]], had a popular [[Instagram]] account, and was the subject of four children's books.

==Biography== The rabbit Marlon Bundo was named after actor [[Marlon Brando]] and lived with the Pence family at the [[United States Naval Observatory]] from 2017 until 2021. Other pets owned by the second couple include an [[Australian Shepherd]] named Harley, and two cats named Hazel and Pickle.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pence family welcomes two new four-legged residents|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pence-family-welcomes-two-new-four-legged-residents/|access-date=March 22, 2018|website=[[CBS News]]|date=June 19, 2017}}</ref><ref name="aol">{{cite web|last1=Kavit|first1=Brooke|title=Mike Pence debuts new family pet -- and it has the best name ever|url=https://www.aol.com/article/news/2017/01/12/mike-pence-debuts-new-family-pet-and-it-has-the-best-name-eve/21653935/|access-date=March 22, 2018|website=[[AOL]]|date=January 12, 2017}}</ref>

Marlon Bundo was acquired via [[Craigslist]] by Pence's daughter [[Charlotte Pence Bond|Charlotte Pence]] in 2013 when she was a freshman at [[DePaul University]].<ref name="ct">{{cite web|last1=Schoenberg|first1=Nara|title=Charlotte Pence talks about Marlon Bundo: The vice presidential bunny (a Chicago native) with a book deal|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/pets/sc-fam-vice-presidential-bunny-book-0320-story.html|access-date=March 22, 2018|website=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=March 14, 2018}}</ref> At the time she needed a rabbit for a short film student project.<ref name="dailypilot" /><ref name="denverpost">{{cite interview |last=Pence |first=Charlotte |last2=Pence |first2=Karen |subject-link=Charlotte Pence |subject-link2=Karen Pence |interviewer=Danika Worthington |title=Q&A: Mike Pence's daughter is not mad John Oliver wrote a competing Marlon Bundo book. In fact, she bought a copy. |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2018/03/26/karen-and-charlotte-pence-marlon-bundo-john-oliver/ |location=[[Colorado Springs, Colorado|Colorado Springs]] |date=March 26, 2018 |work=[[The Denver Post]] |access-date=March 30, 2018}}</ref> In the film, Bundo portrayed a "symbol of rebellion in a world of conformity" as a rabbit who repeatedly escapes from his cage.<ref name="wapo"/> Before this, Bundo was "just another scrappy Chicago bunny".<ref name="ct"/>

Pence texted Bundo's owner to ask how much the rabbit cost, and the owner replied, "Make me an offer."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Leppert|first1=Michael|title=Charlotte Pence wins the bunny fight with class|url=http://www.flyergroup.com/opinion/charlotte-pence-wins-the-bunny-fight-with-class/article_d1054612-c8b4-5551-be44-8103eb5a2398.html|website=[[Hendricks County Flyer]]|access-date=March 26, 2018|language=en|date=March 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180326213944/http://www.flyergroup.com/opinion/charlotte-pence-wins-the-bunny-fight-with-class/article_d1054612-c8b4-5551-be44-8103eb5a2398.html|archive-date=March 26, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> In [[Mario Puzo]]'s novel ''[[The Godfather (novel)|The Godfather]]'' and the [[The Godfather|1972 film of the same name]], Marlon Brando's Don [[Vito Corleone]] says, "I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse."<ref name="ct"/> Pence's friend, a Brando fan, noticed the similarity between the seller and Corleone, and suggested naming the rabbit Marlon Brando.<ref name="ct"/><ref name="andrewklavan2018">{{cite interview |last=Pence |first=Charlotte |interviewer=[[Andrew Klavan]] |title=Leftism is for Kids {{!}} The Andrew Klavan Show Ep. 479 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eb_qYv5hYt0 |publisher=[[The Daily Wire]] |location=[[Los Angeles]] |date=March 19, 2018 |work=The Andrew Klavan Show |access-date=April 10, 2018 |at=39 minute mark}}</ref> Pence finally decided to name him Marlon Bundo.<ref name="ct"/> Speaking to the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' Charlotte recalled:

<blockquote>We drove out to the suburbs, my friends and I, and we picked him up. I think he was like $20. He was in the short film, and I just kept him after that.<ref name="ct"/></blockquote>

Bundo lived with Charlotte throughout college in [[Chicago]], for four years, and was part of a student friends group.<ref name="denverpost" /><ref name="newshour2018">{{cite interview |last=Pence |first=Charlotte |last2=Pence |first2=Karen |subject-link2=Karen Pence |interviewer=[[Judy Woodruff]] |title=Charlotte Pence hopes bunny book 'Marlon Bundo' brings people together |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/charlotte-pence-hopes-bunny-book-marlon-bundo-brings-people-together |publisher=[[PBS]] |location=[[Washington, D.C.]] |date=April 24, 2018 |work=[[PBS NewsHour]] |access-date=April 28, 2018}}</ref>:2<ref name="metaxas2018">{{cite interview |last=Pence |first=Charlotte |last2=Pence |first2=Karen |subject-link2=Karen Pence |interviewer=[[Eric Metaxas]] |title=Karen & Charlotte Pence |url=http://www.metaxastalk.com/podcast/tuesday-march-27-2018/ |publisher=[[Salem Radio Network]] |location=[[Empire State Building]], [[New York City]] |date=March 27, 2018 |work=The Eric Metaxas Show |access-date=April 10, 2018}}</ref>:19 Bundo traveled to [[Washington, D.C.]], from his home in [[Indianapolis]] aboard [[Air Force Two]] in January 2017, making him the first rabbit to ever travel on the plane.<ref name="cnn">{{cite web|last1=Klein|first1=Betsy|title=Pence family rabbit hops into spotlight at White House event|url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/05/09/politics/marlon-bundo-white-house-mike-pence-rabbit/index.html|access-date=March 22, 2018|website=[[CNN]]|date=May 9, 2017}}</ref> He made his official debut in May 2017, appearing at an event honoring Military Appreciation Month at the [[Eisenhower Executive Office Building]], where he was "admired", according to the official transcript of the event.<ref name="cnn"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Remarks by the Vice President and Mrs. Pence to Military Families|url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-vice-president-mrs-pence-military-families/|access-date=March 22, 2018|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|work=[[whitehouse.gov]]|date=May 9, 2017}}</ref>

Bundo was featured on the White House's [[Flickr]] landing page on May 11, 2017, detailing his first trip to the [[White House]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Novak|first1=Matt|title=Russia's Flickr Shows Meeting With Trump, While the White House Flickr Has Mike Pence's Rabbit [Updated]|url=https://gizmodo.com/russias-flickr-shows-meeting-with-trump-while-the-whit-1795115123|website=[[Gizmodo]]|access-date=March 22, 2018|date=May 11, 2017}}</ref> Bundo did not return to the [[Oval Office]] again after March 20, 2018.<ref name="theview2018" />:7 President [[Donald Trump|Trump]] and First Lady [[Melania Trump]] met Bundo at a dinner at the Naval Observatory. Melania Trump invited Karen and Charlotte Pence to read their book at the 2018 [[White House Easter Egg Roll]], but the Pences did not accept because they – and Marlon Bundo – were taking a "mini-spring vacation". Karen Pence said, "You have to have the bunny on Easter."<ref name="dailypilot">{{cite web|last1=Luppi|first1=Kathleen|title=Second lady Karen Pence and daughter Charlotte promote children's book at Nixon Library|url=https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/entertainment/tn-wknd-et-karen-pence-20180329-story.html|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=March 30, 2018|date=March 29, 2018}}</ref>

The Pence family originally drew criticism online and questions regarding their care for Bundo, based on the observation that his nails were "far too long". As Callie Beusman, a senior editor with [[Vice Media]] commented:

<blockquote>The Pence family cannot claim ignorance on these issues because insane rabbit people (including myself) frequently comment on Marlon Bundo's Instagrams with alarm and concern.<ref name="vice">{{cite web|last1=Emerson|first1=Sarah|title=Mike Pence's Instagram-Famous Bunny Has Tragically Overgrown Nails|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/mike-pence-trim-your-rabbits-nails-marlon-bundo/|website=Motherboard|publisher=[[Vice Media]]|date=November 22, 2017}}</ref></blockquote>

The piece went on to observe that "BOTUS otherwise seems well-loved". The [[White House Press Secretary|White House press office]] did not respond to a related request for comment on the matter.<ref name="vice"/> ''[[The Washington Post]]'' later observed that Bundo "promptly got a pedicure".<ref name="wapo"/>

===Social media=== Bundo had his own [[Instagram]] account, which has over 33,000 followers {{as of|2019|5|lc=y}}.<ref name="ct_koncius" /><ref name="star">{{cite web|last1=Londberg|first1=Max|title=Outcry erupts after Trump reportedly calls pets low class and the Pences 'yokels'|url=http://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article188536974.html|access-date=March 22, 2018|website=[[The Kansas City Star]]|date=December 7, 2017}}</ref> Charlotte created his Instagram account after her father's inauguration, "not knowing if anybody would follow it".<ref name="ct"/> Four former U.S. presidents have had rabbits; Bundo is the first in such circles with a social media account.{{efn|U.S. Presidents [[Abraham Lincoln]], [[Chester A. Arthur]], [[Theodore Roosevelt]], and [[John F. Kennedy]] also owned rabbits.<ref name="wapo"/>}}

According to ''[[The Fresno Bee]]'', Bundo generally avoided partisan politics online, preferring instead to stick to "posting pictures of his bunny life, including being hugged by his mom, Charlotte Pence, the vice president's ... daughter, hopping around the house, and playing hide and seek with Pickle, the family cat".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Rodriguez|first1=Robert|title=You know who POTUS is, but have you heard of BOTUS?|url=http://www.fresnobee.com/living/article163372653.html|access-date=March 22, 2018|website=[[The Fresno Bee]]|date=July 24, 2017}}</ref> Photographs on Bundo's Instagram account show him "reading the [[U.S. Constitution|Constitution]], taking phone calls, signing documents, and working out on the treadmill".<ref name="vanityfair2018harwood">{{cite web|last1=Harwood|first1=Erika|title=Karen Pence Illustrated a Children's Book About Her Nonpartisan Pet Rabbit|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2018/03/karen-charlotte-pence-bunny-childrens-book|website=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]|date=March 15, 2018|access-date=March 22, 2018|language=en}}</ref> Because of Bundo's popularity on Instagram, Charlotte and Karen decided to create a children's book about him.<ref name="denverpost" />

Bundo's death was announced on social media by Charlotte Pence on {{dts|2022.01.15}}.<ref name="death.instagram">{{Cite instagram |user=charlottepencebond |postid=CYwd3PllJ7o |date=2022-01-15 |title= Marlon, you came into our lives at just the moment we needed you most. I never could have predicted that a little bunny I found on Craigslist for a college student film would give me the courage to write my first book and be the inspiration for two more, all with the best illustrator I could imagine. God knew we'd need this ball of love in our lives and that he'd bring such joy to people all over the world. Somehow, he taught me how to always try to be kind first and never stop making an effort to get along. We had some wild times together and I'm forever grateful. Rest in sweet peace, little bunny. We love you so. Thank you. ❤️|link=https://www.instagram.com/p/CYwd3PllJ7o |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/charlottepencebond/2751830711980039912_2751830706846242221 |archive-date=2022-01-15 }}</ref><ref name="death.politico">{{cite web |last1=Sheehey |first1=Maeve |title=Marlon Bundo, the famous Pence family bunny who made history, dies |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/01/15/marlon-bundo-pence-family-bunny-rabbit-dies-527191 |website=POLITICO |access-date=16 January 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220116071512/https://www.politico.com/news/2022/01/15/marlon-bundo-pence-family-bunny-rabbit-dies-527191 |archive-date=16 January 2022 |language=en |date=15 January 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Children's books== Bundo was the main character in four children's books.

''[[Marlon Bundo's A Day in the Life of the Vice President]]'' features Bundo accompanying Vice President Pence through his daily activities as seen from Bundo's perspective. It is written by Charlotte Pence and illustrated by Karen Pence.<ref name=usat>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/experience/beach/new-hampshire/2018/03/16/day-life-vice-president-pence-through-book-his-rabbit-marlon-bundo/430040002/ |title=A day in the life of Vice President Pence — through the book of his rabbit, Marlon Bundo |first=Maureen |last=Groppe |date=March 16, 2018 |access-date=March 19, 2018 |website=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> Bundo posed for all illustrations in the book.<ref name="metaxas2018" />:28 As of March 2018, Bundo was scheduled to accompany Charlotte and Karen on the press tour for the book.<ref name="ct"/> Proceeds from the book benefit Tracy's Kids, an [[art therapy]] program, and [[The A21 Campaign]], which works to combat [[human trafficking]].<ref name="wapo"/> As of late March 2018, the book had sold approximately 100,000 copies, entered the top-ten books on [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]], and was the No. 7 Children's Picture Book on [[The New York Times Best Seller list|''The New York Times'' Best Seller list]].<ref name="dailypilot" /><ref name="apSales">{{cite web|title=Sales multiply for Pence and Oliver rabbit books|url=https://www.apnews.com/310fcee024cd416990ea2b52f224c1ef|website=AP News|publisher=[[Associated Press]]|access-date=March 30, 2018|location=New York|date=March 26, 2018}}</ref> Charlotte and Karen eventually completed a bunny trilogy with two additional books: ''Marlon Bundo's A Day in the Nation's Capital'' and ''Marlon Bundo's Best Christmas Ever''.{{r|death.politico}}

''[[A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo]]'' is a book published by the television show ''[[Last Week Tonight with John Oliver]]''. It was written as a parody of ''Marlon Bundo's A Day in the Life of the Vice President''. It details a gay romance between Marlon Bundo and a rabbit named Wesley. Authorship is attributed to Bundo as well as ''Last Week Tonight'' writer [[Jill Twiss]].<ref name="AV Club">{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/john-oliver-hijacks-homophobe-mike-pences-bunny-book-wi-1823879129|title=John Oliver hijacks homophobe Mike Pence's bunny book with a better one in A Day In The Life Of Marlon Bundo|last=Perkins|first=Dennis|date=March 19, 2018|website=[[The A.V. Club]]|access-date=March 19, 2018|location=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/john-oliver-releases-childrens-book-about-gay-bunny-to-spite-pence/|title=John Oliver releases children's book about gay bunny to spite Pence|last=Guild|first=Blair|date=March 19, 2018|website=CBS News|access-date=March 19, 2018|language=en}}</ref> In response to the release of the parody, Marlon Bundo's Instagram account made a post featuring a photo of him wearing a bow tie nearly identical to the one worn by the bunny in the book. The photograph was accompanied by comment from the account reading: "Not gonna lie, I do look pretty fly in a bow tie. The only thing better than one bunny book for charity is...TWO bunny books for charity. #BOTUS – Marlon"<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bundo|first=Marlon|date=|title="Not gonna lie, I do look pretty fly in a bow tie. The only thing better than one bunny book for charity is...TWO bunny books for charity. #BOTUS – Marlon"|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Bgg3bvTBn84/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/Bgg3bvTBn84 |archive-date=December 24, 2021 |url-access=registration|access-date=|website=Instagram}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="AV Outselling">{{Cite news|url=https://www.avclub.com/john-olivers-bunny-book-is-handily-outselling-the-pence-1823928812|title=John Oliver's bunny book is handily outselling the Pence bunny book|last=Purdom|first=Clayton|date=March 20, 2018|website=The A.V. Club|access-date=March 21, 2018|language=en}}</ref> Proceeds from the book benefit [[The Trevor Project]], which operates a [[crisis hotline]] for members of the [[LGBTQ]] community, and [[AIDS United]].<ref name="v">{{cite web|last1=Read|first1=Bridget|title=The Battle for Marlon Bundo: Conservative Pence Family Bunny or Gay Icon?|url=https://www.vogue.com/article/marlon-bundo-mike-pence-john-oliver-bunny-amazon-sales|access-date=March 22, 2018|website=[[Vogue (magazine)|Vogue]]|date=March 20, 2018}}</ref> As of late March 2018 the book had sold approximately 400,000 copies, spent several days as the top-selling book on Amazon, and was the No. 1 Children's Picture Book on ''The New York Times'' Best Seller list.<ref name="dailypilot" /><ref name="apSales" />

==Reception== In December 2017, President [[Donald Trump]] reportedly described the presence of Bundo and the other family pets in the vice presidential residence as "low class".<ref name="gq">{{cite web|last1=Darby|first1=Luke|title=Mike Pence's Gay Rabbit Is the Newest Kid-Lit Sensation|url=https://www.gq.com/story/mike-pence-gay-rabbit|website=[[GQ]]|access-date=March 22, 2018|date=March 20, 2018}}</ref> Writing for ''[[Jezebel (website)|Jezebel]]'', Ellie Shechet acknowledged Bundo's cuteness, but continued that it is "an indisputable fact that underneath his huge blinky eyes and nice fat tummy lies the twisted heart of a dirty trickster", and further accused him of using his "good looks and pleasant demeanor as a fluffy tool of mass obfuscation".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Shechet|first1=Ellie|title=Marlon Bundo Is Complicit|url=https://www.jezebel.com/marlon-bundo-is-complicit-1823714663|website=[[Jezebel (website)|Jezebel]]|date=March 19, 2018 |access-date=March 22, 2018}}</ref>

''[[The Washington Post]]'' praised Bundo as "ridiculously cute" and "a natural actor".<ref name="wapo">{{cite news|last1=Roberts|first1=Roxanne|title=He's Bunny of the United States. And now he's the hero of a children's book, too|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/hes-bunny-of-the-united-states-and-now-hes-the-hero-of-a-childrens-book-too/2018/03/13/28c53e3e-2626-11e8-b79d-f3d931db7f68_story.html|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=March 22, 2018|date=March 14, 2018}}</ref> Others called him the "only positive thing in Washington, D.C."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Brotherton|first1=Bill|title=Brotherton: Good Hare Days|url=https://www.itemlive.com/2018/02/19/brotherton-good-hare-days/|website=itemlive.com|access-date=February 19, 2018}}</ref> Writing in ''[[Vogue (magazine)|Vogue]]'', Bridget Read summarized Bundo as "clearly a lover, not a fighter, based on how much he loves snuggling", but also that he is "clearly not new to navigating his own PR, and has demonstrated some media training". Read concluded by saying that Bundo's "social media rollout" may be an indication that he is planning to run for public office.<ref name="v"/> Speaking to [[Ellen DeGeneres]], comedian [[John Oliver]] described Bundo as a "fantastic rabbit", adding, "if you have a problem with that bunny you're dead inside".<ref>{{cite web|last1=de Moraes|first1=Lisa|title=John Oliver's Marlon Bundo Book Sells Out In A Day; Another Printing In Works|url=https://deadline.com/2018/03/john-oliver-marlon-bundo-mike-pence-rabbit-book-ellen-degeneres-video-1202348492/|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=April 1, 2018|date=March 20, 2018}}</ref>

== See also == {{Portal|Animals}} * ''[[Millie's Book]]'' * ''[[C. Fred's Story]]'' * ''[[Dear Socks, Dear Buddy]]'' * [[Rabbits and hares in art]] * [[United States presidential pets]]

== Explanatory notes == {{Notelist}}

== References == {{Reflist|30em}}

== External links == {{Commons category|Marlon Bundo}} * {{Instagram |marlonbundo}} * [https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/politics/white-house-bunny-marlon-brando-makes-his-debut/2017/05/09/3d5eed54-34ff-11e7-ab03-aa29f656f13e_video.html White House rabbit Marlon Bundo makes his debut], video from ''[[The Washington Post]]''

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bundo, Marlon}} [[Category:2010s animal births]] [[Category:2022 animal deaths]] [[Category:Cultural depictions of Marlon Brando]] [[Category:Individual rabbits]] [[Category:Mike Pence]] [[Category:Pence family]] [[Category:Pets in the United States]] [[Category:Year of birth uncertain]] [[Category:Instagram accounts]]