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Mimi Launder
Aug 06, 2018
A video of Ed Balls getting tasered? The initial reaction for many is, 'Wow, I never knew I needed that in my life'.
But then you actually watch the thing and, as Balls drops to the floor yelling in pain, start to regret every second.
This is not part of Ball's search to find a career less painful than politics, but for BBC documentary Travels in Trumpland, which is exploring America's Deep South.
The former Labour MP and Chancellor of the Exchequer uploaded a clip from the second episode on Twitter.
It shows him "joining the 5 second club" with cops in Opelousas, Louisiana, one of the most dangerous cities in the United States.
In the Twitter caption, Balls wrote:
Every police officer recruit in Louisiana has to be tasered - it’s called ‘Joining the 5 second club’.
You only do it once - it really really hurts...
Some were impressed with his apparent pain tolerance.
@edballs that looked painful! That took guts in the name of TV! #Taser #TravelsinTrumpland— Jonathan Armstrong (@Jonathan Armstrong) 1533501332
@edballs @BBCTwo I am really impressed. You getting involved with the people you meet.Excellent documentary— amouchsam (@amouchsam) 1533500921
Credit to @edballs. Not many would do this. https://t.co/NHNqpA7nYV— Jeremy Vine (@Jeremy Vine) 1533541128
While others were more concerned.
@edballs @BBCTwo Struggling to remember which box on the standard BBC risk assessment one would have to tick for th… https://t.co/MWzmY0ySrt— Melanie Jappy (@Melanie Jappy) 1533383105
Ed! I can’t watch it. https://t.co/N5HGOP5uvX— Tom Watson (@Tom Watson) 1533395947
Mainly, though, people were confused.
Watching Ed Balls getting tasered was the best and worst thing I’ve seen all year #pain #loveface #EdBalls #America #BBC— Billy Casper (@Billy Casper) 1533500212
At least it didn't happen on Ed Balls Day.
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