Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
Paul Vasquez, The Viral Sensation Known As 'Double Rainbow Guy,' Dies At 57
Listen
1:58
Listen to the Story
STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
We're sorry to report that Paul Vasquez has died. He was one of YouTube's earliest viral sensations, better known as Double Rainbow Guy.
(SOUNDBITE OF YOUTUBE VIDEO, "YOSEMITEBEAR MOUNTAIN DOUBLE RAINBOW 1-8-10")
PAUL VASQUEZ: It's a double rainbow all the way. Whoa, that's so intense. Whoa. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. (Cheering).
RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:
A 3 1/2-minute video made Vasquez famous when he captured a pair of rainbows outside his home near Yosemite National Park. His sense of wonder added to that scene. At one point, he shouted, what does it all mean?
(SOUNDBITE OF YOUTUBE VIDEO, "YOSEMITEBEAR MOUNTAIN DOUBLE RAINBOW 1-8-10")
Sponsored message
VASQUEZ: Yeah. Oh, my God. Look at that. It's starting to look like a triple rainbow. Oh, my God. It's full-on double rainbow all the way across the sky.
INSKEEP: He posted this video in 2010. Later, late night host Jimmy Kimmel shared it on his show.
(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE!")
JIMMY KIMMEL: Somebody sent this video to me. It had 800 views at the time. So I posted a link to it on Twitter. Two weeks - less than two weeks later, it has almost 7 million views.
INSKEEP: And today, it has around 50 million views.
(SOUNDBITE OF YOUTUBE VIDEO, "YOSEMITEBEAR MOUNTAIN DOUBLE RAINBOW 1-8-10")
VASQUEZ: Oh, my God. It's a double complete rainbow on my front yard. Oh, my God.
Sponsored message
MARTIN: The comments section on the original video is now flooded with messages to Vasquez. One person said the video was, quote, "proof you don't need much to truly enjoy life." Paul Vasquez never stopped posting videos to his YouTube channel. In March, he shared one with his family.
(SOUNDBITE OF YOUTUBE VIDEO)
VASQUEZ: Thank you. Love you guys.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: Love you.
(CROSSTALK)
VASQUEZ: OK. See you guys. Bye.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: Bye.
Sponsored message
MARTIN: Paul Vasquez, Double Rainbow Guy, died in California having shown millions how to find joy.
(SOUNDBITE OF SOULAR ORDER'S "THEY'LL LIE TO YOU") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
