Have you heard the crazy theory about Bob Ross? Some people on Reddit and hardcore conspiracy theorists out there actually believe the iconic TV painter was secretly a serial killer. They think he was dealing with his murderous urges through art, using his popular show The Joy of Painting as a cover, and that he buried his victims in beautiful landscapes he painted.
A few people even claim Bob Ross could have been the Zodiac Killer, one of the most notorious unidentified serial killers of all time. Is this just another wacky conspiracy theory or could there actually be something to it?
Who Was Bob Ross
Bob Ross got started in art as a medical specialist in the Air Force, where he learned to paint during his spare time. After leaving the military, he became an art instructor at a local community center. He spent years perfecting his “wet-on-wet” oil painting technique, which allowed him to paint landscapes very quickly.
Ross began appearing on television in 1983 when The Joy of Painting first aired. The show followed his method of teaching landscape painting in real-time and allowed viewers to follow along. Ross created 3 paintings per episode and produced a total of over 400 half-hour episodes (403, to be specific) during the show’s run. His calm and soothing demeanor made him very popular with viewers and helped establish him as a pop culture icon.
But some believe Bob Ross’s tranquil persona hid a sinister secret. Conspiracy theorists claim the famous painter was actually a serial killer, expressing a “need” to kill through his artwork.
The Origins of The Bob Ross Serial Killer Theory
Some people on Reddit and in conspiracy theory circles believe the beloved PBS host Bob Ross could have actually been a serial killer. They speculate his show The Joy of Painting was a way for Ross to work through the trauma of his crimes, using art as a cover for his sinister acts.
The origins of this bizarre theory date back to 2017, when a Reddit user first posed the question: “What if Bob Ross was actually a serial killer and his paintings were of places where he buried his victims?” From there, the idea took on a life of its own.
Certain theorists point to Ross’s time in the Air Force as a medical records technician as a possible trigger for homicidal urges. Others suggest his soft-spoken demeanor and the repetitive act of painting could have masked a dark passenger within.
Of course, there is zero evidence to substantiate any of these claims. His close friends and business partners have vehemently denied such rumors, calling them “hurtful” and “absurd.” Still, the notion of the genial TV host as a menacing figure continues to capture the public’s imagination.
Strange Details In Bob Ross Paintings Fuels Speculation
Some of the strange details in Bob Ross’ paintings have fueled speculation that he may have been hiding a sinister secret. His show, The Joy of Painting, ran for over a decade, but in all those episodes, he never painted a single person. Landscapes, seascapes, mountain vistas—not a soul in sight. Kind of strange for such an upbeat, positive guy, don’t you think?
Reddit sleuths and conspiracy theorists believe this could indicate Ross was dealing with some psychological issues through his art. Maybe even something as dark as being a serial killer.
Some claim the landscapes he painted so calmly and cheerfully on TV were actually locations where he buried his victims. A few have even suggested Ross could have been the notorious Zodiac Killer, whose true identity has never been discovered.
The biggest question is why Ross never painted people if he was trying to capture the joy of the world around him. Humans are a fundamental part of nature and life, so leaving them out altogether seems peculiar.
Some point out that paintings can provide insights into the artist’s mental state and what they choose to focus on. The absence of people in Ross’ works could indicate a desire to avoid human connections or even a total lack of empathy. Or maybe he went through some trauma during his time in the army.
One of the Reddit commenters made an interesting observation, too. They said that in most photos of Bob, he’s smiling and laughing, but it seems fake. Like he was either dealing with trauma and putting on a happy face to cover it up, or that maybe he was a psychopath or serial killer hiding behind that smile. Who knows what was really going on with him?
If you study my paintings, there are no signs of human life.
One of Bob’s controversial quotes
No Evidence To Corroborate Claims
While these theories spread online and continue to capture imaginations, no viable evidence has been put forth to corroborate them.
The Zodiac Killer was on the loose way back in 1968. That year, Bob Ross would have been 26 years old. His age at the time definitely matches up with how old the Zodiac Killer was described as being. But there was never any real evidence linking Bob Ross to those Zodiac crimes.
Until and unless new, concrete evidence comes to light, the vast majority of experts dismiss the theories about Bob Ross’s alleged double life as nothing more than an unfounded conspiracy theory run amok.
Final Words
Bob’s show was meant to spread positivity through art, not hide some dark secret life. Bob Ross brought joy to millions of viewers over the years with his calm demeanor and happy little trees. Unless some groundbreaking evidence comes to light, it’s best we remember him for the good he brought to the world.
The Joy of Painting remains an untroubled escape into beauty. And Bob Ross, as far as we know, was simply a man devoted to spreading the joy of art.