Have you heard the crazy theory about Bob Ross? Apparently, some Reddit users and conspiracy theorists think the famous art show host was actually a serial killer in disguise! They believe Bob used his painting show to hide the fact that he was offing people. According to the theory, Bob would paint beautiful landscapes and then bury the bodies in the scenes.
Some people even linked Bob to one of the most infamous uncaught killers ever – the Zodiac Killer. It would be such a crazy plot twist if the gentle painter turned out to be one of the most notorious uncaught serial killers in history. But was there any truth to it? Where did this conspiracy theory even come from?
Who Was Bob Ross
Bob Ross started out in art while serving in the Air Force. He learned to paint in his free time and really got into it. After leaving the military, he taught art classes at a community center. There, he perfected his “wet-on-wet” painting style where he could do landscapes really fast.
In 1983, Bob Ross’s show The Joy of Painting started on TV. On the show, he would teach people how to paint landscapes step-by-step in real time. That way, viewers could follow along with him. He would do three paintings in each episode. Over the years, he made over 400 episodes, teaching people how to paint. Bob Ross had such a calm way about him that really resonated with people. It made him super popular and well-known.
Some people think there was more to Bob Ross, though. They have theories that he was actually a serial killer hiding behind his nice guy act! According to them, he expressed a “need” to kill through his art.
The Origins of The “Serial Killer Theory”
Some people on Reddit and in conspiracy theory circles think Bob Ross, the beloved PBS host of The Joy of Painting, may have actually been a murderer. They suggest his show was a way for Ross to work through trauma from his crimes by using art as a cover.
The strange theory started in 2017 when a Reddit user asked, “What if Bob Ross was a serial killer and his paintings were of places where he buried victims?” From there, the idea took on a life of its own.
Some theorists point to Ross’s time in the Air Force as possibly triggering homicidal urges. Others suggest his calm demeanor and repetitive painting masked a dark side.
There is no proof that Bob Ross would have been a serial killer. His close friends and business partners strongly denied such rumors, calling them “hurtful” and “absurd.” Still, the idea of the friendly TV host as a threatening figure captures people’s imagination.
Strange Details In Bob Ross Paintings Fuels Speculation
Some have wondered if Bob Ross’ paintings hinted at a dark secret. Though his show “The Joy of Painting” aired for over a decade, he never painted people – just landscapes, seascapes and mountains. Some think this strange for such an upbeat guy.
Reddit users and conspiracy theorists believe this could mean Ross dealt with psychological issues through his art. Maybe he was even a serial killer secretly expressing himself.
Some believe the calm landscapes he painted on TV were actually locations where he buried victims. A few guessed he was the infamous Zodiac Killer.
The big question is why Ross never painted people if he wanted to capture life’s joy. Humans are fundamental to nature, so leaving them out seems odd.
Others point out that art can reveal an artist’s mind. Ross avoiding people could mean he wanted no human connections or lacked empathy. Perhaps he faced trauma in the army.
One commenter noticed Ross’ smiles seemed fake in photos, like covering trauma or being a psychopath hiding behind a smile. It’s unclear what was truly happening 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 some people online think Bob Ross may have been the Zodiac Killer, there really isn’t any proof. When you think about all the clues and what Bob said sometimes, it does make you wonder what was going on in his head.
The Zodiac Killer was active way back in 1968. Bob Ross would have been 26 years old then, which is around how old people thought the Zodiac Killer was. But nobody ever found any real evidence connecting Bob Ross to those Zodiac crimes.
Most experts don’t believe the ideas about Bob Ross having a secret life as a killer. They think it’s just an idea that got out of control without any real evidence. Unless someone finds new proof that’s clear and solid, most people won’t think Bob Ross was really the Zodiac Killer.
We’ll Never Find Out
Bob seemed like he just wanted his show to share his love of art and make people happy, not hide anything bad he was doing. For years, Bob brought joy to tons of people with how calm he was and all the cute little trees he painted. Unless something crazy comes out proving different, we should remember him for all the good he did.
His show The Joy of Painting is still a nice, stress-free way to watch pretty paintings happen. And from what we know so far, Bob just really cared about helping others enjoy making art, too. But in the end, he took any private things he never told anyone to his grave with him.
