The internet has been in a tizzy over a fascinating saga about two cats named Jorts and Jean.
You’ve probably seen the phrase “buttered Jorts” on your social media feeds. It all started when a wholesome Reddit post (AITA for ‘perpetuating ethnic stereotypes’ about Jorts?) spiraled completely out of control.
An employee shared an incident involving two workplace cats. Jean is a tortoiseshell cat and Jorts is an orange tabby. Jorts is not the brightest kitten in the litter and has an issue where instead of opening a cracked door, he slams it closed and often locks himself in the room.
The story of Jorts and Jean
“My colleague Pam has been spending a lot of time trying to teach Jorts [not to close the door],” the poster wrote. “I put down a doorstop. Pam then said I was depriving Jorts of the ‘chance to learn’ and kept removing the doorstop. She set up a series of special learning activities for Jorts, and tried to put these tasks on the whiteboard of daily team tasks (I erased them).”
The Reddit poster didn’t think Pam’s actions were necessary and Pam really took that to heart.
“Yesterday I installed a cat cutout thing in the door and Pam started getting really huffy,” the poster explained. “I made a gentle joke about ‘you can’t expect Jean’s tortoiseshell smarts from orange cat Jorts’ which made Pam FURIOUS. She started crying and left the hallway, then sent an email to the group (including volunteers) and went home early. In her email, Pam said I was ‘perpetuating ethnic stereotypes by saying orange cats are dumb’ and is demanding racial sensitivity training before she will return.”
So where does “buttered Jorts” come into play in all of this?
In an update, the Reddit poster explained that the issue was resolved. Pam was having a hard time adjusting to her new position at work and agreed to chill out about Jorts. But there was one hilarious revelation made when the issue went to HR.
“Pam admits that she has been putting margarine on Jorts in an attempt to teach him to groom himself better,” the poster explained. “This may explain the diarrhea problem Jean developed (which required a vet visit). Pam is NOT to apply margarine to any of her coworkers.”
Twitter reacts to Jorts and Jeans
The story quickly went viral when it was reposted on Twitter. People had a field day engaging with the hilarious story.
Some people embraced the sentiment that maybe orange tabbies are a little slow and that’s OK.
“My son doesn’t have a single thought in his head And he doesn’t need one. Look at him. He’s perfect,” @BlackXKatt said of her orange kitty.
Others turned the situation into a meme.
“Sometimes, you butter Jorts, and buddy, sometimes Jorts butters you,” @caraesten wrote in a tweet.
While some just wanted in on the action.
“I want to work at wherever this is,” @Delafina777 said on Twitter.
Special Offer for You
These 10 gifts under $50 from Nordstrom will arrive in time for Valentine's Day
More from In The Know:
