Mandela Sign Language Gone Wrong

Wrong time to fake it! Or have a schizophrenic episode, if this guy is to be believed.

For those of you who missed it, Thamsanqua Jantjie, the sign language interpreter at Mandela’s memorial the other day, was signing nonsense.

Astute viewers, including sign language experts and a member of South Africa’s parliament (who is deaf), called the interpreter out on social media as the event was broadcast live.

The crazy thing is that this guy has interpreted for other official, high-profile events before

And even crazier? Jantjie claims he has schizophrenia and was hallucinating at the time.

“What happened that day, I see angels come to the stadium… I start realizing that the problem is here. And the problem, I don’t know the attack of this problem, how will it comes. Sometimes I react violent on that place. Sometimes I will see things that chase me,” Jantjie said.

This from the guy who stood just inches away from world leaders at the podium. He also said that he was supposed to have a mental health checkup on the day of the memorial.

For those of you who don’t understand sign language, Jimmy Kimmel got a real sign language interpreter to translate and put into words what exactly Jantjie was saying at Nelson Mandela’s funeral.

Here’s some of the translation – I love this:

“Hello, welcome so far. Well cigarette join, bringing in different to you – a circle – and I would like to pray this offering, basically this is fun, all of these balls, to prove this is good, I’m sorry.”

WE SAID THIS: We’re sorry, too, Thamsanqua. Better get back on your meds!