Florida Man Busted for Running Instagram Influencer Agency for Designer Flamingos

<p>MIAMI — Environmental officials were baffled to discover a flamingo wearing designer sunglasses and a gold chain wandering through South Beach, until they traced it back to local entrepreneur Rick &#8220;The Flamboyant&#8221; Morrison.</p> <p>Morrison, 42, had allegedly been operating an illegal flamingo rental service called &#8220;Flamingos on Fleek,&#8221; offering the birds as &#8220;living Instagram props&#8221; for $200 per hour. The birds came fully accessorized with tiny hats, sunglasses, and what Morrison described as &#8220;swag packages.&#8221;</p> <p>&#8220;People want unique content,&#8221; Morrison explained to wildlife officers. &#8220;These birds were unemployed, just standing around in the wild doing nothing. I gave them purpose. I gave them style.&#8221;</p> <p>According to the investigation, Morrison had trained six flamingos to pose for photos, strike what he called &#8220;fierce poses,&#8221; and even respond to the command &#8220;blue steel.&#8221; Each bird had its own Instagram account, with the most popular, @FlamingoFernando, boasting over 50,000 followers.</p> <p>The operation came to light when one flamingo, dressed in a tiny leather jacket, wandered into a Starbucks and refused to leave without ordering what Morrison had trained it to request: &#8220;a venti iced water, extra ice.&#8221;</p> <p>Wildlife officers found Morrison&#8217;s apartment filled with flamingo fashion accessories, including custom-made bird jewelry, miniature fedoras, and what appeared to be a flamingo-sized tuxedo. He had even created business cards that read &#8220;Flamingo Influencer Management.&#8221;</p> <p>&#8220;This is the first time we&#8217;ve encountered designer wildlife trafficking,&#8221; said Fish and Wildlife Specialist Amanda Chen. &#8220;The birds were in good health, but extremely over-styled.&#8221;</p> <p>Morrison faces charges of illegal wildlife possession, operating an unlicensed animal rental business, and what officials are calling &#8220;aggravated accessorizing of protected species.&#8221; The flamingos have been returned to their natural habitat, though witnesses report they seem &#8220;less photogenic&#8221; without their accessories.</p> <p>Morrison&#8217;s bail was set at $15,000, which he offered to pay with &#8220;sponsored posts from the flamingos.&#8221;</p>