I'm the creator of Offensive Crayons & trying to forgive 1.5 Million in medical debt AMA

Is the medical debt centralized to one community? Is it based on certain types of debt?

No specific community or type of debt! When they buy a portfolio of medical debt, they look for the following: those earning less than 2x the federal poverty level (varies by state, family size), debts are 5 percent or more of annual income, facing insolvency — debts are greater than assets.

It's the same company John Oliver used to buy back medical debt a few years ago. The difference is we don't have any of that sweet sweet HBO money.

Are you planning on making more than just crayons or are you just gonna stick to that? I just ordered 2 sets for my girlfriend for Christmas!

We JUST launched our first coloring book, Happy Little Dictators (because where else can you see Mussolini slurping on spaghetti or Hitler painting like Bob Ross?)

What we’re working on:

-colored pencils

-a 2nd coloring book

-2 more packs of crayons

-a card game

All of which we have an ETA of launching by Spring & Summer of 2020!

Which crayon color is your favorite?

Oh man, this changes all the time. Some of my current favorites haven’t come out yet, but I guess I can choose favorite by set...

Original pack: Statutory Grape

Holiday Edition: Chet’s Nuts Roasting In My Open Mouth

Political Pack: Baby Cage Crimson

That’s incredible!! Congratulations. :) I guess my question has more to do with you being a business owner rather than the medical debt relief. Did you ever go in crazy debt or regret starting the business in the beginning? Moments of panic and doubt? I’m in a similar position and I’m very worried about my next year.

The problem is my life is a series of panic and doubt, so I guess I’m used to it. In the past I’ve been burned by 2k ambulance rides, debt that’s gone to collections, hell I got into a domestic partnership for the insurance (and to say I legally “DP-ed someone”). Right now I’m fortunate that I’m under NY state’s insurance for the next year (it’s basically socialism, and it’s awesome). But in a year, I’m back to square one of not knowing the state of my insurance, so I have that to look forward to. That said, I guess as long as I can keep coming out with outrageously stupid products that people might buy, I guess I’ll be okay. Although I’m fully aware that 99.9% of businesses don’t operate that way.

What inspired to start making your crayons?

Man, I wish I had a good story for this answer.

The honest truth? I wanted to do a kickstarter for an action figure line, but realized I would have to raise over 100k to get it done. After reading several stories about people realizing they learned a ton after doing their first Kickstarter, I realized I needed to run a small one first to go through the process. Adult coloring books were really starting to become a talked about thing and somehow I realized no one was making adult coloring stuff to go with it. A few emails to some manufacturers later, got a couple quotes and ran with the crayons. It’s really not a sexy story.

I guess the best part was when I only had a couple dozen units left, Amazon took me down for “review” (which they later banned me for “offending children and caucasians”), and that same week the product went viral and I leaned into making more product.

I didn’t realize I was supposed to be offended by your crayons

oh well, pitchforks are out. keep it up bud! have fun and hopefully make some money!!

In Amazon’s defense children and caucasians are the two most sensitive groups. Caucasians even get offended on behalf of others, mostly Karens though.

What's your most offensive crayon in your opinion?

People always say “Auschwitz Ash” is offensive. Idk, I thought most of my family being murdered in the Holocaust was pretty bad.

Oof. I'm sorry such a horrible thing happened to your family and so many others.

It is. But we need to be okay with making fun of tragic situations. Something being funny doesn’t take away from it being tragic.

Really excellent project, even though it's insane that this is even needed! Question: Are you the artist in your projects, or is there someone else doing the art?

I have an amazing graphic designer I’ve been working with since the beginning, but all the concepts and words are my own :)

I love that you're doing this! As one who is slowly paying off my bills from breast cancer, I applaud you, because it's hard to do! 🥰 Happy holidays! How many products have you come up with so far?

So far there are 3 packs of crayons, a coloring book, a few tee shirts and mugs (go figure). But I’m just really excited about all the stuff that’s going to launch in the spring and summer: 2 more packs, colored pencils, a 2nd coloring book, AND a card game.

BY THE WAY—everyone needs to stay tuned because in the next few weeks we’re launching “The 12 Days of Shitmas” where we give away a shitty gift each day! (A bottle of water from Flint Michigan, a trip to North Korea, the bedsheet Jeffrey Epstein didn’t kill himself with, etc)

AND CONGRATS ON BEATING THE SHIT OUT OF BREAST CANCER

Thank you and I love the 12 days of Shitmas ideas! I'm hoping we'll get a reminder to a link to order?

Subscribe to the mailing list on the site! It’ll be free to enter each day :)

Hope can we or I help?

Just make sure to tell everyone!

Is the trip to North Korea’s real? Like an actual trip there?

Also, how have dealt with scaling up your operations?

Yep, 100% real.

Scaling up hasn’t been crazy. Honestly it’s a VERY small team, and I still handle most of the day to day. It’s awesome whenever we go viral, but 95% of the year everything is very manageable and not insane.

The bedsheet Jeffery Epstein didn't kill himself with haha best thing I've seen all day. How many times have you came up with something and it be "too offensive" to release? I love this shit.

I can’t say I’ve ever had an idea that was THAT bad. The most challenging part is cost or accessibility. For example, one of the original ideas for a Shitmas gift was an island in Florida (because where else can you be safe from Florida man, and have the most unenthusiastic island?)...but taxes, laws, paperwork, etc.

The crayons and what you are doing is amazing! Would you be able to point me in the right direction to getting my sister medical bill help? She suffers from chronic pancreatitis and even Cleveland Clinic doesn't know why. They're unable to remedy the cause. My other half needs help as well. He has medical complications from being born premature. I'm ready to look into everything and anything.

I’ll be honest, I’m working with RIP medical debt where they buy portfolios of debt, but not to my knowledge do they go out and seek out a specific individuals debt. I really wish I could help, but I wouldn’t know where to start or where to even refer you guys to :(

What inspired you to make the offensive crayons?

It's a shitty origin story I answered in another question. Trust me, I wasn't trying to make any superior point or bring down big Crayola.

what is offensive crayons?

They’re crayons with messed up names on them. Like boner pill blue, miscarriage maroon, privilege (white), etc. Basically all the fun ones Crayola isn’t letting you have.

OffensiveCrayons.com

also why do you need MEDICAL bills

Clearly we’re not in charge of the healthcare system (nor should anyone ever give us some semblance of responsibility), so we have no answer for that.

so they’re just billing you for no reason

I mean, you got a service/product and you got a bill. They don’t just appear out of no where?

How are you able to buy medical Dept?

We’re working with RIP Medical Debt, the same nonprofit John Oliver used a few years ago to buy and forgive a bunch of medical debt. What I’m saying is they’re doing the heavy lifting, and we’re just trying to look cute enough for you to give us money for this fundraiser.

What’s your favourite colour?

Oh man, this changes all the time. Some of my current favorites haven’t come out yet, but I guess I can choose favorite by set...

Original pack: Statutory Grape

Holiday Edition: Chet’s Nuts Roasting In My Open Mouth

Political Pack: Baby Cage Crimson

Are there any jobs, preferably in creative departments, that are in requirement of filling? It would be an honor to work for such an interesting and forward-thinking company. Please send me some way to contact you so that I may send my resume, and that we may start our working relationship.

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(Please note I have been called the Greatest Bullshitter and The Devil Himself for my silver tongue and wicked cunning. My politeness and kindness begin and end on the job. 😈😈😈☠🤺🏹🗡🔪💣🔫)

At the moment, unless we get acquitted by Crayola or some massive conglomerate, I can’t see us hiring anyone. Budgets are tight, and most of the money I’m heavily reinvesting into the next few products and projects. If we ever DO start hiring people, we’ll probably launch a national TV show comparable to America’s Got Talent...except with little production value and probably hosted by Tom Arnold.

okay, but send me an e-mail address, and I'll send you something to change your mind. Give me a physical address, I'll send you a cake.

I promise it will not contain a shovel, shiv, or weed!

[email protected]

Please don’t send porn, we have enough terabytes of it already.

Why did you make Offensive Crayons?

Answered in another question.

What made you come to the conclusion that raised money would be better off paying for medical debt, rather than perhaps donating to politicians that want to reduce or eliminate medical debt?

You guys are doing absolutely great work regardless.

We never considered donating the money to a politician. It’s an idea, but we don’t have Cards Against Humanity money to actually help elect someone.