Imagine a man accused of plotting to bomb political headquarters in Washington, DC, secretly crafting fan art for a children’s cartoon about pastel ponies. That’s the jarring reality surrounding Brian Cole Jr., a 30-year-old facing serious charges for his alleged actions against the Republican and Democratic National Committees on Jan. 5, 2021.
According to the New York Post, behind the chilling accusations, Cole’s online life as a devoted fan of My Little Pony—a franchise aimed at young girls—paints a bizarre contrast to his alleged criminal intent.
Years before his arrest last week, Cole was deeply embedded in the “Brony” subculture, a community of male fans who embrace this unexpected hobby, often defying traditional gender norms.
Under aliases like “iDeltaVelocity” and “Blue Velocity,” Cole shared an impressive 87 pieces of fan art on forums, often showcasing pink and purple ponies with vibrant manes or unique traits like bionic leg braces.
He didn’t stop at visuals—his creativity extended to remixing songs with pony themes, such as “Pony I Want to Be,” and penning fan fiction that sometimes veered into darker, horror-infused territory.
A former classmate recalled Cole toting a My Little Pony backpack in high school, enduring teasing for his unconventional passion—a memory that hints at a long-standing devotion to this niche interest.
Experts note the Brony community, which peaked with conventions around 2017, is generally sincere and rarely sexual in nature, though it draws attention for challenging societal expectations.
“The subculture of Bronies was very online and unique and attracted a lot of male fans, who were breaking gender norms, which attracted a lot of attention,” said Dr. Daniel Chadborn, an assistant professor of psychology and author on the subject.
While progressive agendas might celebrate such boundary-pushing, one has to wonder if this quest for belonging masked deeper struggles in Cole’s life, especially given the violent path authorities claim he later took.
Described as reclusive, Cole lived with family, worked at their bail bonds business, and was rarely seen outside except when walking his chihuahua in the neighborhood.
Yet, behind closed doors, authorities allege he was gathering materials for crude bombs from stores like Home Depot and Walmart in northern Virginia after 2020, when his online activity notably dropped.
Charged with transporting explosives across state lines and attempted destruction, Cole has reportedly confessed, though no clear motive for targeting political hubs has surfaced—a silence that leaves more questions than answers.
On Tumblr, Cole listed eclectic interests like parkour, anime, and horror video games, alongside philosophical self-improvement, suggesting a complex individual beneath the Brony label.
“Eh… I’d give her an RPG. What can I say? Explosions are COOL!” he once commented under a username, referencing a pony drawing with a weapon—a quip that takes on an eerie tone given his current charges, though likely meant as mere jest at the time.