Brussels: A bizarre “phantom farter” mystery stole the spotlight at a high-stakes European Union summit in Brussels, where journalists waiting for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reportedly faced repeated waves of an unpleasant smell inside the European Council press briefing room.
The incident, which unfolded amid important diplomatic discussions, prompted correspondents to leave the room and triggered a wave of humorous reactions online. Despite the serious geopolitical agenda, the unidentified source of the odour became an unexpected talking point among journalists.
According to accounts shared on social media, the problem was not limited to Zelenskyy’s briefing. Reporters had reportedly encountered a similar smell during a diplomatic briefing the previous evening.
Journalists Ask: Who Is the ‘Phantom Farter’?
Political economy analyst and correspondent Shankkar Aiyar, who said he was among those affected, described the episode as hilarious while highlighting the discomfort experienced by those waiting inside the press centre.
Aiyar jokingly asked who the “phantom farter” was and appealed to the unidentified person responsible for the smell to step outside and resolve the problem before anyone felt unwell.
The incident illustrated the less glamorous side of covering international politics, where journalists often spend hours waiting for statements, announcements and opportunities to question world leaders.
With correspondents relying on coffee and racing against tight deadlines, the unexpected disruption added an unusual challenge to an already demanding schedule.
Social Media Turns the Incident Into a Joke
The mystery quickly attracted attention on X, with POLITICO Europe drawing attention to the repeated incidents in the press room.
Journalists and commentators joined the discussion with a series of jokes. Ukrainian journalist Illia Ponomarenko expressed nostalgia for press rooms, while US political reporter Ben Jacobs made a humorous reference to Senate bean soup.
National security reporter Robbie Gramer jokingly described the episode as a Russian-backed flatulence campaign, bringing geopolitics into the unlikely conversation.
Another social media user expressed disbelief at the situation, while POLITICO Europe later summed up the episode with a pun describing the summit as “a load of hot air”.
An Unusual Distraction at a Major Summit
The incident offered journalists a comic distraction from the diplomatic tensions and lengthy briefings surrounding the European Council summit.
However, the identity of the person responsible for the smell remained unknown in the account provided. What began as an unpleasant interruption ultimately became an amusing talking point, demonstrating how even serious international gatherings can produce unexpected viral moments.
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