Back on January 14, 2017 this happened.
— Jordan🐸 (@housewolves_) January 14, 2017
And where was the account located? Southgate MI
Note: Southgate MI is 11 miles from Detroit (the airport). 94 miles from East Lansing, MI. 15 miles from Romulus MI. And 72 miles from Jackson MI. [remember these cities and distances later in the post]
We know that Jake was in Los Angeles on January 8 because he was seen in the audience at the Golden Globes, getting up and down from his seat 1001 times *wink*.
Five days later, Jake was still being placed in Los Angeles on January 13:
— Nicole Olson (@nicoleoolson) January 14, 2017
To recap, for a moment, the Taco Bell tweet appeared on January 14 at 1:33 pm CT, which was 2:33 pm ET (Michigan time). Now, pay close attention because what follows from here is really something to behold. An actual tour de force in unscrupulous chicanery by a smug yet paranoid PR team desperately trying to bury the truth about their closeted clients. Including how to use commercial airlines, "civilian" tweeters, and family & friends to help sell the lie to the public.
Gr🌨g
I know I'm in Southern California, but I'm assuming that wasn't Jake Gyllenhaal...
7:38 PM - 14 Jan 2017 [5:38 PM CT]
Here's the best one:
REVISED 03 16 2019: Since scrubbing has been going on, it appears two of the above tweets are no longer "available" to the public anymore. Here is the "Jake gyllenhaal is on my flight" tweet in its now-saved form:
I guess Jake was personally overseeing the pouring of his coffee. Or, maybe he was going to help the flight attendant serve the passengers? Who wants peanuts? LOL! 
And, where was Austin? Well, Mr. Nichols was supposed to be in southern California as of January 12th for an Ocean Champion private fund-raising dinner event:
Join us Jan. 12 for the State of our Ocean @msdiane_lane @AustinNichols @aaronpeirsol @Jason_Priestley @reidscott pic.twitter.com/9VPSsgutjz— Ocean Champions (@OceanChampions) January 6, 2017
But January 12th came and went, with no sign whatsoever of Austin having attended, not from host @OceanChampion nor environmentalist Philippe Cousteau (the son of Jacques Cousteau), who attended.
Swiped from the source next door however, we have Austin placing himself in Los Angeles on January 14:
So Austin didn't attend a State of the Ocean event on January 12, even though he was publicized to, but two days later, he is seen skateboarding with a dog on the streets of Los Angeles. Okay.
On January 16, Jake "surfaces" in New York City. This tweeter's profile location is listed as Long Island.
— Julianna (@juIiannapinkney) January 17, 2017
— Julianna (@juIiannapinkney) January 17, 2017
And Austin? Well, on February 3, believe it or not, he was placed in Michigan.
Guys I met @AustinNichols (Spencer from The Walking Dead/ Julian from One Tree Hill) tonight at work... pic.twitter.com/EN30ZdLM6J— Elise (@elise_coleman_) February 3, 2017
And for the benefit of the public domain, various back and forth conversations ensued:
@SuperGinge18 wait are you serious tho 😂😂— Elise (@elise_coleman_) February 3, 2017
@elise_coleman_ like why would he be in Jackson?? But also I can't see you asking a random guy that isn't Spencer to take a pic 😂😂😂— Donna Pinciotti (@SuperGinge18) February 3, 2017
Elise
[When someone asked if Chloe Bennet was with him]:
So at this point, we have Jake leaving LA and arriving in NYC, with a (possible) sighting in Southgate, Michigan in between. And now, once Jake is seen in NYC, Austin is being seen in Michigan. See a pattern here? Back on February 4th, Narnia had published an analysis of the Michigan-Austin tweets, but we're going over this again to place them within the context of something bigger.
I hope you enjoyed your Klavon's last night @AustinNichols !! Best place to eat and work 🍕— Hannah Lynn (@hannah_lynnnnn) February 3, 2017
So, what happened after Ashley Nichols was tweeted in Michigan on February 3 and Narnia speculated that she was possibly there to help little bro with his and Jake's children?
From Waiting for Toothy 2:
Anonymous said...
Austin's father has serious health problems.
And the following were comments on two of the posts. They're formatted this way because at the time, the posts weren't saved or embedded so this is from an email link. These two sets of comments were from two different posts from Rowdy's Instagram:
- honeytuckerSo sad to hear about David. Prayers for a speedy and complete healing.
- schochhubbardPraying for Dave as well as all of you 💗💗💗
- infamoustdev❤️
- demaderaatxSending lots of love to the family! Thanks for the update. Let me know if there is anything I can do.
- laurenhabiby❤🙏🏻❤
- watergirl_lynneThe Morea's are sending love and prayers to Dave and his recovery.
On the Rowdy/Ashley picture post:
- schochhubbardPraying for Dave as well as your family. We love you 💙
- laurenhabibyPraying for Dave. Love you guys!!!
- stirtherouxlizziePrayers for your dad.. 💙
- lindseylooheronI just heard the news today. Will and I are thinking about you guys and sending you thoughts of love and healing. Of course, if there is anything we can do...we're here for you.
As you can see, the same accounts were commenting on both posts. One more side note: Of the commenting accounts seen above, only one of them is a public account, Austin TX woodworking business account (@demaderaatx). The other accounts @honeytucker, @schochhubbard, @infamoustdev, @laurenhabiby, @watergirl_lynne, @lindseylooheron and @stirtherouxlizzie were all private accounts.
From Rowdy's Instagram on February 6, he even posts a picture of daughter Penny sending her grandpa a Get Well:
And the first post about the father, included a Caring Bridge site that one could visit, which required registration.
On February 8, we are then spoonfed detailed information that surely must be legitimate because of all the specifics provided *sarcasm intended*:
rowdyatx 17h ago
Goodbye Allegiance Hospital. Hello St. Joseph Mercy in Chelsea, Michigan. Rehab starts now! Go Dave! You got this.
Reason for Austin and sister visiting Jackson, Michigan
Goodbye Allegiance Hospital. Hello St. Joseph Mercy in Chelsea, Michigan. Rehab starts now! Go Dave! You got this.
Reason for Austin and sister visiting Jackson, Michigan
Are you still with us? Good. Because there is more to share. Rowdy Stovall's Instagram account was not only used to document the initial reason for all of the Nichols' presence in Michigan, but the posts also provided future cover for Austin by supplying a handy "post-crisis rehabilitation scenario" in case he is seen again. A 'Get Out of Jail Free' card if you will. Surprisingly, however, Austin has not been seen in any of Rowdy's Instagram photos. We see dad, Ashley, and even one of his nieces, but not one appearance by Austin. Zilch.
Within days, on February 9th, Rowdy posts again on his Instagram that he, Ashley and the family are returning home to Austin, TX.
And what was Austin doing? From February 6:
May 16, 2010 update: We happened to notice that this Instagram post of Austin's has now been removed. Hmmm. I remember the photo once I saw the caption which described a video where Austin pretended he was "flying" the deard Wally, aka beard Chlo Bennett's dog. These publicist teams can remove the tweets, but the text remains behind and in this case, from our draft page, we get the validity of the post:
A post shared by Austin Nichols (@austinnichols) on
He then adds a promotional-type Instagram post on February 9 about the Bates Motel (a show he is guest starring in), the same day that his sister, brother-in-law and their family are returning to Austin, TX and we assume, leaving the father "rehabbing" in Michigan. This is followed with the plethora of Valentine's tweets, Instagrams and Instagram Stories with his beard Chloe Bennet on the 14th (see Narnia Dispatches' post: Austin and Chlo on Valentine's Day allegedly in LA California )
For background purposes, let's explore why that Taco Bell tweet from Southgate, Michigan on January 14, 2017, unleashed such a tidal wave of PR activity. First off, Austin has many cousins who live in Portage MI on his mother's side of the family. Moreover, a Vermeulen Furniture store used to be located in Portage, but closed in 2010. (Note: "Vermeulen" is the surname for Austin's maternal side of the family) source for Vermeulen Furniture
Remember all those cities and distances listed at the beginning of this post? Well, here's one more. Portage, Michigan is only 135 miles from Southgate. Over the years, since Jake fell hard and heavy for his tall Texan during The Day After Tomorrow audition in May 2002, there has been an ongoing Michigan connection for Jake that now, with this Taco Bell sighting, spans 15 years.
Here's a soon-to-be 22-year-old, lovestruck Jake Gyllenhaal proudly wearing a Michigan t-shirt in an early scene from The Day After Tomorrow. Considering that Jake's character, Sam Hall, lives in Washington, D.C., the wardrobe choice is an intriguing one.
Then in October, 2004, Jake is not seen campaigning for John Kerry in his backyard of California or even in New York, but rather in East Lansing, Michigan. Gee, I wonder why he chose that particular city to display his civic duty?
Over the years, Jake has been seen in Portage, Southgate, Romulus, and East Lansing. Considering that a large part of Austin's family lives in and around Jackson, as well as Portage, it's no surprise that these are the cities Jake continues to be sighted in. Michigan is obviously important to Austin. It's where his father completed his residency in Diagnostic Radiology (University of Michigan), where his mother's family is from and where he was born (Ann Arbor). He frequently returns for family celebrations and for summers on Clark Lake where his mother was buried in 2015 in the Columbia Township Cemetery. When Austin's TV show John From Cincinnati was cancelled in August 2007, Austin was found in Jackson, Michigan and was infamously arrested for a DUI on August 24.
And, just how closely located are all these cities associated with Austin and Jake? Well, let's take a look:
Southgate, Michigan
Romulus, Michigan
Remember all those cities and distances listed at the beginning of this post? Well, here's one more. Portage, Michigan is only 135 miles from Southgate. Over the years, since Jake fell hard and heavy for his tall Texan during The Day After Tomorrow audition in May 2002, there has been an ongoing Michigan connection for Jake that now, with this Taco Bell sighting, spans 15 years.
Here's a soon-to-be 22-year-old, lovestruck Jake Gyllenhaal proudly wearing a Michigan t-shirt in an early scene from The Day After Tomorrow. Considering that Jake's character, Sam Hall, lives in Washington, D.C., the wardrobe choice is an intriguing one.
Then in October, 2004, Jake is not seen campaigning for John Kerry in his backyard of California or even in New York, but rather in East Lansing, Michigan. Gee, I wonder why he chose that particular city to display his civic duty?
Over the years, Jake has been seen in Portage, Southgate, Romulus, and East Lansing. Considering that a large part of Austin's family lives in and around Jackson, as well as Portage, it's no surprise that these are the cities Jake continues to be sighted in. Michigan is obviously important to Austin. It's where his father completed his residency in Diagnostic Radiology (University of Michigan), where his mother's family is from and where he was born (Ann Arbor). He frequently returns for family celebrations and for summers on Clark Lake where his mother was buried in 2015 in the Columbia Township Cemetery. When Austin's TV show John From Cincinnati was cancelled in August 2007, Austin was found in Jackson, Michigan and was infamously arrested for a DUI on August 24.
And, just how closely located are all these cities associated with Austin and Jake? Well, let's take a look:
12 miles via 127 S Jackson to Clark Lake
Now why would PR be so concerned about Austin's sister being seen with him in Jackson, Michigan on February 3 when she has a family of her own and a husband down in Texas?
1) Remember, Jake had been seen in Southgate, Michigan just two weeks before on January 14.
2) Narnia had published a post on February 4 speculating that Ashley was helping Austin with the kids since Jake was in NY preparing for his play and Maggie was about to fly over to Berlin.
If Jake and Austin were not an actual couple raising a closeted family, there would be no need for such an obviously manufactured and elaborate Instagram story to emerge about Austin's dad suddenly having a very public "health crisis". A crisis that conveniently forced him to be shipped off to Michigan, even though he practiced medicine in Austin, Texas for over three decades and no doubt has an enormously supportive network of professional providers down there. Never mind that Austin, TX is where Mr. Nichols and his immediate family actually live. If the whole scenario wasn't outlandish enough, the privating of all that explanatory "corroboration" only a few days later is truly laughable. A ready made explanation for PR interns and trolls to draw from if someone dared to bring up the pattern of Jake being seen once again in a geographic area that is intimately associated with Austin Nichols.
As another closeted celebrity tweeted back on July 3, 2013:
— Harry Styles. (@Harry_Styles) July 4, 2013
pic sources: Instagram, Twitter, Google maps, Getty Images,
AMC television
our playlist: (in honor of George Harrison's birthday today)
What is Life - George Harrison
White Liar - Miranda Lambert
Bigger Than the Beatles - Joe Diffie
Small Town Saturday Night - Hal Ketchum
