JD Vance 'Humiliated' After Man Demands Refund for His Own Book Mid-Speech

A tense and unexpected confrontation during a public appearance by Vice President JD Vance has gone viral after a man calmly handed him a copy of Hillbilly Elegy and asked for a refund.

The moment, captured on video, shows Vance visibly unsettled as security intervenes and removes the man from the venue.

'I just wanted to know if I could get a refund, I didn't like the book very much', the man in the video said, politely asking for his money back while Vance appears visibly flustered.

What initially appeared to be an awkward heckling incident was later revealed to be a deliberate prank by political comedy duo The Good Liars.

As the clip spread across social media, it reignited debate over free speech, political tolerance and how public figures respond when criticism arrives face-to-face rather than online.

The Book That Sparked a Refund

The book at the centre of the exchange is Hillbilly Elegy, Vance's bestselling memoir chronicling his upbringing in a working-class Appalachian family in Ohio. In it, Vance discusses poverty, family struggles, addiction, and the cultural challenges faced by white working-class Americans.

Vance also shares his personal journey from a troubled childhood to attending Yale Law School and eventually entering politics.

Critics argue that the book overlooks systemic issues. In the video, the man who interrupted Vance said he didn't like the character, who was Vance himself, then later asked if they could refund his £16.99 ($20).

The Good Liars: Pranking Conservatives Since Day 1

The video of a man returning JD Vance's book and asking for a refund was not a scripted commercial or advertisement, nor was it part of a staged performance in a traditional sense. It was a political prank orchestrated by The Good Liars, a well‑known American comedy duo that specialises in infiltrating political rallies and events to troll speakers and gather reactions.

Active since 2011, the pair was known for infiltrating conservative rallies and campaign events to troll politicians and supporters, and filming their reactions on camera.

Their pranks frequently involve absurdist setups that play on the reputations of political figures or the audience's expectations. For example, they once tricked Republican supporters into thinking a biblical story about incest in Genesis justified banning the Bible in schools.

They also once attended a Donald Trump rally and loudly called the candidate 'boring', deliberately poking fun at his repetition of talking points. Their goal was to embarrass him on his own stage, and security ultimately removed them.

At the National Rifle Association's annual meeting in Houston, Jason Selvig got onstage to mock NRA leader Wayne LaPierre by 'thanking' him for thoughts and prayers for mass‑shooting victims, delivering a deadpan remark about ineffective responses to gun violence. The crowd reacted awkwardly

Vance's Humiliation Prank Video: Mad at Free Speech?

Security quickly escorts him out, but the clip has been widely shared, garnering millions of views.

Many found the stunt hilarious, with comments like, 'This is very funny... all heroes don't wear capes!' and 'Guy really handed him the L in hardcover'.

Some interpreted the stunt as exposing Vance's inability to handle criticism, while also blasting politicians left and right after becoming Trump's Vice President, with reactions such as: 'Typical politician, they love to dish it out but can't take it?.

Others focused on the limits of free speech, which he and Trump championed during the 2024 US Presidential election. 'Escorted out for asking a question he didn't like?', a user said.

Another jumped in, saying Vance supports free speech until it hurts his feelings. 'Of course, dissent isn't allowed in the Land of the Free'.