David Icke's conspiracy theory about the reptilian people: where did it come from?

Legions of people around the world believe that a species of reptiles exists with the ability to become humans. These 'reptilian people' would have infiltrated the population with bad intentions, according to conspiracy theorists like David Icke.

It may sound like a joke, but there are people who take this matter very seriously. And it's not just the followers of this theory who are worried. Others, like the local authorities of Australia, Germany, and The Netherlands, as well as a Canadian bookstore chain, have banned David Icke from public events because they consider his conspiracy theory to be dangerous and anti-Semitic.

Before explaining its problems, let's start at the beginning: Where does this theory about 'reptoid humanoids' come from?

The whole idea is said to have stemmed from a discussion about the origin of reptiles as a species. Some people think they are the evolution of a pre-human race, while others believe they come from outer space.

Photo: Albert Antony/Unsplash

One of the most supported theories by believers in 'reptilians' is that they originate from the star Alpha Draconis, which is in the constellation of Draco (Dragon).

Others believe that the reptilians could have evolved from a dinosaur species that never became extinct. People who believe this, build (very loosely) on the ideas of Carl Sagan (pictured) in the book 'The Dragons of Eden'. He won the Pulitzer Prize for that book in 1978.

"Is it mere coincidence that the onomatopoeia that man emits to demand silence or to attract attention bears an uncanny resemblance to the hiss of reptiles?" Sagan wondered. With comments like this, followers of the 'reptilian' faith think that the scientist confirms their ideas.

Despite the fact that there is obviously no evidence to prove their existence, the 'reptoid humanoids' are credited with a range of superhuman abilities, such as changing their appearance at will, camouflaging themselves, and hiding among celebrities, leaders, monarchs, and religious leaders.

David Icke, a former British footballer (former Hereford United goalkeeper), made a career as a writer and lecturer on conspiracy topics. In 1999, he published his theory of reptile people in his book 'The Biggest Secret.'

He assures, beyond any doubt, that the reptiles are among us. What's more, he alleges that they are part of the elite who rule the world. These statements have caused Icke to gather a community of believers around him, as well as a monetary fortune.

Icke claims that the 'reptoid humanoids' live among us for the purpose of enslaving humans and subjugating humanity. That sounds unbelievable, outlandish, and thus innocent, but according to holocaust experts and Jewish scholars, activists, and members of anti-defamation groups, that theory has many similarities with anti-Semitic thought.

Bart Wallet, who is a professor of Jewish studies at the University of Amsterdam, explained on The Netherlands' Radio 1 that Icke's conspiracy theory contains "anti-Semitic thoughts and expressions." The idea of the reptiles, he says, is based on "an old anti-Semitic image of Jews being depicted as snakes or lizards."

Image: German propaganda flyer, Philadelphia Holocaust Memorial (philaholocaustmemorial.org)

The reptilian theory is reminiscent of classic anti-Semitic depictions such as this photo's pamphlet, 'The Jewish Danger,' attributed to Russian Mathieu Golovinsky in 1938. In those writings, Jews are portrayed as inhuman beings bent on global domination. They are "the bad guys," as Professor Wallet explains, and all other people are "the good guys."

Image: USC Shoah Foundation Yad Vashem, public domain

Although David Icke has made innocuous comments such as claiming to be the son of God or that the moon is an artificial construct, his conspiracy theories about the Jewish are notorious. For example, as the BBC recounts, he falsely claimed that the coronavirus was spread by 5G radiation and that a Jewish group was behind it.

To support his theory of the 'reptoid humanoids,' David Icke relies primarily on a legend circulating among the Hopi tribe, which suggests that there was a series of tunnels below Los Angeles inhabited by a race of lizards some 5,000 years ago. In the year 1933, the mining engineer G. Warren Shufelt even said he had found those tunnels.

Another author, the American Scott Alan Roberts, relies on mythology and elements of ancient cultures to confirm his theories about 'reptoid humanoids.'

For example, there's Atum, the Egyptian contortionist; Quetzalcotl, the snake god of the Mayas; Enki/Ea, the double helix serpent of ancient Sumerian literature; and, finally, the Biblical serpent Nahash of the Garden of Eden.

In the present day, the conspiracy theory of the reptile people has become part of pop culture around the world. In most cases, it's being mocked, while in other cases its legitimacy is barely denied.

As an example, the third episode of the animated Netflix series 'Inside Job' shows how both Taylor Swift and the late Queen Elizabeth of England turn out to be reptiles. They reveal their reptilian looks in the middle of a party.

Conspiracy theorists have often targeted the Queen as a suspected reptilian, Time magazine claims.

Presidents of the United States such as Donald Trump and Barack Obama have also been suspected of being reptiles. The same goes for celebrities like Justin Bieber. As soon as a person has recognizable success or rises to power, the reptilian shadow may be cast over them.

As for Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, his gestures and facial expressions have been analyzed with the suspicion that he would have non-human origins. There's never been any real indication of that claim, especially when the conspiracy theorists' materials consist of manipulated videos and fake images.

While it all seems laughable and possible material for a good sci-fi series, there is unfortunately more to the 'reptoid humanoid' theory than just fiction and abstraction.

The fact that influential speakers such as David Icke use the theory to suggest that a plot is being hatched by "the evils" in society - while also saying that Jewish elites want to take control of the world - may lead his followers to act violently against those elites.

In October 2022, David Icke was denied access to The Netherlands after local authorities had indicated his planned speech in Amsterdam would "cause tensions between different groups and disrupt public order," BBC reported.

In fact, Icke has been banned from entering the Netherlands, and as a consequence, the entire Schengen community of 26 European countries, for two years. The steep measure is an indication of how seriously governments take the repercussions of his conspiracy theory, whether it's about reptiles, Jews, or both.