You think you hate MoPac? Evil Mopac hates it more.
So much so that the infamous X account handler, now also on Instagram and Facebook, has spent the last decade as a sentient version of the highway: outspoken, combative and, obviously, evil.
The anonymous Austin personality has built a loyal following by turning one of the region’s most gridlocked stretches of asphalt into a voice, one that proudly claims the title of “pro-gridlock activist,” and rarely misses a chance to antagonize readers.
Evil Mopac has plenty to say about life on the roadway officially known as Loop 1 — nicknamed MoPac in honor of the historic Missouri Pacific Railroad — and all things transportation.
On drivers: Just saw a BMW driver use a blinker. There’s still hope for humanity
On Teslas: (vomit emojis)
But Evil Mopac also has evolved over the years, veering into cedar fever, politics and sports, all with the same chaotic energy. Austin Current caught up with Evil this week about how it started and where it’s going. (The interview was slightly edited for brevity.)
How did this start/how was the persona born?
Although it was probably inevitable, my first day on Twitter was in February of 2016. An unexpected lane closure on MoPac had me in a bad place (I was a commuter at that point) and I just decided, on a whim, to launch Evil MoPac and start talking sh** to drivers and government leaders. As you can see, not much has changed in the 10 years since.
The Evil MoPac persona is a more brash, cartoonish version of me with a bigger mouth. But if I’m being honest, there’s a lot of overlap between the two and sometimes I wonder which one is more true to myself. I’m not a highly political type in real life, but this persona has given me a ready megaphone in a time where sane voices willing to call out the powerful and corrupt are needed. I embrace this. Being called Evil WokePac is fine with me.
In a gimme-the-mic culture, why do you keep your identity secret?
Keeping my handler’s ID on the down low allows me (and the accounts) significantly more artistic freedom for various reasons. But I’ve also long believed that putting an actual face and name on the character would diminish it somehow.
Do you make money off this gig or is this just a labor of love?
I’ve branched out into some brand stuff over the last couple of years, including: (1) a partnership with Armadillo Coffee Roasters, a great Austin mom and pop who made a delicious Evil MoPac blend, and (2) another gig with a cool guy named Alan Farmer who designed a free MoPac Toll App (for App store and Google Play) and added me as the brand face. I’m open to working with people/brands/products I believe in and who share my values. Have your people call my people (which is me).
I also have a product line that I’m very proud of that I put online periodically that features t-shirts, bumper stickers, hats, mugs, and more. It was all designed by a University of Texas class called The Lab in 2024. It’s some really fun stuff that I’ve gotten great feedback on, and the site will go live again this summer for a few weeks.
Finally, I do a Substack called Under Construction With Evil MoPac that I’m very proud of. I call it “long form Evil MoPac.”
Are you this snarky in real life? Is there an expiration date on all this?
I’m similar to the character, but with more tact. I actually consider myself a nice guy IRL. Like with the accounts, real life Evil MoPac Handler isn’t for everyone, but if you like me, you really like me. Also, I love Austin a lot and have some pretty strong opinions on where it’s headed. I considered ending this thing a few times when Twitter was turning into Muskland, but I’m on so many platforms now I’ll probably stick with it indefinitely.
