Ivan Zvonimir was about to have the best day of his life, which subsequently turned into one of the worst days of his life. Or so one can assume. The leading rights group chief of Croatia was set to receive a high honor from President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic. Zvonimir’s work at the Croatian Helsinki Committee for Human Rights led him to these prized steps where he posed alongside a number of dignitaries. Sadly, the very moment the cameras started clicking was the moment when Zvonimir’s pants fell down. In front of the international media, the world, and the internet.
The above photo captures the precise moment when Zvonimir realized his plight, and Grabar-Kitarovic also looked down to discover the absurd situation. This must have felt like one of those slo-mo moments within a nightmare, where even trying to speak feels like the ultimate struggle. There was no hiding what had happened, and tossing down a cane would attract more attention to the spectacle. Luckily, Zvonimir was not wearing a speedo, and he was also partially covered by his award. These small mercies saved a humiliating situation from growing even worse.
Knowing his plight was inescapable, Zvonimir handled the situation with grace. He rescued his pants and delivered a knowing glance to the cameras. Suspenders may come back into style after all.
