Exploring digital ruins · Uncovering online myths · Archiving new internet culture · Tracing the edges of the web · Exploring digital ruins · Uncovering online myths · Archiving new internet culture · Tracing the edges of the web
← Back
Dark Zone// 15.03.2026

The Story Behind Blank Room Soup . Avi

Among the legends of early internet folklore, Blank Room Soup.avi stands as one of the most iconic creepypastas ever born.

Abstract representation

Ray Figure

Within the vast, dark archives of internet history, few videos have managed to generate such a profound and lasting sense of unease as Blank Room Soup.avi. Originally uploaded in 2005, when YouTube was still in its infancy, the footage depicts a blindfolded man sobbing while consuming a bowl of soup. He is flanked by two towering, eerie, masked figures who alternate between looming over him and offering unsettling caresses.

For nearly a decade, the video lay dormant, buried alongside thousands of other obscure clips. It only gained massive notoriety years later when a user known as “maintenance tunnels” re-uploaded it. This time, the video went viral, sparking a torrent of speculation across online forums. It is important to contextually locate this phenomenon; it occurred during what many consider the “Golden Age of Creepypasta,” a period characterized by a voracious appetite for digital horror stories and conspiracy theories.

The impassive, expressionless figures in the video are not anonymous entities. Internet sleuths tracked them down to a single name: Raymond Persi, an animator with credentials including work for Disney. These characters, known as "RayRay," were originally created for live performance art shows in the Los Angeles area. Viewed in their original context, they appear almost harmless, designed for avant-garde theater rather than horror.

The Theory of the Stolen Costumes

How, then, did these performance art characters end up in such a disturbing piece of footage? The most widely accepted theory was advanced by the prominent horror YouTuber Reignbot. She uncovered a Dailymotion channel named "rayraytv" that hosted several clips featuring the characters. Among them was the infamous soup video, accompanied by a chilling description:

“A clip of people who look like us doing something to someone that we would never do. We promise.”

Reignbot contacted Raymond Persi regarding the footage. Through an email exchange, Persi explained that the characters had been created years earlier for shows. He claimed that during a tour stop, the costumes were stolen from a dressing room, and the perpetrators were never identified.

Weeks later, the narrative grew darker. Persi allegedly stated that upon returning home from work, he received an anonymous email containing the Blank Room Soup video itself. What disturbed him most was the precision of the actors' movements inside the RayRay suits; he noted that such performances usually required weeks of specialized rehearsal to perfect. He further suggested that he had received other unreleased clips, hinting at the existence of footage that has never circulated publicly.

The Final Connection

Despite Persi's account, many unanswered questions remained. Was the video genuine? What was the man eating? Who were the accomplices? The breakthrough came via a third, lesser-known video that surfaced online, featuring a man who appeared to have been kidnapped. Investigating this new lead, the internet community found a vital link: that man was allegedly a member of Stolen Babies, an avant-garde band known for its horror-themed aesthetic and intense visual style.

The definitive detail lies with the band’s lead singer: Dominique Leon Persi—Raymond Persi’s sister. In other official music videos for Stolen Babies, the RayRay characters appear prominently, solidifying their place within the band's visual identity.

Conclusion

In light of these undeniable connections, the terrifying Blank Room Soup.avi was almost certainly a stroke of viral marketing genius. It appears designed to generate online buzz by exploiting the nascent genre of web-based horror to promote the band. While no official confirmation or denial has ever been issued, it stands as an incredibly successful artistic endeavor. The fact that it remains a topic of intense discussion today, twenty years later, is the ultimate proof of its enduring impact.

"We live in the space between the pixels."
END OF FILE. END OF FILE. END OF FILE. END OF FILE.