I snapped a photo of Robert The Doll before reading that he puts curses on anyone who takes his photograph. Uh oh. Surely it’s just a myth, I thought. Curious, I began reading about the doll’s history. In 1903, Robert was given to four-year old Gene Otto, who lived in Key West. As Gene grew up he blamed everything bad that happened on the doll. By the time Gene was married, Robert had taken the blame for a lifetime of lies, misdeeds, and mischief.
Some say Robert’s face had begun to change by the time Gene died in 1974, that his eyes grew more expressive. People insisted that the doll moved around and could be heard giggling behind their backs. Many who came in contact with Robert experienced bad luck, as if the doll was getting even for all the years he had been made a scapegoat. The curse of Robert The Doll grew into such a well-known legend in Key West that whenever things went wrong, locals would simply shrug and say, “Blame it on Robert.” But Robert’s real fame came when the “Chucky” horror film series (Child’s Play, Child’s Play 2, Child’s Play 3, Bride of Chucky, Seed of Chucky, etc.) came out, as they were said to have been modeled on the real-life story of Robert the Doll.
There are many theories about why Robert behaves the way he does. Some believe it is an ancient curse. Others say it is voodoo. Still others insist that Gene Otto’s ghost has returned to the doll whom he loved so much. The museum cats seem to believe in Robert’s dark powers – they keep their distance when staring up at the glass case in East Martello Museum where Robert is enthroned. People, on the other hand, tend to doubt the legend, and have suffered the consequences. Letters scattered at Robert’s feet and tacked up on an adjacent wall are testimonials from dozens of unbelievers who were cursed by Robert The Doll, such as this one:
Since our visit to the museum, we’ve been under a dark cloud.
I began to develop a rather severe toothache. Two days later, Hurricane Charly cut our vacation short and we joined the parade of evacuees leaving the islands. We were evacuated from our vacation spot three days early with my mouth in tremendous pain. My sister-in-law was also having female health issues. We were all forced to make alternate travel arrangements on the run.
My sister-in-law lives in Clearwater. After a problem laden and horrendous trip, she finally got home, only to be evacuated from there too. She packed up her two cats and headed for her parents house in Winter Haven and ended up in the middle of the storm there. They lost power for two days.
When we arrived in Miami for our flight back to Indianapolis, the plane broke and they had to “find” a different one for us. The following day, back in Indiana, I went to the dentist to learn that my tooth had abscessed and I had to have a root canal.
Last night we had a huge thunderstorm. Our house was hit by lightning – not once, but TWICE! We were unplugging things, but not fast enough. We lost three TV’s and a large satellite dish. The first hit, which sounded like a gunshot in the house, took one large TV and the satellite dish, and the second hit got two more TV’s. Again, the sound was horribly frightening.
Please do me a favor and tell Robert that we did not mean to anger or offend him and we’re sorry if we did. His photo did turn out good, so he sat very nicely for me. Would he like it back?
Yours sincerely,
Cindy Lyons
Battle Ground, Indiana
As for me, well, Robert and I were introduced several days ago and so far I’ve suffered no ill effects. But then, I’m not taking any chances. Like the cats, I choose to believe.
Dear ,Robert please forgive me for looking at your pictures and videos of you without you’re permission. Please forgive me I was just curious about you I deeply apologize.
Dear Robert I am sorry for looking at your picture without your permission. Please forgive me
Dear Robert,
I apologize for looking at your photo! I was curious after stumbling upon an article about you. I promise to respect your privacy and leave you alone. I am sorry if I offended you. I offer my sincerest sentiments.
Please forgive me.
Dear Robert
I’m so sorry that i looked you up with out your permission i was just curious please forgive me that i have wronged you please don’t hurt my family
Dear Robert please forgive me for looking you up on the internet and looking at your pictures and dear Robert please don\\\’t harm me end my family.
LOVE YOU.
Dear Robert,
Please forgive me for looking at your picture and reading about you without your permission. I am sorry.
Dear Robert,
I stumbled across you and your history through Lore and other websites such as this one. I am sorry if I have offended you by looking at images or reading up on you online. I was unaware, like these many readers on this site of any impropriety for doing so. I will respect your privacy and stop. Please forgive me.
Deal Robert,
I saw you on Lore on Amazon prime and curious of you. Please forgive me to research you and looking into you.
I’m so sorry to have looked at your photo and research you Robert please forgive me will you please forgive me
i am so sorry robert please i ask for your forgiveness
Robert, I saw your picture in a buzfeed article. I did not mean to look at it, and I am very sorry if I offended you. Please forgive me.
Dear Robert,
Please forgive me for looking at your picture and reading about you without your permission. I am sorry.
dear robert i am sorry for looking at your photo and researching you without your permission. please forgive me for my intrusion. may you be left alone in peace.
Dear Robert I am sorry to look at your history, pictures, and videos. You are my favorite haunted doll and that I didn’t realize that you don’t like pictures taken and maybe people looking at your photos. Please don’t curse me nor my family. But you are still the best Robert and you’re always number one to me.
Robert,
please forgive me for researching you after watching your story on Lore without your express permission. I truly meant no offense or disrespect, take care bud!
Dear Robert the doll,
I am sooooo so sorry for looking up information about you and for looking up and seeing pictures and videos and anything or everything about you. I didnt know and I hope that you can forgive me. Please do forgive me and I am truly sorry.
Dear Robert,
I heard about you online and became interested, watched videos and did a little research.
I do not know if you curse people who only take your photograph without permission or if you also curse those who look at your photographs without permission. After finding out you require permission I did ask for a sign if you do not grant permission for me to research you and could not see any. So I am unsure as to whether I was granted permission or not.
I am truly sorry for intruding on your privacy by researching you. I will no longer look at photographs, research you or discuss you without very noticeable permission.
You are truly fascinating and one of a kind. I would be grateful if you would not curse me, my friends and family and uplift any curse if it is already there.
I am a believer and wishing you all the best.
Regards,
LH
I too learned about you on Lore and want to express my deepest apologies for learning about you without your permission. Please forgive me, I promise never to take your photo without asking for permission first. Or look at your video online on YouTube ever again without asking for your permission
God bless,
Dear robert, I’m sorry I had researched you and looked at photos and videos of you. Please do not curse me or my family. While writing this I’m truly sorry for what I’ve done. You looked very great in your pictures too and your pose. Evrything about you was stunning. After this, I won’t look at you without you permission. Love you robert.
Love,
Summer
Dear Robert,
I don’t know if you only get mad at people who take your picture, or you get mad at people who look at your picture without your consent. If it is the latter, I am sorry. I did not mean to click on this link, although I have read about you before and I am interested in your story. I’m sorry I offended.
Dear Robert,
Please accept my deep and sincere apology for researching about your story and watching a few youtube videos about you, and I have always believed what you are capable of doing . I have also discussed you with my boyfriend as I was fascinated by your story, which is totally new to me. Please forgive me for intruding your privacy without asking for permission in advance. My health has gone bad since then and now I have to make frequent visits to clinics for health issues. Please I apologize for what I did and on behalf of my boyfriend Gary. Please uplift the curse, I am a believer but I was ignorant and naive. Truly Sorry.
Yours sincerely,
Sofia
Dear Robert,
I’m very sorry for not asking your permission before researching you and watching the episode about you on Lore. Please forgive me. I will not be so naive next time.
Thank you,
JD
Dear Robert,
I am sorry I took a screen shot of you before I learned that I had to ask for permission before taking your photo. Please forgive my indiscretion as I have now deleted it. I hope you have a pleasant autumn.
Best Regards,
Miles
Dear Robert,
I am truly sorry for researching about you online and looking at your photos and for watching a video about you without your permission. I was just curious about you after watching the TV series “Lore”. I did not know that I needed your permission to do so. Please accept my apology and forgive me.
Sincerely,
Cynthia
Dear Robert,
I too learned about you on Lore and want to express my deepest apologies for learning about you without your permission. Please forgive me, I promise never to take your photo without asking for permission first.
God bless,
Erin
Dear Robert,
I’m sorry for looking at your photos and reading about you without your permission. I got curious when I watched a tv show about you. Please forgive me, I meant no disrespect.
Sincerely,
Sydney
Dear,Robert I am truly sorry for reading and looking at your pictures I meant no disrespect please forgive us sincerely,Adrian and Aaron
Dear Robert I heard about you a while back from a video but i’m sorry that I looked at your picture without consent I meant no disrespect to you take care
Dear Robert, I hope I did not offend you by looking you up and reading about you on the internet! My wife and I watched a show that talked about you and I was very interested in learning about you. I am sorry I did so without your permission. I hope you can forgive my wife and me, and I hope I can meet you in person some day and get your permission.
Dear Robert,
I am sorry for reading about your history and watching your video without your permission. I truly did not mean any harm and wanted to learn more about your. I should have been thoughtful and asked your permission.
dear Robert I’m sorry for looking you up online and reading about you without your permission. I would like to express my apologies to you and I find you very interesting.. I would love to someday get to see you in person and will definitely ask your permission in case I ever get to see you … and I noticed that this is October so I hope you got to return to your home this year and I hope you have a wonderful time and get to meet many new people you are fascinating and thank you for your time reading this…
he is fake
I am truly sorry Robert if I have offended you by observing you and your history. I intend no harm towards you or Gene. I hope it brings no offense to you for me to continue my research, as I am a paranormal investigator and I have no intention of disrespecting you. I apologize for any inconvenience and do hope this letter finds you well.
I’m sorry Robert for reading and looking at your pictures.
Dear Robert
Me and my friend were just curious and were sorry for looking you up without permission.