Who is the Blue Man in Red Dead Redemption 2? The story behind Kentucky’s Easter Egg

Red Dead Redemption 2 is almost 7 years old now, and yes, it kind of feels like Rockstar has left it behind, especially since Online mode hasn’t seen any major updates since 2022. Most of their focus now is clearly on GTA Online and the much-anticipated GTA 6. Still, the game’s far from dead. In fact, it’s very much alive, with a strong community keeping it going. There have even been rumors about a possible next-gen update – nothing confirmed, but fingers crossed. One thing’s for sure: the game still holds plenty of secrets, like the Blue Man mystery.

Why is there a Blue Man in RDR2?

Let’s be clear, it’s not new that players have spotted blue-skinned man in RDR2, there’s already been a few posts on Reddit about these wild encounters, and even sightings in Red Dead Online. But if you’re wondering why they look like that, here’s an explanation.

The Blue Man in RDR2 is inspired by the Fugates family, also known as the Blue Fugates. They lived in eastern Kentucky and had a rare genetic condition called methemoglobinemia, which made their skin look blue.

This started back in the 1800s when a French orphan named Martin Fugate settled there and married Elizabeth Smith, who carried the same gene. Because of their isolated community and limited gene pool, many of their kids were born with blue skin.

It wasn’t until the 1960s that doctors figured out it was due to a lack of an enzyme that helps blood carry oxygen properly. They found a treatment that could reduce the blue tint.

The Fugates didn’t really have serious health problems, most of them lived well into their 80s and 90s, but their blue skin made them stand out and face social stigma and isolation. They became local legends known as the “Blue People of Kentucky,” and their story even inspired books like The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson.

RDR 2 takes place in a made-up version of the US, but it’s pretty clear that New Hanover is inspired by regions like Kentucky. That’s why the developers slipped in a really interesting Easter egg related to that area.

Red Dead Redemption 2

October 26, 2018

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