There has been much talk over the years of the "Black Eye Club". Various celebrities and politicians have been seen in public with a black or otherwise bruised eye. There have been various theories, including it being an initiation into the Illuminati (or one of its higher ranks) or being an injury caused by a vril lizard (a supposed alien or demonic parasite that burrows through the eye socket and attaches itself to a nerve or the brain, essentially taking over a person).
However, what if the real explanation is related to the traditional meaning of the phrase "black eye" when used in a metaphorical sense?
Oxford Languages:
Black eye: a mark or source of dishonor or shame. "the building's condition is a black eye for the entire state"
Dictionary.com:
Black Eye: A mark of shame, a humiliating setback, as in "That there are enough homeless folks to need another shelter is a black eye for the administration."
Collins Dictionary:
Give someone a black eye: to punish someone severely, but without causing them permanent harm, for something they have done
Idioms Online:
Give someone a black eye: To damage a person’s (or organization’s) reputation or to shame or humiliate them; can also refer to an organization or any other entity.
What if the "Black Eye Club" is made up of people who are being publicly shamed for doing something that the Illuminati/cabal considers shameful or disloyal? Maybe even making a deal with white hats, in some situations? Perhaps it could even be an excommunication of sorts.
I've always thought that this is exactly what it is. What's interesting is how these very vain people never attempt even a modicum of makeup or attempts to hide it... its like it must be in full view, although they can give any excuse, just not attempt to hide it.
Maybe it’s to signify contrition or punishment for some failure or transgression? A way to publicly show other cognoscenti that they’ve been dealt with? Kinda like how the yakuza reputedly cut off a finger to atone for dishonor or failure?
Yeah if it was some initiation thing or "alien burrowing in" you'd think they do something way more discrete or easily hidden. Maybe it's a punishment for ones who "broke the masquerade" and a public warning to the rest: "hey dipshit here nearly outed all of us, don't be like them."