When we think of Dan Bilzerian, we think of bikini-clad models, luxury cars and high stakes poker games. One thing we most likely don't think of him doing is joining the army. However, new reports have claimed that the American internet personality has done exactly that, allegedly enlisting in the Armenian armed forces this week.
This week, Armenian radio station Arm Radio claimed that a spokesperson for the Military Commissariat had confirmed the news to Armenpress, noting that Bilzerian had submitted all necessary documents to be registered with the Armenian Armed Forces.
On Monday, Dan and his brother Adam received Armenian passports in Yerevan. "Brothers Dan and Adam Bilzerian attending an oath taking ceremony on the occasion of receiving Armenian citizenship, the head of the Passport and Visa Department of the Armenian Police, Mnatsakan Bichakhchyan said in a Facebook post, sharing a photo with the brothers. According to law, every male citizen of the Republic of Armenia should register with the Armed Forces.
It appears the notorious playboy - who is of Armenian descent through his father's side - has also travelled over to Artsakh, Armenia, where he has met with the country’s human rights defender Ruben Melikyan.
Yesterday Melikyan posted a picture of him and Bilzerian on Facebook with the caption: "Communication seems to be a success." The post was seemingly a hit with his followers on Facebook, with the picture gaining almost 1,000 likes and numerous people praising the meet-up.
"I can’t think of a better person to give Dan a breakdown of Karabakh & the human rights violations taking place daily because of the Azeri blockade & posture," wrote Movses Ter-Ogannesyan.
Bilzerian revealed in a tweet on Sunday that he will arrive in Yerevan and head to Thailand afterwards. He has stated in the past that half of the Bilzerian family was killed during the Armenian Genocide.
"Today is the 100 year anniversary of the Armenian genocide," he wrote on his official Facebook back in April 2015. "The Turkish government murdered 1,500,000 Armenians, half of the Bilzerian family was killed. They still refuse to this day to acknowledge this genocide, which with awareness could of possibly prevented the German holocaust. I don't hate Turks for this, as none of the ones responsible are even alive today, however the Turkish government should acknowledge its occurrence as history has a tendency to repeat itself."
He continued: "This being said, i don't believe in taking pride in ethnicity, religion, or where you were born, as those are things you had no control over. Take pride in who you are as a person, what you've accomplished, what you've done for others, and how you have handled the adversities in your life . To all the people who follow and appreciate the freedom to unapologetically be yourself, and for all the soldiers/veterans out there #Respect"
Bilzerian - known as the King of Instagram nowadays - entered the Navy SEAL training program in 2000, however, was reportedly dropped from the program for a "safety violation on the shooting range." He then attended Tampa Preparatory school and later enrolled at the University of Florida, majoring in Business and Criminology, eventually going onto becoming a well-known poker player and controversial Instagrammer.