What Happened To The Popeyes Meme Kid?
In case you're over 80, Dictionary.com defines "meme" as "a cultural item in the form of an image, video, phrase, etc., that is spread via the internet and often altered in a creative or humorous way." Some memes become so famous that they saturate social media, and like a bad smell, linger forever and a day.
Steve Harvey's photo once got the meme treatment after he tweeted a photo of himself looking dapper in a green suit during a romantic getaway to Paris with his wife. He was dragged for months with hundreds of memes surfacing. Harvey's a repeat subject, with a 'stashe-free meme of him previously going viral, too (via BET). And you have probably been living under a rock if you have not seen Taylor Armstrong's famous cat meme that's still making the rounds years later. The Daily Dish notes the image that sparked the meme shows a screaming Armstrong being held back by Kyle Richards as she lunges at Camille Grammer. A cat was added and the rest is history.
It's easy to forget that real people are behind those internet memes. Dieunerst Collin, for instance, was 9 when he became an internet superstar as the "Popeye's meme kid" back in 2013. Thanks to his love of the chain's chow and resemblance to "Terio," another viral sensation, for a hot minute, memes of the little boy were all that would crop up on Facebook and Twitter feeds. So, 10 years on, what happened to the Popeye's meme kid?
Dieunerst Collin made bank from his Popeyes meme kid fame
It turns out that the "Popeyes meme kid" went and got himself all grown up. ABC7 Chicago reports that Dieunerst Collin went viral after video of him clutching a Popeye's soda cup while suspiciously eyeballing a cameraman was posted on Vine. It quickly turned into a meme that permeated social media for months. Some kids would shrivel up and die to find themselves the punchline of an internet joke. But not Collin. When life gave him Popeyes, he made bank.
ESPN reports that, initially, Collin wasn't happy about his unwanted fame. However, as he grew into his teens and became "a redshirt freshman center at Lake Erie College in Ohio," he decided to turn that frown upside down and capitalize on his 15 minutes. Collin tagged Popeyes in a Sports Center Instagram post congratulating him on becoming a state football champion, and the chicken chain signed him up to a sponsorship deal in a heartbeat.
"I went on Instagram and decided [to ask] everyone to repost and tag Popeyes, not knowing that I would get all the support I got," Collin explained. "Popeyes DM'ed me and said we actually want to work with you," he shared. The food chain announced the news via a meme, of course. "Proud to welcome @CollinDieunerst to the family," they tweeted alongside a meme of him in his famed childhood cup stance next to a recent pic of him in his football gear.
Dieunerst Collin went from bullied to legend
It took a while for Dieunerst Collin to "own" his unexpected internet fame. At first, he was bullied over the meme and was really uncomfortable with people staring, pointing, and laughing at him in the street. However, now he's the one that's laughing — all the way to the bank.
Collin admitted he really wasn't thrilled about having been made into a meme and being thrust onto the world stage as a little kid. He explained how the whole thing had started. "It was somebody randomly recording me, and I had never been viral before. When it first came out, I would take it as bullying, every time I use to hear 'Oh Terio, Terio,' that's not my name," he explained (via The Shadow League). "When it first happened, I kind of felt sad about it," he continued, sharing that he "got over it" in time.
Since scoring the Popeye's gig, Collin has become somewhat of a legend. When they announced their new hire, the chicken chain was flooded with messages of support for him. "The power of manifestation. @Popeyes and .@CollinDieunerst now if we could just get a #Popeyes in WY my day would be complete! Blessings and good vibes to you, young man!" one fan tweeted. Meanwhile, the fast food joint announced to People that Collin's deal would include a billboard near his home in New Jersey and "other fun content to come."