Viral Side Eye Meme Star Inks hangs out with Popeyes years later

Since the dawn of meme culture, hundreds of humble people have become viral sensations overnight, with funny gifs, videos, or images of them being used as templates for memes across the board.

For a 9-year-old who became a Vine meme years ago, that success is about to pay off.

Dieunerst Collin went viral after a man videotaped him on Vine thinking he was then-famous Vine star Lil Terrio, who had a catchphrase saying “OOOH” in a cute voice.

When the man approached Collin at a New Jersey Popeyes soda fountain and asked him to deliver the line, Collin looked him over in a hilarious loop that has been used on the Internet for years since.

Fans who learned of Collin’s football successes posted a photo of him winning the state championship with New Jersey’s East Orange High School football team, juxtaposing the original meme and making the same face years later.

The side-by-side was quickly singled out by SportsCenter where it garnered over 1 million likes on Instagram.

Collin is now an offensive lineman for the Lake Erie College football team in Painesville, Ohio, which caught Popeye’s attention after enthusiastic Twitter and Instagram users (and Collin himself) called on the brand to give him a NIL deal. essentially a brand partnership for the university. athletes.

“I thought this was probably the chance I can get with Popeyes to at least get in touch,” he said. ESPN. “I went on Instagram and decided to post a message asking everyone to repost and tag Popeyes, not knowing I would get all the support I got. I believe Popeyes DMed me Monday afternoon and said we really want to work with you.”

On Thursday, Popeye’s confirmed that the deal had been signed.

Proud to welcome @CollinDieunerst to the family. pic.twitter.com/nbc61QxIx9

— Popeyes (@Popeyes) January 12, 2023

“All I can say is I’ll be promoting that company like crazy,” Collin said USA TODAY. “I love Popeyes myself.”