Ed Balls Day 2022: Why Twitter users celebrate the former MP on April 28

Today is Ed Balls Day–an annual day on which Twitter users come together to celebrate an iconic social media moment.

It’s a day to mark a blunder from 2011 that has continued to make social media users chuckle for more than 10 years--and nobody is more in on the joke than Ed Balls himself.

But what happened on April 28 and why is today Ed Balls Day?

Why is today Ed Balls Day?

On April 28, 2011, former MP Ed Balls tweeted out “Ed Balls” leading many to believe he was trying to search his own name on Twitter, but accidentally posted it instead.

Twitter users were delighted with the gaffe, and affectionately declared April 28 “Ed Balls Day.”

Rather than delete his mistake, Balls left the tweet up, and it is still online eleven years later. At the time of writing, the tweet has more than 111,000 likes and has been retweeted more than 118,000 times.

Balls himself is well in on the joke, and has been tweeting out “Ed Balls” on this day for the past few years.

Last year, on the 10th anniversary of the blunder, he tweeted: “Ed Balls #10LongYears”

Every year on this date, Twitter users share jokes and memes, and often tweet out their own names in Ed Balls’ honour.

Ed Balls Day 2022 Reactions

Labour MP Wes Streeting said: “#EdBallsDay seems to get earlier each year…” and shared a GIF of Ball on the BBC show Celebrity Best Home Cook.

BBC journalist Alistair Coleman said: “It’s #EdBallsDay and Father Ballsmas has been!” and shared a photo of fruit-scented toys advertised as “smelly balls”.

Journalist Kate Bevan said: “It’s the best holiday of the year!! Happy #EdBallsDay to those who celebrate, and especially to [Kamahl Santamaria]!!”

Poet Brian Bilston even wrote a poem to celebrate the occasion.

Who is Ed Balls?

Ed Balls is a writer, broadcaster, economist, and former politician, who served as Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families and as Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Balls is married to Yvette Cooper, an MP who is currently serving as Shadow Home Secretary. They have three children.