Selfie Kid steals the show during Justin Timberlake's Super Bowl performance
This weekend saw arguably the biggest sporting event on the planet, the 52nd Super Bowl, take place.
And there was a lot of hype surrounding Justin Timberlake’s halftime performance – especially since his now infamous appearance in 2004 with Janet Jackson.
But rather than it all be about JT hogging the limelight, not only did Kylie Jenner reveal her news of a new baby and steal some of his thunder, but a new meme was also born: #selfiekid.
When Justin, 37, took to the stage, he mingled with the crowd, darting in and out as he sung his hits, including Can’t Stop the Feeling. During all the commotion one youngster managed to nab the perfect selfie with the singer but people soon noticed how seemingly unimpressed the kid was.
The boy was revealed to be 13-year-old Ryan McKenna and, much to the amusement of the internet, he appeared not to be phased by the superstar getting so up close and personal.
Before long, Twitter was rife with a plethora of memes based on the reaction the boy had – one that many said was either an unimpressed, baffled, or even starstruck look, because the shot of him afterwards looking down at his phone is what got people talking.
When your friend go dancing with strangers at the club and u just don’t know what to do #selfiekid pic.twitter.com/MzH4237Z1y
— Triyoncé (@tribranchvo) February 5, 2018
Oh, that’s what he was looking at! #selfiekid pic.twitter.com/4qJEUOBFWT
— Whitley Bailey (@whitleybree) February 5, 2018
IMAGINE IF #SelfieKid #JustinTimberlake #PepsiHalftime pic.twitter.com/a5pmDZVVuk
— zoe (@pawprintedzoe) February 5, 2018
Don't even try to tell me @jtimberlake didn't plan this. #selfiekid pic.twitter.com/MlNVmDKrRk
— Kay-Z (@klzanotti) February 5, 2018
“Don’t know who I just took a picture with but my mom is going nuts” (credit from Snapchat #selfiekid #SuperBowlLll pic.twitter.com/0n5j1yhGiH
— TarHeel (@flamingoHeels) February 5, 2018
okay another one… #SelfieKid pic.twitter.com/63r16S39kt
— mckenna (@McKennaBieger) February 5, 2018
When you Chilling with #JustinTimberlake but your mom texts you that it's Bedtime #selfiekid pic.twitter.com/ZFev5AunUe
— Eric Grochowski (@GrochowskiEric) February 5, 2018
Everyone, including brands, couldn’t resist getting in on the #selfiekid hype.
That #satisfying moment when you become the top meme of 2018. #selfiekid
— SNICKERS® (@SNICKERS) February 5, 2018
But Ryan did know who JT was, telling Twin Cities: ‘I just thought to myself, ‘I’ll never get this opportunity again in my whole life,” he said. ‘I just went for it.’
Ryan’s dad, Jon, couldn’t believe the brief but enormous fame his son had suddenly attained, either. ‘My phone started blowing up,’ he said. ‘It died, like, instantly after it happened. We had friends from all over reaching out. I couldn’t believe it.’
Everywhere was sharing the viral photo.
AND HERE IT IS.#SelfieKid with @jtimberlake!#HalftimeSelfie#SuperBowlSelfie#SuperBowl #PepsiHalftime pic.twitter.com/Edww4CSSm7
— Good Morning America (@GMA) February 5, 2018
Tomorrow on TODAY: @craigmelvin talks to the one and only… #selfiekid! #SBLII pic.twitter.com/estt96XBm5
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) February 5, 2018
Watching this cool teen was the best part of the halftime show #SBLII pic.twitter.com/FYAvwY6jJy
— Mashable (@mashable) February 5, 2018
The youngster is already being compared to the famous left shark that performed next to Katy Perry is 2015, after generating similar internet buzz and fame during and after the sporting event.
#SelfieKid is the new Left Shark
By far best thing out of JT's performance! pic.twitter.com/RRPPDJS8qh— C.Kaleb (@Ckalebtoday) February 5, 2018
No doubt we will see #selfiekid around the internet for years to come, having totally upstaged the former *NSYNC star.
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