Mark Zuckerberg has been widely mocked after footage emerged of him struggling to drink a pint of Guinness on the Cheeky Pint podcast. The billionaire appeared out of his depth doing something most people do in a pub without a second thought, prompting a wave of jokes online.
As conspiracy theorists revived long-running claims that he is secretly a lizard, Zuckerberg shut down the mockery with a surprisingly witty response. After stumbling upon viral memes making fun of him, the Facebook founder took to X to defend himself. He said: "That's just my face."
Viral comeback draws millions of views
His comeback has been viewed over eight million times, with many applauding his sense of humour. One commenter joked: "Resting Zuck Face." A second backed him up: "That's what I've been saying. Let the man be." A third praised: "Gotta love your comeback arc as a whole."
Origins of the lizard theory
The comparison of Zuckerberg to a lizard is a long-running internet meme born from a mix of conspiracy theories, awkward public appearances, and his global power. The joke stems from a broader conspiracy theory popularised in the late 1990s by former UK sports broadcaster David Icke.
Icke claimed that a race of shape-shifting reptilian aliens, called the "Babylonian Brotherhood", had infiltrated Earth and disguised themselves as human elites to control global affairs. According to this fringe theory, world leaders, monarchs, and ultra-wealthy billionaires are secretly lizards in human skin.
As Zuckerberg became one of the most powerful and wealthy men on the planet, he fell into the crosshairs of this conspiracy. The joke stuck because of his infamous public demeanour. In congressional hearings, interviews, and presentations, he often comes across as highly rehearsed, robotic, and socially uncomfortable.
His wide-eyed, unblinking stares and stiff body language frequently trigger the "uncanny valley" effect, the uneasy feeling people get when something looks almost human but not quite. The internet latched onto his awkwardness, using the lizard conspiracy as a punchline for his apparent struggle with basic human mannerisms, which explains why the Guinness clip went so viral.
