An Australian DJ has found himself at the centre of an unexpected internet storm, but for all the wrong reasons. Levi Neufeld, known professionally as DJ Levi, has seen his popularity skyrocket, though not in the way he might have hoped, after a clip of his peculiar stage antics went viral.
The Performance That Started It All
DJ Levi, who boasts a combined 2.2 million followers on Instagram and TikTok and an impressive 3 million monthly listeners on Spotify, was performing in Düsseldorf when the fateful video was captured. The footage shows the Afro-house specialist pulling a series of bizarre facial expressions at the decks, including flashing a maniacal grin and repeatedly sticking out his tongue.
The clip was swiftly picked up by social media jokesters, who wasted no time in mercilessly mocking the Sydney-based artist. The online pile-on gained significant momentum when Spanish EDM station FlaixFM posted a clip featuring one of its own DJs delivering an over-the-top impression of Levi's now-infamous mannerisms.
A Wave of Global Mockery and Caricatures
The ridicule did not stop there. Dutch musician Pieter Valley joined the fray, sharing a video of himself at his decks, comically aping the Australian DJ. Other accounts began creating and posting exaggerated caricatures of Levi.
One account in particular, Lemme Draw You, appeared especially amused by Levi's antics, sharing a series of humorous illustrations depicting him in various stage scenarios. The comments on these posts were unforgiving, with one user declaring, 'I love how much you love to hate this guy,' while another chimed in, 'You making fun of him is the only thing I know him for.'
Some comments took a more creative turn, with a third user proclaiming the mockery as 'art' and another dubbing the DJ with the potential nickname 'DJ Cringe'. The sentiment of the online trolls was perhaps best summarised by one user who stated, 'I love that the whole internet decided to hate on this guy,' while another suggested he had 'embarrassed all of Australia.'
Backlash and Defence on Social Media
The relentless jibes have even spilled over onto Levi's own Instagram profile. His latest post—a carousel of images from Miami, Florida—has been inundated with remarks about his 'tongue moves'.
However, not all the feedback has been negative. A contingent of fans has rushed to the DJ's defence. One supporter offered words of encouragement, writing, 'People are just jealous of what you have brother. Don’t let the internet ruin you. You got this. This is just the downside of fame but f the haters.' Another fan chimed in with a supportive, 'Funny how some guys are soo jealous of him being a hot DJ. He’s the best.'
This isn't Levi's first brush with the public eye. Levi, who is also a model, got his start in reality television as a 'door pusher' on The Voice. Back in 2018, he told Daily Mail Australia of his interest in taking a then-single Delta Goodrem 'out for a drink,' describing her as 'extremely, extremely attractive.'
He popped up again in 2022 as the fan-favourite best friend of Married At First Sight groom Brent Vitiello. His quick defence of his mate at the wedding premiere caused many viewers to gush over him, with comments like 'I'd marry this Levi guy. He's a keeper' and 'Can I just say I've got a crush on Levi?' suggesting his current viral infamy is a stark contrast to his previous public perception.
