The man behind the popular 'Blinking White Guy' meme has spoken about the surreal experience of becoming an internet sensation. Drew Scanlon, whose shocked double-take from a 2013 episode of GiantBomb's Unprofessional Fridays became a viral reaction gif, discussed the ups and downs of online fame on BBC Radio 1.
Scanlon told presenters Scott Mills and Chris Stark that he rarely uses his own meme, comparing it to 'a band wearing their own T-shirt'. He noted that his friends often send it to him for a laugh, but he finds it 'a little uncool' to deploy it himself.
The meme, which shows Scanlon blinking in disbelief after co-host Jeff Gerstmann said 'farming with my hoe' while playing the video game Starbound, took several years to gain traction, first going viral in 2017. Scanlon admitted he is seldom recognised in public, attributing this to changes in his appearance, including growing a beard and longer hair.
Reflecting on the downsides of viral fame, Scanlon said: 'You have no control over it. It can be a little scary when you realise how big the internet is. It's your face, it's kinda your identity, it's a little strange not to have control over it.' He added that he tries to stay on the internet's good side by being 'cool'.
Despite the challenges, Scanlon acknowledged some positive moments, such as the meme being used by The Daily Show and filmmaker Ava DuVernay. He emphasised that 'memes are real people', reminding fans that behind the gif is a real person.
