The family of Ronnie Pickering, the man behind one of Britain's most viral internet memes, have condemned false reports of his death as 'disgusting' and 'disrespectful'. The 64-year-old from Hull was falsely reported to have died on Friday, prompting an outpouring of tributes on social media.
A relative of Pickering hit out at the rumours, stating: 'People believing this fake news and making a laugh and joke about it are disgusting and disrespectful. He's a lot more than just an internet meme. I'm not just gonna have people disrespect a member of my family to this extent.'
Pickering shot to fame in 2015 after a road rage confrontation with a moped rider, during which he repeatedly demanded: 'Do you know who I am?' The exchange became an internet sensation, with millions amused by the absurdity of the incident.
Reflecting on the clip, Pickering previously admitted he regretted the outburst, saying he was 'spouting gobbledegook' on a difficult day. He added: 'People have rows like that all the time but they are not always filmed. The guy wanted a reaction and he got one.'
Despite the notoriety, Pickering claimed he 'never made a penny' from the footage and said he now sees the funny side. 'It has stayed with me but I do not revel in it. It is certainly not something to be proud of,' he said.
