Man Behind 'Blinking White Guy' Meme Says Viral Fame Is 'Scary'

The man behind the 'blinking white guy' meme has opened up about the 'scary' experience of becoming a viral hit.

Drew Scanlon pulled an incredulous facial expression during a 2013 episode of Unprofessional Fridays - a show by video game website Giant Bomb, on which Drew was a producer.

He made the now-famous face when his editor, Jeff Gerstmann, said he had been 'doing some farming with my hoe here' while playing Starbound.

It wasn't until four years later that it took off as a GIF, and before Drew even knew it, a moment he couldn't even remember had brought him online fame.

If you've used social media even just a little bit over the past four years, you're bound to have seen it - but here it is again anyways:

It's basically become a succinct modern way of saying: "Sorry, what the f**k did you just say?"

Naturally, going from being an average Joe to having your face plastered all over the planet continuously is quite daunting.

Speaking on Radio 1 today (Monday 18 October), he 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, but I feel like if you're cool that helps the internet not want to turn on you. So that's what I try to do."

He's also grown out his hair and beard - and of course aged - since the clip was recorded, so while the meme is familiar to millions, he can usually get through his days undisturbed.

Twitter/Drew Scanlon

He said: "A lot of people don't realise it's me. I think I look pretty different now. That was eight years ago.

"I've actually only been recognised one time because of the meme. I think number one, I look different and number two, I don't think people expect memes to be real."

He also revealed that he doesn't use the GIF because it feels 'a little like the band wearing their own T-shirt'.

He added: "I don't really [use it]. My friends love to send it to me, cause they think it's funny."

A major plus side of the viral fame is that it has helped him to raise thousands of dollars for charity.

He recently raised more than $78,000 for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

You can donate here.

Topics: Viral, Interesting, Community

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey