Colin has come to terms with the meme in recent years, as he developed a different identity through football playing for Ohio’s Division II Lake Erie College. This month, the 18-year-old capitalized on the meme’s popularity by inking a sponsorship deal with Popeyes to include his name, image and likeness in ads.
“It was really hard at first,” Colin told The Washington Post. “But family and friends have told me, ‘This is going to be good.’ You can really flip this. Part of me is pinching myself right now.”
A Popeyes spokesperson confirmed the sponsorship deal, adding, “From memes to dreams, Dünerst and Popeyes are once again gracing our social media feeds.”
In August 2013, Colin said his father Evens ordered a chicken meal for the family at Popeyes in Irvington, New Jersey Colin said he filled a white cup with sweet tea and waited for the family to come out of the bathroom . Colin was approached by a man who was recording a video on his phone.
A videographer believed Colin resembled Lil Terrio, who was previously popular on Vine for his dance moves has been shut down October 2016. Colin wasn’t sure if the videographer was talking to him or the person next to him, so he looked at the camera and glanced to the side, camera again. Colin said he dismissed the encounter as a joke.
About three weeks later, my sister Everlyne shared the video. People used short clips to express their reactions to awkward moments, like seeing a teacher outside school or being asked to work on the weekend. Fifth grader Colin said his classmates nicknamed him “Therio” because he became famous for the meme.
Colin said he felt accepted after two years in middle school when he met new friends he didn’t know about memes. In high school, Colin said football helped shape his identity and find an affiliation. Colin’s teammates gave him the new nickname “Killer Whale” for his blocking on his line offensively.
“People started to know who I was,” Colin said.
Colin’s high school coach, Ray Oliver, said he invited Colin to his office when he learned about the meme. Although he often internalized his emotions, Collin explained the difficulty of overcoming bullying.Oliver said Collin saw an opportunity to turn memes into marketing opportunities.
After East Orange Campus won the soccer championship In December 2021, Colin posed for a photo with the trophy while looking sideways to mimic the meme. When an influencer asked Colin what he would do if he won, Oliver said Colin replied: “Man, I want chicken.”
At Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio, we learned about memes when coaches began recruiting for Colin in 2021. Involved When I entered the small university in February 2022, word spread throughout the students that I had a new classmate.
“I don’t think we negotiated for a light like Dünerst,” said Lake Erie coach Demir “DJ” Boldin. “After we really got to know him, he’s one of the greatest kids ever.”
Colin, who stands 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighs 330 pounds, wore a red shirt in the fall for growing up. Around January sports personality All of social media started to connect Colin to a famous meme. Colin, who studies communications, tagged Popeyes on January 8th. Instagram In the post he wrote, he was ready to talk business.
Colin said Popeyes responded. After signing the contract, he danced throughout the dormitory and Popeyes designed a billboard featuring Colin in Newark.
According to Boldin, he is now the first footballer to land a paying sponsorship deal on Lake Erie. Colin declined to disclose wages, but said they were “a lot.”
“He’s embracing who he is,” said Oliver. “He was able to take power from the negative side of power and turn that pain into gain.”
