Unknown Creator

Why the fuck you lying? Why you always lying? I remember it was like hella viral on Twitter.

Why the fuck you lying? Why you always lying? I remember it was like hella viral on Twitter.

Well, I got the call one day, I got a message off, I think it was Starbucks, who asked me, can I do a brand deal? And I was like, what the hell's a brand deal? I remember them saying, can we speak to your management? And I was thinking, what, William Hill? Because they were like, no, you've got like 250,000 followers, you must have a manager. I was like, no.

Well, I got the call one day, I got a message off, I think it was Starbucks, who asked me, can I do a brand deal? And I was like, what the hell's a brand deal? I remember them saying, can we speak to your management? And I was thinking, what, William Hill? Because they were like, no, you've got like 250,000 followers, you must have a manager. I was like, no.

Aaron quickly got an agent and never looked back. And then they got in touch with Starbucks. And it was like a five grand deal. That was like winning the lottery. I swear, that was like literally winning the lottery. I was on... I remember we worked out my wages a few months back. We were speaking about me and Charlotte. Charlotte is Aaron's wife, by the way. I had £80 a month to live on.

Aaron quickly got an agent and never looked back. And then they got in touch with Starbucks. And it was like a five grand deal. That was like winning the lottery. I swear, that was like literally winning the lottery. I was on... I remember we worked out my wages a few months back. We were speaking about me and Charlotte. Charlotte is Aaron's wife, by the way. I had £80 a month to live on.

After all the bills, after everything, we had £80 a month to live on. So five grand was like, what? And they wanted me to do these new videos with them. It was a free video deal. And we did it. And I'd love to go and look at their videos again because it was like, that was a start of everything for me. And I've got to thank Starbucks, yeah.

After all the bills, after everything, we had £80 a month to live on. So five grand was like, what? And they wanted me to do these new videos with them. It was a free video deal. And we did it. And I'd love to go and look at their videos again because it was like, that was a start of everything for me. And I've got to thank Starbucks, yeah.

Yeah, that was it. That was it for me. Right, so what happened was, right, this is the truth. I made the decision to go part-time at work without Charlotte knowing. Because I thought, right, if I really want to do this, I've got to ramp it up. I've got to make 12 videos instead of six. I've got to go for it constant. So I went to three days a week at William Hill.

Yeah, that was it. That was it for me. Right, so what happened was, right, this is the truth. I made the decision to go part-time at work without Charlotte knowing. Because I thought, right, if I really want to do this, I've got to ramp it up. I've got to make 12 videos instead of six. I've got to go for it constant. So I went to three days a week at William Hill.

That lasted two days and I quit my job.

That lasted two days and I quit my job.

didn't tell Charlotte so I was getting changed at home into my work stuff I was leaving my house getting dressed in the bus stop and then doing my videos that lasted for two weeks because I had the money and then I had to come clean to her because I was getting caught by her being out in public and she was like well you're not at work I was like I'm just training or doing a training thing but I was normally in my normal clothes my dad's my mum kept catching me her mum and dad kept catching me and it was like

didn't tell Charlotte so I was getting changed at home into my work stuff I was leaving my house getting dressed in the bus stop and then doing my videos that lasted for two weeks because I had the money and then I had to come clean to her because I was getting caught by her being out in public and she was like well you're not at work I was like I'm just training or doing a training thing but I was normally in my normal clothes my dad's my mum kept catching me her mum and dad kept catching me and it was like

Had to come clean and said, look, I've quit my job, Charlotte, without you knowing. Obviously, it was meltdowns at the house, the mortgage, pay the mortgage, and, oh, my God, we've got a new baby. What are you doing? Get your job back now. But I put the five grand on the table, and I said, look, that's for us. She went, where the hell did you get the money from?

Had to come clean and said, look, I've quit my job, Charlotte, without you knowing. Obviously, it was meltdowns at the house, the mortgage, pay the mortgage, and, oh, my God, we've got a new baby. What are you doing? Get your job back now. But I put the five grand on the table, and I said, look, that's for us. She went, where the hell did you get the money from?

I was like, from doing this one video for a brand deal for Starbucks. I said, you've got to believe in me. Please, if not, I'll just get my job back. Never looked back. Nice.

I was like, from doing this one video for a brand deal for Starbucks. I said, you've got to believe in me. Please, if not, I'll just get my job back. Never looked back. Nice.

A lot of times these big Viners would literally steal ideas like word for word, but like switch it up a little bit.

A lot of times these big Viners would literally steal ideas like word for word, but like switch it up a little bit.

And theirs would blow up. And then people like, you know, who had like under 100,000 followers...

And theirs would blow up. And then people like, you know, who had like under 100,000 followers...

be like that was my idea and they would be like they would completely ignore you or be like no it wasn't or like too bad like that's the name of the game and it'd be like but now on tiktok like everyone is constantly remaking rehashing remixing the same idea over and over until it's beaten to shit whereas like on vine if like one person stole your idea it was like you would have to send like an army to be like hey can you think of an example of that happening

be like that was my idea and they would be like they would completely ignore you or be like no it wasn't or like too bad like that's the name of the game and it'd be like but now on tiktok like everyone is constantly remaking rehashing remixing the same idea over and over until it's beaten to shit whereas like on vine if like one person stole your idea it was like you would have to send like an army to be like hey can you think of an example of that happening

Anyone, honestly, from that era, like the big 1600, like any of the big people, like you would see a video and go, I've seen this before. There was no real way to prove it sometimes because it was like they would just act like they never saw it. Like, yo, why would I have ever seen that? I'm too big and busy. I would never have saw that. But like. It was like, that's so similar though, man.

Anyone, honestly, from that era, like the big 1600, like any of the big people, like you would see a video and go, I've seen this before. There was no real way to prove it sometimes because it was like they would just act like they never saw it. Like, yo, why would I have ever seen that? I'm too big and busy. I would never have saw that. But like. It was like, that's so similar though, man.

Like they would kind of just make whatever the hell they wanted. And they would probably, they would like remake either Vines or like Tumblr posts or like memes that were like clearly not their ideas. And they would just film shit, post it, get a million billion likes. Cause like all the young girls on the app would go nuts. Cause like they were, they were huge at the time.

Like they would kind of just make whatever the hell they wanted. And they would probably, they would like remake either Vines or like Tumblr posts or like memes that were like clearly not their ideas. And they would just film shit, post it, get a million billion likes. Cause like all the young girls on the app would go nuts. Cause like they were, they were huge at the time.

Like they were like K-pop huge. You know what I mean? Like, you know, they would walk anywhere. People would show up in droves. like Nash Greer, Cameron Dallas, Carter Reynolds, Taylor Kniff, like this whole crew. Shawn Mendes, but he ended up doing stuff, which is cool.

Like they were like K-pop huge. You know what I mean? Like, you know, they would walk anywhere. People would show up in droves. like Nash Greer, Cameron Dallas, Carter Reynolds, Taylor Kniff, like this whole crew. Shawn Mendes, but he ended up doing stuff, which is cool.

Um, I mean, I wasn't like super, super close to them, but based on like, you know, the vibes and the, you know, the drama they would get into, like... a lot of them now, like, like most of them probably aren't really all friendly, but, uh, but no, now, now these guys are shilling like NFTs and on Netflix or, you know, selling sports drinks. Like they're all, we're boxing Mike Tyson.

Um, I mean, I wasn't like super, super close to them, but based on like, you know, the vibes and the, you know, the drama they would get into, like... a lot of them now, like, like most of them probably aren't really all friendly, but, uh, but no, now, now these guys are shilling like NFTs and on Netflix or, you know, selling sports drinks. Like they're all, we're boxing Mike Tyson.

Like they're all, uh, doing stuff, but some, it's either like they're doing like huge things or they're completely just done and they're gone and they're like not in this industry anymore. But at the time it was, I think they were very transactional with their collaborations, uh,

Like they're all, uh, doing stuff, but some, it's either like they're doing like huge things or they're completely just done and they're gone and they're like not in this industry anymore. But at the time it was, I think they were very transactional with their collaborations, uh,

I know behind the scenes, one of my buddies did a Vine with some of those dudes, and they would get pissed if they didn't get a tag, if they didn't get a directed by or shot by tag, which is pointless to begin with. But you didn't tag me in that post and it blew up, they would get really angry. So I think the difference was with all the guys who went to LA, they wanted to be stars, right?

I know behind the scenes, one of my buddies did a Vine with some of those dudes, and they would get pissed if they didn't get a tag, if they didn't get a directed by or shot by tag, which is pointless to begin with. But you didn't tag me in that post and it blew up, they would get really angry. So I think the difference was with all the guys who went to LA, they wanted to be stars, right?

They wanted to be in the industry. They wanted to do movies or whatever. They loved the attention. They loved people talking about them. They loved... making stuff, but they loved it as a business. Like, they really wanted it to be their moneymaker. And I think a lot of, like, the indie miners... It's quote-unquote like the people who were, I guess, like actually funny.

They wanted to be in the industry. They wanted to do movies or whatever. They loved the attention. They loved people talking about them. They loved... making stuff, but they loved it as a business. Like, they really wanted it to be their moneymaker. And I think a lot of, like, the indie miners... It's quote-unquote like the people who were, I guess, like actually funny.

It wasn't kind of like the idea. They're more of like the writers, you know, the stand-up comedians, the people who like to get a laugh but don't necessarily want to do it for a job because it's cringe to like make money doing this.

It wasn't kind of like the idea. They're more of like the writers, you know, the stand-up comedians, the people who like to get a laugh but don't necessarily want to do it for a job because it's cringe to like make money doing this.

Yes, important.

Yes, important.

Sure.

Sure.

the minute the big players are making deals between themselves, we're no longer sharing it because it's like, oh, this is great. I just have to share it. Instead, we've made a deal. Yes. So I'll share with yours, you share with mine. And now suddenly, we are multiplying our number of followers. And it just means that the smaller guys don't stand a chance.

the minute the big players are making deals between themselves, we're no longer sharing it because it's like, oh, this is great. I just have to share it. Instead, we've made a deal. Yes. So I'll share with yours, you share with mine. And now suddenly, we are multiplying our number of followers. And it just means that the smaller guys don't stand a chance.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah, it's a classic monopoly. You've got complete control of it at that point because the popular page means they're coming to you. And because they're coming to you, you're making the popular page.

Yeah, it's a classic monopoly. You've got complete control of it at that point because the popular page means they're coming to you. And because they're coming to you, you're making the popular page.

No one wanted to be broadcasting the truth about what was happening with the app.

No one wanted to be broadcasting the truth about what was happening with the app.

It was a big hit to the company each time we lost a founder, and I think it certainly changed the trajectory.

It was a big hit to the company each time we lost a founder, and I think it certainly changed the trajectory.

What are those?

What are those?

They are my crockers.

They are my crockers.

What are those? Those are my crockers. What are those? They're called my sandals.

What are those? Those are my crockers. What are those? They're called my sandals.

The real question is, what are those? Why do you have your toes out in my lab?

The real question is, what are those? Why do you have your toes out in my lab?

No, certainly not in the end. Sadly, Brandon passed away in 2019. He was just 31 years old. He did speak to HuffPost before he died, just after Black Panther's premiere. He told them that he was, quote, sick as fuck over how it had been used.

No, certainly not in the end. Sadly, Brandon passed away in 2019. He was just 31 years old. He did speak to HuffPost before he died, just after Black Panther's premiere. He told them that he was, quote, sick as fuck over how it had been used.

He'd actually spoken to press earlier than that, after the meme first went big, and he was being asked, you know, do you mind that you made this thing and no one knows it's you? He was actually saying, no, it's great. It's amazing. I feel like I gave the world a gift. He was really pleased and it was great to see that he had had this impact on the world.

He'd actually spoken to press earlier than that, after the meme first went big, and he was being asked, you know, do you mind that you made this thing and no one knows it's you? He was actually saying, no, it's great. It's amazing. I feel like I gave the world a gift. He was really pleased and it was great to see that he had had this impact on the world.

But clearly in the sort of intervening years, it started to feel a bit different for him. And I think it was when he was seeing these big, big brands using it and benefiting off it. He said that when they went and they saw Black Panther, at that moment, he wanted to turn away from the screen and not acknowledge it.

But clearly in the sort of intervening years, it started to feel a bit different for him. And I think it was when he was seeing these big, big brands using it and benefiting off it. He said that when they went and they saw Black Panther, at that moment, he wanted to turn away from the screen and not acknowledge it.

Exactly. And particularly because he doesn't even feature in his own video. Even the policeman was out there doing interviews and getting recognized in the street and having people sort of do repeats. Brandon never got any of that.

Exactly. And particularly because he doesn't even feature in his own video. Even the policeman was out there doing interviews and getting recognized in the street and having people sort of do repeats. Brandon never got any of that.

And he really felt like, specifically, he said he wished that he had been able to find a way to trademark it somehow or get it because he should have got some kind of, particularly money for it when other people were making money. And that's exactly also how Kayla felt. Peaches Monroe, who did Eyebrows on Fleek, I mean, she was more attached to the content because it was her face.

And he really felt like, specifically, he said he wished that he had been able to find a way to trademark it somehow or get it because he should have got some kind of, particularly money for it when other people were making money. And that's exactly also how Kayla felt. Peaches Monroe, who did Eyebrows on Fleek, I mean, she was more attached to the content because it was her face.

But brands went crazy for that. You know, On Fleek became something that a lot of companies were using. And she tried a couple of times to launch herself with it. You know, she started her own brand and it was called On Fleek. And she was doing sort of fundraisers. And, you know, then she would be talking to the media about it. And it just seems like it never really took off.

But brands went crazy for that. You know, On Fleek became something that a lot of companies were using. And she tried a couple of times to launch herself with it. You know, she started her own brand and it was called On Fleek. And she was doing sort of fundraisers. And, you know, then she would be talking to the media about it. And it just seems like it never really took off.

I mean, in terms of finding her now, having tried hard until she's disappeared online. Yeah.

I mean, in terms of finding her now, having tried hard until she's disappeared online. Yeah.

I mean, it's like we all know the feeling like, you know, you make something good and then you see someone else get the applause and you're like, imagine that on a massive, global, phenomenal scale.

I mean, it's like we all know the feeling like, you know, you make something good and then you see someone else get the applause and you're like, imagine that on a massive, global, phenomenal scale.

I know when a slang word dies, when I see it in a commercial or in a brand deal or a corporation, I'm like, oh, this is it. It's officially dead now because now it's officially being gentrified and used to make money or create profit.

I know when a slang word dies, when I see it in a commercial or in a brand deal or a corporation, I'm like, oh, this is it. It's officially dead now because now it's officially being gentrified and used to make money or create profit.

I don't know what it is. Does oppression add a sense of flavor? I don't know. I always find when you're in those groups, there's so much more flavor, whether it be in your food or your culture or the way you speak. you have to make best with what your circumstances are.

I don't know what it is. Does oppression add a sense of flavor? I don't know. I always find when you're in those groups, there's so much more flavor, whether it be in your food or your culture or the way you speak. you have to make best with what your circumstances are.

And so you always, that's why some of the best comedy or art or music or culture, food comes from these communities because even when it comes to slang, a lot of slang came from that and became popularized through Vine. Like, I think even the discussion of like, where are these terms coming from? Came from that time when people were like, you know,

And so you always, that's why some of the best comedy or art or music or culture, food comes from these communities because even when it comes to slang, a lot of slang came from that and became popularized through Vine. Like, I think even the discussion of like, where are these terms coming from? Came from that time when people were like, you know,

This is like being borrowed or stolen or whatever, whatever term you want to give it. And when like a corporation that doesn't really have a familiarity with this culture or group is like, oh, that thing's working. Let's take that and try to make profits from it. That's maybe what was happening with the popular explore page as well.

This is like being borrowed or stolen or whatever, whatever term you want to give it. And when like a corporation that doesn't really have a familiarity with this culture or group is like, oh, that thing's working. Let's take that and try to make profits from it. That's maybe what was happening with the popular explore page as well.

You see how I do my makeup for work? I know we've all moved on, but there's a reason to dredge that one back up again. Demure dominated our public lexicon in 2024, and it was very cutesy for a while. Very mindful, in fact.

You see how I do my makeup for work? I know we've all moved on, but there's a reason to dredge that one back up again. Demure dominated our public lexicon in 2024, and it was very cutesy for a while. Very mindful, in fact.

Like when those terms or slangs were being taken and then were being used in by these bigger creators and being used in a way that was like, the funniness isn't there, the richness, the flavor of it isn't there anymore because it's just being used on such a broad scale. That's when that specific slang dies. But I guess, again, that's just a part of the ecosystem. I don't know.

Like when those terms or slangs were being taken and then were being used in by these bigger creators and being used in a way that was like, the funniness isn't there, the richness, the flavor of it isn't there anymore because it's just being used on such a broad scale. That's when that specific slang dies. But I guess, again, that's just a part of the ecosystem. I don't know.

That's just the profit-driven corporate structure. It's a byproduct of that. There's a new one being born or being used right now that nobody knows about, you know?

That's just the profit-driven corporate structure. It's a byproduct of that. There's a new one being born or being used right now that nobody knows about, you know?

As he developed his own content style, he started having hits that many people piggybacked on.

As he developed his own content style, he started having hits that many people piggybacked on.

Hey, I'm sorry, I didn't see you there. I was too busy blocking out the haters. And they were roommates.

Hey, I'm sorry, I didn't see you there. I was too busy blocking out the haters. And they were roommates.

Happy Christmas.

Happy Christmas.

Don't kill me, I say automatic. Money add and multiply. What it is? What's up? What's up? It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen in my life. It's watermelon. It's not a watermelon.

Don't kill me, I say automatic. Money add and multiply. What it is? What's up? What's up? It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen in my life. It's watermelon. It's not a watermelon.