Memes Ruined Their Life: The Victims of Online Infamy

[@wavywebsurf]

Thanks to Keeps for sponsoring this video! Head to keeps.com/wavy to get 50% off your first Keeps order.

[@TheDerpyBoi]

Wavy, PLEASE do a video on the Boston Mooninite Panic!

[@aliciakitchens1810]

Thanks

[@JulesBrunoJjBaggy]

Keeps has metal in it. You're poisoning yourself for your hairline. If you took a hike once a week, you'd have a stronger hairline plus better mental health and physical fitness. Please stop spending money on internet drugs and go buy a pair of hiking boots.

[@Elliot1215]

Please do Will it blend next, I've been itching to see a history/documentary on their channel since they disappeared a long time ago.

[@garysan]

My brother you make it seem like Keeps is helping your hair grow back but its just preventing future hair loss. You have just as much hair now as you did before you started using keeps, so the comparisons don't really help

[@heinrichmuller7974]

i kinda feel the "the star wars kid" not only was it a private moment and thus very candid but it was totally harmless, like he wasn't hurting no one with his moves and he was truly living in the moment a feat many of us cannot claim to do in our daily lives. he didn't deserve to be bullied.

[@Synthwave89]

Society thrives in putting others down, especially those who least deserve it.

[@TomTheOwl68]

@@Synthwave89 most of society. There are still people out there that do care about people's feelings. Personally I do not understand at all why so many people feel the need to ridicule or abuse other people because of what they do, how they look, what they are or what they say. It's just nasty and you really wish they would feel some level of shame but they don't.

[@donttalktomeyoureannoying8736]

Just think, the actual actors who both played Anakin/Darth Vader were horrendously bullied back in the day; Jake Lloyd had a life full of turmoil and Hayden Christensen became a recluse and didn’t pursue acting like he could’ve . It’s sad what these fandoms do

[@smells109]

it's stupid because he's doing shit WE'VE ALL DONE like bruh tf are these bullies doing lmao, grow up

[@marlonmarquez4798]

He was just having fun with it. Every single kid has pretended to be a Jedi at Some point.

[@ronokplays]

Star wars kid reaching out to the public due to an uptick in cyber bullying related suicides made me cry. After everything he went through he didn’t want anyone else to suffer 😢😞

[@WynneL]

Right? Reminds me of Nasubi, the guy who was tortured on a Japanese game show through isolation, but then was there stepping up to encourage people to survive through the pandemic: like, "if I can make it, so can you."

[@bigscrap84]

Not all heroes wear capes

[@Galadrian70]

I really like the Star Wars kid. I never imagined it as a joke. We are the Star Wars kid.

[@fifteen_march]

sadly many teenagers still enjoy bullying and blocking their peers online, they don’t care that its another living human on the other side of the screen. todays teenagers are mostly scum based on what I observe online… no one actually cares about depressed/suicidal people, saying you do is just virtual signaling to your stupid friends about how “caring” you are when in reality you couldn’t care less.

[@CDLjrakeo]

You’re a grown man dawg 😂

[@violette2056]

What’s insanely sad to me, is that the video Star Wars kid recorded was absolutely harmless and very adorable. It’s a video of a kid being a kid, which is why it’s so infuriating that he was bullied for it.

[@micalzoncillo249]

when i was a kid i was obsesed with samurai x, so i used to play like a samurai with a stick a lot. i always felt related with star wars kid. i'm happy that wasn't me, the guy is a survivor.

[@elle_rose_xx]

Tonnes of the people bullying him probably did the exact same thing in their rooms. Poor Star Wars kid

[@blondequijote]

This was the early 2000s when fat people were still a walking, (heavy) breathing, punchline.

[@darrellwilliams1714]

I'm sure he was bullied for things besides that..

[@theheartlessknight2426]

Somebody literally Rotoscoped the blades into that one video! That's a lot of work just to make fun of someone... Given that, I HAVE to believe that even then there were people who loved it just for what it was, so finding out how badly he was bullied was really disheartening. To say the least. As far as I'm concerned, the Force will be with him, always.

[@R3B3LF1GHT3R]

Ghyslain's story always broke my heart, he was just having fun and emulating a really cool character. The fact he tried so hard to be positive about it is inspiring tbh. I hope he's doing well now.

[@RobFox-c3p]

i mean...when he turned 18, he COULD have changed his name, then applied to college far away, or attempted to move away.....it seems like at least a name change was in order after what those stupid kids did to him

[@rahzo8712]

@@RobFox-c3p I live in Quebec, bros name is the most basic one ever

[@hahan00b]

​@@RobFox-c3phow about we just not be assholes to some kid? Why should someone have to change their name when they did nothing wrong.

[@jeffreyhogan3087]

@@hahan00bIf only he wasn’t being stupid and actually used a personal camera.

[@hahan00b]

@@jeffreyhogan3087 so that gives people the right to harass him? No.

[@rarerx]

The fact that that Andy blogged who raised money for the Star Wars kid later became CEO of Kickstarter blew my mind. It’s insane how internet lore works

[@MagikSpellzz]

What goes around comes around I guess

[@rachb373]

I thought they said Chief Technical Officer

[@juliet1495]

@@rachb373 they did

[@MASTEROFEVIL]

Small world

[@qcpostmalone3493]

Dont Forget the starwars kid is Now a cyber bullying lawyer 😂

[@MNIceMan44]

Wavy is the sorta dude who you meet on vacation, talk for an hour and never met again, but you always remember him

[@leoleague6053]

That would probably be a great and very interesting talk. 😅

[@DakSquall]

Gay ?

[@mlzotter6405]

@@DakSquall gay.

[@wavywebsurf]

accurate

[@MNIceMan44]

@@DakSquall no u

[@LilacMonarch]

Honestly for the "angry german kid" one, I would say it was not the meme that ruined his life. It was the news station. They literally lied at his expense and faced no consqeuences for doing so, it's disgusting.

[@carewser]

Yup, they completely fabricated the story so America isn't the only country with fake news

[@comedicsociopathy]

That's the tragedy about this. Here in Germany, everyone with a brain realised pretty fast that the kid was playing a character and we all loved it anyway. (I mean, the website the guy uploaded his videos to was literally called testicular mumps ffs lol) But then the boomer media came and Karens went crazy, boomer media in other countries just took the story with even less context because language barrier and then everything went to shite completely. I'm glad the guy is doing alright nowadays.

[@skyet6325]

Honestly the kids actually kinda funny! His gangster video was spot on lol

[@NoctisLucisCaelumCXIV]

It was fucked up

[@Eisenarsch]

Focus TV was garbage is garbage always will be garbage...

[@the-og-cerealkiller]

Remember kids: CONSENT applies to more than just sex

[@Psilomuscimol]

It doesn't apply to your snack stash. I can get in there whenever I want.

[@fartnloud7411]

It doesn't apply to Jack Doherty...apparently.

[@TheMightyZwom]

Unless you are a big company. Then you can take whatever the fuck you want and let your lawyers worry about the rest...

[@tomsnowden6201]

@@TheMightyZwomyeah but you generally consent to company bs via user agreements dude.

[@danneharvey2600]

@@TheMightyZwomthen don’t sign the terms and conditions outlined first thing in every big name media app. It is bullshit but not knowing about it is an issue of your literacy.

[@takjel1585]

Being from Québec City, I've managed to meet the Star Wars Kid during the Comic-Con. The guys really cool and he made a documentary about Viral videos and the bullying that can comes from that. Funfact the guy's a Lawyer that deals in cyberbullying ! I'm really happy to have a chat with him.

[@mattiemathis9549]

Great update!!!!

[@rachb373]

That's great he's been able to monetise it and seems to have a positive attitude

[@nomesobrenome7905]

i just dont understand why he doesnt lost weight. People would be much more blown away

[@stephengrigg5988]

@@nomesobrenome7905 because someone's weight doesn't make them a success or failure

[@xdesolateone8564]

@@nomesobrenome7905 Because who cares hes cool already

[@fudzzz]

As someone who was bullied throughout my middle school years, its traumatic and it always stays with you (I'm in my 40s now). I can't imagine what Ghyslain went through since it's not just the school but the entire internet laughing. I'm glad he was able to get help and is in a happier place now and helping others. If I could talk to him I'd let him know that his 'sacrifice' has brought countless joy to so many people. Even though most of us were laughing at the 'Star Wars Kid', it wasn't out of hate or meanness but out of genuine joy. It's like laughing at a slapstick comedian doing his thing. The best thing about that video was seeing this most probably shy/introvert guy letting loose and enjoying himself to the fullest in that moment. But in the end, it was his private moment and should have stayed that way if he didn't want it shared.

[@AbuAfakski]

Sure, if we know. But that’s the problem: without an explanation video like this how does anyone know the whole story?

[@ponpiniyu]

can u help me

[@guardiane]

Yeah, I understand the whole bullying situation...thankfully I wasn't beatdown to the same degree these people were...not really. I never fought back, thinking this would dissuade the bullies, but no, they'd get angrier BECAUSE they had no real reason to attack me when they wanted one. They ended up making up their own stories to justify their actions. Anyway, it was a terrifying moment in my life, knowing that everybody hated me for no good reason, I had nowhere to hide, no one to help me and all I could do was tough it out alone. Life is great now, and I'm glad I got through it. But there were moments of depression where I didn't want to live on this planet anymore...horrible.

[@janelle9998]

"As someone who was bullied" almost everyone gets bullied in some way, lmao its nothing special

[@beep3242]

@Janelle I feel like this is the difference between being spanked once by your mom and being beaten ruthlessly as a child. Yeah technically they're within the same realm, but one is far worse than the other. There are different calibers of bullying with different levels of long term impact.

[@MalBeats]

Pretty ironic, TechnoViking was at an event focused on anti-commercialism, then his appearance there gets commercialized and monitized.

[@Annathroy]

Yeah and I stand with him, he is right

[@hattarapilvi]

which is probably a big reason why he was so pissed about some random guy making bank off him

[@Acinnn]

also that right wing extremists approached him and that he lost jobs. I wonder what was the background of that event and what was happening there it lead to this.

[@Slade951]

​@@Acinnn Seeing as he saved a blue haired lady it's not surprising right wing would find him as their enemy.

[@Acinnn]

@@Slade951 maybe.... It seems he was wearing mjölnir whihc I guess one of the reasons they are calling him viking. Lot of people like Vikings... but also ..some fo the neonazi..... And I wonder if that event was in some way conected to antifa.

[@st0ny242]

The Angry German Kid story is messed up. The media and bullies almost turned him into the thing he was portraying in his videos. It's so sad to watch. News pages making school shooters out to be those psychopathic, agressive gamers while in reality, they are often turned violent by their circumstances and are in desperate need of psychological help. On HealthyGamerGG, they once talked to a guy who nearly committed acts of violence in his school and the video is eye opening.

[@GamesWithBrainz]

do you remember approx what the title to that healthygamer vid is? I wanted to watch it so I looked the channel up and scrolled a bit but couldnt tell or didnt find which vid ur talking about

[@st0ny242]

@@GamesWithBrainz It should be called "Psychiatrist interviews a potential school shooter" and was uploaded 8 months ago on the Healthy Gamer youtube channel

[@GamesWithBrainz]

@@st0ny242 yep, found it. Thanks for the quick response bro

[@st0ny242]

@@GamesWithBrainz No biggie, I'm procrastinating so I have a lot of time haha

[@lycanthewerewolf6801]

Yeah, that's really sad. I do kinda understand his logic, though: if you're going to take the heat for something you didn't do, you might as well actually be guilty of it, right? He's not the first person to use that reasoning.

[@MrChiyobaa]

Fun fact in regard to the angry german kid: He came out during the last year on youtube in a documentary, explaining the backround of this video. He said that he downloaded unreal tournament from a torrent site and was in the process of installing it. As his parents suddenly left for shopping, he got the idea for this video. And sure enough, he does claim in the video that he died, thats what he was shouting about in German, but if you look at the screen you can indeed see that the games installion guide is still on the screen. Furthermore you mentioned the first site he uploaded this to „Hodenmumps“ 😂. Hoden translates to testicle and mumps is a sickness. It was that kind of early 2000 site.

[@Manmaker110]

Been looking for this comment :D

[@TheOncil13]

also funfact: he's last name is in Polish but as Polish as it can get his mother or even father could be just from Poland i would not be suprised

[@nalcarya]

@@TheOncil13 Poland is literally right next to Germany. He could be polish or 2nd to nth generation german, no way of knowing lol

[@FumblsTheSniper]

“Testicle Sickness” is going on the list of cool band name ideas

[@TheOncil13]

@@nalcarya i know beacuse i live next to germany as you say

[@TigersandBearsOhMy]

I remember Star Wars Kid. I saw the edited ones before the original and honestly thought it was cool... 🤷‍♀️ It's a terrible shame people made fun of him for it. Why is humanity like this? His story is extremely depressing. I hope he's doing well. If you're out there Ghyslain, my friends and I thought you were awesome.

[@WSendam]

Kids are cruel, Jack

[@BrodieG1]

@@WSendam and I love kids.

[@hnad9874]

@@BrodieG1🤨

[@Dumb-Comment]

@@BrodieG1 🙄

[@darksu6947]

@@BrodieG1 Cool beans grooooooomer

[@97TheWatcher]

I feel genuinely terrible about the Star Wars kid and kept thinking you were gonna say he committed suicide

[@SirBlackReeds]

That rumor was spread about him.

[@misseselise3864]

same. i’m glad i was wrong

[@aivlysplath]

@@SirBlackReeds holy shit

[@RisingRevengeance]

Thankfully he's still here but the damage was pretty serious

[@JewelWildmoon]

Same. I was afraid of that being where that section was headed, but I'm actually surprised to hear that he's behind the creation of Kickstarter now.

[@kdawson020279]

I was bullied growing up. When I first saw the Star Wars Kid video in the first Renaissance of file sharing (I'm old enough to have used BBS sites) I felt it was awkward, and had a feeling of bad faith behind it. It's the kind of crap you do believing no one will see it just to screw around and I was a complete dork with too much energy. I did dumber crap, just no cameras around to ruin my life in the 80s and 90s that didn't require converting film and video to digital years later. Saved by inconveniences and expenses. I feel really bad for the kid.

[@Liquid_Mike]

well said

[@sopranophantomista]

Internet society in the 90's and 2000's we were just...not there yet with a wider scope of approaching things with compassion rather than ridicule or vitriol. Anonymity is a hell of a drug, what hurts is that it hasn't calmed down even with a name attached, and cyberbullying is still a real problem.

[@kdawson020279]

@@sopranophantomista There's also so many nuanced arguments of allowing free expression without turning your platform into a dumpster fire of people who have anonymity and a thesaurus filled entirely with racial and religious epithets looking for an excuse to be pissed off and attack people for just living life.

[@SobriquetS]

I started on BBSs as well and growing up unpopular and bullied, I can't imagine having the internet around during that time. I would keep my own kids off of it for as long as possible, if I had them.

[@owloko1349]

The case of the Angry German Boy is actually a very good example of why media needs regulation, TV and News Outlets should be legally held accountable when they make false publications, and give the correction as much espace as the fake, wichtis always the opposite of what happens.

[@dansmith1661]

That is antisemitic

[@owloko1349]

@@dansmith1661 what?

[@queefgod420]

@@dansmith1661 explain

[@BeefMeisterSupreme]

@@queefgod420 dude has tons of conspiracy videos on his channel, just ignore him

[@queefgod420]

@@BeefMeisterSupreme he should just delete his channel

[@jamesmccarthy4777]

Messed up how the bullies only start to regret their behavior after the whole things fades from memory. I remember being bullied myself. And I can tell you to this day I have not spoken to a single one of the jerks who never even acknowledged how toxic they were to me for over a decade.

[@zoerose3478]

They will forget, but the person being bullied will NEVER forget it

[@toastgown]

My favourite was meeting one of my bullies on a bus years later, and them somehow thinking it would be a good idea to sit down beside me and talk non stop about anything *other* than how they treated me when we were kids. I couldn’t help thinking, if you have something you want to say to me, just say it, otherwise please leave me alone...

[@gbae636]

Toughen up g

[@CDLjrakeo]

Now it’s about to happen in this very thread nerd

[@ddjsoyenby]

some people are massive pos's.

[@StefanVeenstra]

AGK is a living example of someone who had been broken by the internet, his own community and society at large, yet by never giving up turned his luck around. It's really more inspiring than upsetting when you think about it. Feel most sorry for the model, her likeness got used for nothing but pure ridicule and mockery while she was just doing another honest job. Really shows how merciless the internet can be, hope she too finds ways to turn it around and find happiness greater than the internet can comprehend.

[@mrvex6695]

Its like Chris Chan, but it went the other way and guy actually made something out of himself despite the internet infamy.

[@mampenza]

Who is AGK?

[@Sceptonic]

@@mampenza Angry German Kid (AGK)

[@joeycampbell940]

She gained plenty of fame and fortune from the memes and if you look at her career record and listen to her friends, her life didn't start going downhill until the ignorant lawsuits. Like who'd wanna hire someone who sues over something as small and fast passing as a meme.

[@fizzyfinest]

@@Sceptonic He actually called himself "Echter Gangster" aka Real Gangster. AGK sounds pretty stupid..

[@СергійСавелов]

For me, the thing that shines the most in case of Norman is that he got kicked out of school because he literally responded to bullying. Like, yea, threats of mass murder should be looked into, but the fact that everyone ignored all of the bullying is just... it's just screaming...

[@NAT20Ashes]

It’s seems like the zero tolerance for bullying always works that way it’s not the bullies who are punished its the person being bullied finally standing up for themself everytime.

[@davemccage7918]

@@NAT20AshesI stood up to my bullies and got congratulated by the vice principal. That was the 90s though, now these super granola schools think that you can stop a bully with a warm hug or something.

[@davidci]

I think the most baffling life-ruining meme was of Howard Dean, that one politician who made a slightly-weird-at-best yell during one of his campaigns that somehow became a meme that completely ruined his campaign. It wasn't a scandal, it wasn't a controversy, it was a yell, and yet it ruined his career at the time. American politics at its finest.

[@LegendStormcrow]

It got his name out there to the people who disliked his platform. The sad thing is he's still better than Biden, but so would Trump's wig. And it's a pretty bad wig.

[@humanmonsters]

Ah simpler times. Today you can literally have been sued multiple times for fraud, be a proud racist, have a dozen rape accusations and be in the middle of an active court case for raping a minor, and STILL become president.

[@moonshinei]

It didn't ruin his career at all. His campaign led to him becoming the DNC chairman, and his 50 state strategy would be hailed as one of the most successful campaigns ever, delivering the Democrats over 60 Senate seats, 300 House seats, and President Barack Obama.

[@Seek1878]

YEEEEAH!

[@strombreakr]

*USA! USA! USA! USA!*

[@rdpeete19861]

Can't say that I was surprised by technoviking's response. You can't expect a guy who participated in a parade against commercialization to jump for joy at the prospect of commercializing his likeness.

[@BlueProphet7]

Didn't stop him from taking all the money from it. Dude sounds pretty into commercialization as long as it goes into his pocket.

[@ChrissaTodd]

@@BlueProphet7 i mean no i think it's fair he wanted the money from it the other guy was making money off his likeness without him being involved i'd be mad too.

[@DramaticT]

@@ChrissaTodd Sounded like bullshit to me. Nobody would recognize the guy from the grainy ass footage if he wore a shirt and maybe had a different beard. The guy wanted the cash, simple as

[@CrystalBepis69]

​@nico641 Yeah, like you wouldn't do the same

[@Beakdriver4ever]

​@@DramaticTSo you're mad that someone had their likeness taken then gained something from it?

[@memeju1ce]

props for blurring the children’s faces! even though it’s altered and it’s available readily, it’s important to give them as much privacy as possible

[@newchannel1220]

bobby Lee is still spreading this fake story😡.

[@cats_as_phists1304]

@new channel that's some good orange chicken bapa. Rip this Blu e cig and I'll cover the fryers while you walg to your trugg.

[@Liquid_Mike]

it's funny that wavy thinks we could even tell Asian kids apart, lol!

[@memeju1ce]

@@Liquid_Mike i know this wasn’t malicious, but using language like this can perpetuate harmful stereotypes :) just felt the need to point that out

[@lisachiappetti6092]

​@memeju1ce I can almost guarantee you this was malicious 🙄 I see right through you my man. And this attitude sucks. Be better

[@the_real_rascal]

I was living in SD when the Kony guy had his breakdown. I saw him pacing the street and thought he was just some drugged up homeless guy. Someone acting out wasn't uncommon at the time. It wasn't until I saw the news that I realized who it was. Hopefully, he's doing much better now.

[@KaylaTheKindOne]

Honestly, the older I've grown the more awful I've felt for Ghyslain. As rough as his attempts were, he did better with that choreography than I probably ever would have at his age. If the video is unedited, he didnt even accidentally hit himself. The edit with the lightsaber effects even looks unironically cool! And it's only now that I even found out the recording was supposed to stay private. Some classmates he had...looks like even 2000s teens thought public embarrassment was a good idea for a "prank". At least that Andy guy and the people who raised money for him tried to be sweethearts about it.

[@youtube-kit9450]

Honestly, something I never got. Sure, I had fun looking at star wars kids and him being a dork, but that always to me was just on the level of "haha your friend did something really dumb and you from time to time inebriatedly fuck with them with that. Why people have to harass people associated with the meme is just beyond me.

[@silvertriforce2574]

"At least that Andy guy... ...tried to be sweethearts about it." -some idiot who didn't watch the video. Andy humiliated and profited off the poor guy, to the point even he didn't accept his "apology" gift and said the whole situation would have been better

[@GreatFox42]

"looks like even 2000s teens thought public embarrassment was a good idea for a 'prank'. " That's been the case since the dawn of humanity. I'm not excusing it, god no, but people ganging up on "other"s like that, _especially_ teenagers, is not and has never been a new thing.

[@youtube-kit9450]

@@GreatFox42 No clue why boomers and older people act like bullying, mocking people who are different or stuff like that are some new invention in the last 20ish years. I mean, aside from "I want to act like we were better", you'd have to have been blind as a bat or just willfully ignorant and a piece of shit to not "see" how it wasn't better back then.

[@themexicankitchen]

At least he got an i-pod and appeared in a Weezer video clip

[@jenny1106762]

My heart breaks for those who get cyber bullied. Star wars kid is a truly wonderful person who after overcoming the torment and hurt infected on him, still reached out to encourage others who are being bullied as well. I hope those who hurt others like this get a taste of their own medicine.

[@BarryBerryBarry]

Hahaha

[@davidhoward4715]

@@BarryBerryBarry Gosh, Barry, I remember the good old days when trolls had originality and even wit.

[@BarryBerryBarry]

@@lthom7577 WTF

[@ashantythegreat3231]

@@BarryBerryBarry Hahaha...whats funny

[@BarryBerryBarry]

@ashanty the great I know, right

[@RegentPandora]

I swear, Norman's transition from "the boy who was bullied for being the "Angry German Kid" to "the jacked guy who accepts the meme he had inadvertantly created all those years ago" of today is seriously one hell of a glowup right there.

[@jonnyl2657]

He is homeless and heavily drug addicted

[@seraphik]

@@jonnyl2657 ? what are you on about?

[@jonnyl2657]

@@seraphik there is a german KZbin channel doing an interview with him. He is living on the streets of Frankfurt. Channels name is Straßen Leben iirc

[@coolman6139]

@@jonnyl2657 which video is it because I can't find it on their channel.

[@jonnyl2657]

@@coolman6139 channels name is Stimme der Straße video Name is angry german kid war drogenabhängig

[@lizzietrot2522]

I remember in highschool we did fundraisers for invisible children and then teachers just silently transitioned to other charities when all this started coming out

[@justarandomgamer6309]

tbh If I were the "angry Geman kid's" parents I'd sue the heck out of that news station that did the report. Also what a glow up he had. I'm glad it all worked out after sometime.

[@pyrointeam]

Unfortunately that's not where the angry german kids story ends. He was living on the streets and did several interviews with the channnnel "Stimme der Strasse" (german for Voice of the Streets) 2 months ago if you go to the channnnel and se*rch for Angry German KID you will find them.

[@liboud22]

@@pyrointeam Quit Bullshitting. Have you learned nothing from this video, you twat? Norman is NOT living on the streets now. *The channel did three videos*, documenting his struggles after the infamous AGK video. He struggled with addiction after he was bullied, and became homeless and lived on the street for a while. All of this was in the PAST. he has recovered now and doing pretty well for himself, making rap music and other stuffs.

[@pyrointeam]

@@liboud22 Listen you fool, i told you where the videos are to find and that they are 2 months old. If you are too lazy or stoopid to look it up for yourself, than that's not my issue, so go and annoy someone else, kid.

[@rb98769]

@@pyrointeam That seriously sucks. I thought he was the one guy who managed to turn the situation around, but I guess those psychological scars can linger for decades.

[@pyrointeam]

@@rb98769 Some will always stay and consequences like depression and losing hope/giving up on life may even stay forever or return again and again. I hope for him and have faith in him, that he returns to the upwards spiral. I just think the internet should know about him or constantly support him. Also i think criminal media like "Focus", who claim to be serious and reliable and started the bullying by lying about him, making a potential school shooter with anger problems out of him, taking away the comedic satire context, should be held accountable and pay him for the destruction they caused. I hope he stands up again.

[@Flappy9]

Good for the Angry German Kid for turning his life around. Plus it's not easy to admit you had the mindset that he did

[@tillitsdone]

No doubt. I remember seeing that clip many times. I absolutely thought it was real, without question. That was some top level acting for a kid.

[@ParadiseAndGin]

@@tillitsdone Imagine where he could have gone without the media not properly researching their shit, focus should be ashamed. I cant believe they didnt have to pay damages!

[@blankonga]

I don't understand why his parents didn't got a lawyer and sued the production company that started all that sh!t show

[@mangodango1733]

I grew up feeling that way and lemme tell you I have never met someone in person whose learned to let it go I ironically have MMA and fucking cartoons to thank I didn't wanna be a bad person I wanted to be a badass shits hard sometimes but you know it's so cool to think on like I'm supposed to be an asshole but here I am tryna find a way to "fight the good fight"

[@geeeky]

@@mangodango1733 boy wtf are u talkin abt

[@YehudiNimol]

37:00 I remember my 7th grade science teacher showing us this image to teach us about genetics. I knew the story was false and called it out. In a later lesson the teacher told me he fact-checked the story and found out I was right. It's genuinely scary that this image is posed as legit and showed to thousands of people, including students. He genuinely thought it was an image of a family where the woman had plastic surgery without the father's knowledge

[@bethel4348]

Yes I feel bad for that woman. The meme was the only one I knew before this video and I also believed it until I saw her interview a few years ago saying it wasn't true.

[@PutinsMommyNeverHuggedHim]

that’s messed up. your teacher shouldn’t be showing that kind of stuff

[@YehudiNimol]

@@PutinsMommyNeverHuggedHim probably, but I don't fully blame him. This post was viral on social media when this happened (circa 2016), and when it comes to viral images, most people don't have time to do any due diligence and just take them at face value. He's no different than the thousands of others who reposted this image before him, apart from the fact he did it in front of a class of middle school children

[@PutinsMommyNeverHuggedHim]

@@YehudiNimol yeah, I don’t think it’s appropriate for a teacher to show an image to kids with a “hot” female with plastic surgery and her two “ugly” children just to discuss genetics. unprofessional

[@hirofukishima2867]

@@PutinsMommyNeverHuggedHim To be fair, there's actually people out there who think changing their face will somehow result in better looking children.

[@matthewnewton8812]

I actually remember that bizarre “news” story about the guy suing his wife for deceiving him via plastic surgery from way back when. I truly feel terrible for that Taiwanese model though. Those shots of her wiping away her tears are just heartbreaking. She’s such a pretty woman and it must’ve been not only damaging to her career but to her self image too. Man, what a tough break for her.

[@jmarshal]

People need to realise that those are…well, people. Just don’t laugh at people, don’t mock them, don’t bully people or harass them. Being “cringe” doesn’t mean you deserve to be bullied. Just leave people alone to do their thing and you do yours. There are (usually) real people on the other end of the line.

[@michelegraham1181]

This comment is too rational for the internet.😂

[@IAmBuddythedecibwave]

@@michelegraham1181 we need more like em, too. Rein back in this culture of hate and apathy. It's gross and depressing.

[@Anonymous-lq2bs]

I know like your comment it’s 2 positive

[@alastor8091]

You can laugh at people. What matters is being able to laugh at yourself. Swear to God we won't be able to even chuckle by the time I'm 40.

[@jmarshal]

@@alastor8091 you tend to feel a bit differently when the world is laughing at you.

[@sublimesteller1971]

The classmate who “pranked” Star Wars kid makes me mad. How can he say the consequences of his actions are not his own? “I only uploaded it, after that I had nothing to do with it” after he admitted to wanting to “prank” and “humiliate” his classmate… seems like he got exactly what he wanted and just doesn’t want to be held accountable for how many people saw it and how it affected the kid.

[@NoBlueHawaii]

I agree with this comment 100%. The way some people can think to do this sort of scummy thing just baffles me.

[@sansaraee]

He's just making excuses to feel better about himself. I hope they paid a hefty fine towards the victim's family.

[@dotnet97]

He's right though, no one could've predicted how out of control it would get and it's absurd to expect a kid that young to truly understand how damaging it could be. It sucks but the lawsuit was a huge stretch and should've been thrown out.

[@WhitneyDahlin]

@@dotnet97 disagree. He set out with the INTENT to hurt and humiliate the kid and he ADMITTED that. THAT is grounds for a lawsuit. If he had just thought it was really cool and wanted to share it, like people do with cat videos or whatever, and then the internet took it and twisted it, that's completely different. INTENT matters to the law and to society. He INTENDED to hurt that kid even if he didn't anticipate it ruining the kid's life. If you intended to get in a fight with someone and you set out to hurt them and they accidentally pass away that's on you! YOU are still on the hook for second degree m u r d er. That is the difference between manslaughter and second-degree. Intent to do harm

[@LagrangePoint0]

@@sansaraee no way jose, not in canada, that only works in the US.

[@qtluna7917]

The Technoviking is an important court case in Germany for anyone creating video and photo content. Short version: As part of a parade, it is permitted to take pictures of the Viking (this is necessary for the Freedom of the Press, since a Parade is a newsworthy contemporary event and additionally participating in it fulfills the qualifier of "anyone participating in a public act together with a significant group waives their rights to not be recorded".). But, because of the framing of the video, the techno viking and not the parade is the central subject of the video. Which then puts the personality rights of the viking over the freedom of the press (in German: Güterabwegung), since his dancing is not newsworthy (no matter how much the internet loves him), so violating his rights is not acceptable. Now there is a potential counter argument, since even a picture of a single anonymous person can be okay to use without consent, if their behavior is a good example of the activities performed by many (An example would be a rioter throwing a stone would have to live with his image being shown in full resolution and filling the whole 65" TV in millions of homes, since his act does illustrate the newsworthy event perfectly.) But given that the viking is obviously way sexier and morally pure than the average parade goer, he is not a good example. (Have some German humor I guess xD) In addition, any merchandise created with the likeness of the viking is neither protected by freedom of the press, not freedom of the arts, since the techno viking is not a public figure. Obligatory I am not a lawyer, but have read some legal analysis of the case a few years ago, because I wanted some law basics before shooting videos in public.

[@rb98769]

Interesting, thanks.

[@BVonBuescher]

Overly complicated and perfectly German. Nice summary though

[@indoorplant2392]

@@BVonBuescher overly complicated ?? Law should have depth in society

[@TheGr8one1022]

Your county is an authoritarian dystopia.

[@Poppa_Capinyoaz]

In public, no one has right to privacy. Everything is fair game. End of.

[@NumeroLetter]

It's sad how we don't really think about the consequences of the way we treat people online, when everything seems anonymous. Even in person, we can be jackasses to people without realizing what we're doing. I was bullied pretty bad as a kid (mainly by exclusion) but I still ended up being a jackass to this other kid because he annoyed the hell out of me for being a know-it-all. Honestly, it was a mutual bullying situation-- we weren't very nice to each other. I was probably just as annoying to him as he was to me. Well, years later, in high school, we were at a mutual friend's birthday party, and we were both kind of left out of everything, so we just sat down and kind of had a discussion with each other. I don't remember any specifics, we probably just talked about nothing in particular, but it kind of humanized the guy to me. I realized that he was just a guy, even if he had been a bit obnoxious as a kid. He wasn't some cartoon villain like I had seen him as when I was little. I don't know whatever happened to him, but I hope he's doing alright now. People were real jackasses to him when he was a kid, even worse than they were to me. He didn't deserve all the shit he got.

[@trunkb73625]

Poor Ghyslain! That is so terrible. I am glad he went on to speak out about cyberbullying and got through it.

[@BVonBuescher]

I personally think most cyber bullying is overblown, however, I do feel for this kid. I think it would be hard for just about anyone to go through something like this.

[@xr.spedtech]

He's a lawyer now ... No one, will f**** with him.

[@Spellmyname25]

He didn't appreciate the 30 GB iPod (it cost a pretty penny back in the day), a $3000 dollar gift certificate (let's not forget inflation), and being immortalized in internet fame (the guy has more cameos than most celebrities of all time) for the same reason he was bullied: he's a little thin-skinned bitch with rich parents. If your parents can afford years of specialized therapy and a university degree in McGill and you still turn out to be a sour shit, I can't find any sympathy for you. And what did he become? A lawyer. Sounds like someone's panties are forever tied. Yeah, poor little guy, give me a break.

[@pierreluc5382]

worst thing is that he didn't get support from him school, they treaded him as the problem. just awefull

[@indranilroy4822]

another meme with a tragic backstory that i can think of from the top of my mind is the 'you done goofed' meme. if i remember correctly, that was used to relentlessly mock some dad who protecting his minor daughter from cyberbullying regarding some allegations that some grown-ass rockstar was grooming her. truly one of the internet's worst moments

[@shan8130]

God I remember that whole deal. Last time I checked up on that girl, it seemed like she was getting better but had a lot of trauma to deal with. It was an unforgiving landscape back then and the fact that a 12 year old was acting out in a very concerning way on the internet, and also making accusations against someone and nobody took this situation seriously, is just terrible. She didn’t deserve all that and it’s just really sad.

[@ChArLie360115]

Yeah that was pretty rough. Her dad abused her too

[@top_gmotivation]

i i i pppp

[@Tw0Dots]

Definitely worse has happened. Simply just mocking is pretty tame for these chronically-online weirdos who relentlessly bully as “jokes”. Just glad nobody was hurt, physically, at the least. Glad the daughter is safe. But ik the emotional harm is deep as well

[@top_gmotivation]

😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@allMinabe]

The undeniable fact about memes is that they are forever on the web.

[@patrickiamonfire965]

Technically not true. Nothing hides forever but nothing is seen forever. There are memes that both old and new generation forgot or was lost.

[@Haplo-san]

They are not. Trends can change, memes can die, servers and sites can shut down, and your storage disks can be broken without any backup. I wonder what was in my 2-3 gigabyte IDE disks back in early 2000s.

[@TrampolineLover95]

Darn dude. That’s pretty freaked up.

[@no1reallycaresabout2]

We have created immortality. But at what cost?

[@leperabbot3343]

@@no1reallycaresabout2 lol this isnt immortality, even stars die bro, its all going away no matter how solid it seems

[@theheartlessknight2426]

Okay, Technoviking is, straight-up, Epic! He stops some shady situation from escalating, deals with a problem reveler and then, strong-styles down the street LIKE A BOSS. It was definitely Legendary! Count me among those who can't help but love it! The aftermath is really unfortunate. Truth out. I had never heard of or seen any of these and only knew about Star Wars Kid vaguely and, I assumed, affectionately as I myself am a lifelong fan. At the time, I lived in a very technically remote area of Idaho where internet providers weren't even available, so, Thank you for the video!

[@helvete983]

Yeah Techno viking is a boss for sure. I think the problem he had afterwards were because of his look. He is wearing a Thor's hammer necklace, a pagan symbol that has been co-opted by Neo Nazi groups, so I can well imagine not only did it affect his ability to get some jobs if the employer though he was associated with the far right, but I am certain Neo Nazi groups would have contacted him to use him as propaganda when he went viral.

[@lapsijahti]

how come you didn't have internet in the united states (!) while i was surfing the web just fine in the middle of siberian nowhere?

[@torin8871]

The German kid turning into a "giga-chad" is quite badass. It sucks people misinterpreted the video but I'm glad he's doing good.

[@Pahricida]

he's talking about his bath salt and cocaine addiction and living around Frankfurts central Station which is notoriously a junkie hive.

[@querpmuerp]

Theres another recent interview with him where he talks about his former drug addiction.

[@CountGremlin]

I remember Kony 2012, being a senior in highschool. It was HUGE deal, so many people thought it was a scam as much as people thinking buying those Kony care packages would somehow cancel the Kony irl.

[@ashleighb982]

Went to a religious high school and was a sophomore at the time. We had a whole assembly where representatives for kony 2012 came and talked to us and played the documentary and got everyone fired up 😂

[@gyromurphy]

There's a LOT left out in this video. Granted I don't think Wavy could spent hours on the subject... but if you want more context, Internet Historian made a video about kony 2012 and it is brilliant. Highly recommended

[@Old-ded-memes]

I did my part by changing my Facebook profile

[@commentsdisabled2320]

LMAO my girlfriend at the time bought a kit and I laughed at her for falling for the scam

[@porkchopps]

It basically was a scam, Kony had been pushed out of Uganda years before the film was even made.

[@Thebigbubba]

The AGK has an infuriating story, all he did was do a skit then suddenly he's infamous for a German broadcast faking a story and making it seem like he was truly psychotic, which ended up becoming a self fulfilling prophecy as all the relentless bullying online and in person had proven too much for him.

[@LarryPigeon1]

Bas. comon german tv

[@MayimHastings]

If there are any kids here going through this sort of hell, please be patient, your time will come. People will see you for who you are, so hold tight to your humor, kindness, empathy and hope. Those are the four qualities this world lacks most, and what we NEED the most. We need you.

[@hhj186]

Cap

[@The_Bean]

​@@hhj186People like you are why the world is getting worse.

[@daffers2345]

I was constantly teased and bullied in high school and I didn't have a viral meme or anything after me. I was just a target, and this continued into adulthood. I hope no one else has to go through that type of thing, but if they do, get someone to help you through it. You are more than what they say you are.

[@senorhavingalittletrouble]

Imagine the Star Wars kid going through all that only to reach 2023 and share a name with the other Ghislaine

[@AccountInactive]

We know more about a Canadian kid than we do about her client list.

[@SteakBoss1]

💀💀

[@025_dikralazuardimuhandis3]

@@AccountInactive Bro 💀💀💀

[@belladamex767]

I kinda commend TechnoViking for not chasing fame, he stuck to his guns. He’s from an indie scene against commercialism so it doesn’t surprise me he didn’t want anyone to profit from his likeness. He might have been fine with it until he was stuck on a Tshirt which went against his beliefs… I’m really happy for Norman turning his life around and working hard to get it, it goes to show that with hard work and positivity you can achieve your goals.. And Wavy…. you’re a f*ckin’ legend bro…

[@JoeCool90]

He’s against commercialism yet sued for money? Dudes a walking contradiction and a petty qunt at that.

[@belladamex767]

@@JoeCool90Just because you’re not money hungry doesn’t mean you don’t sue someone, it’s about the principle, you hit em’ where it hurts. If he was after money and fame we’d know who the hell the was…

[@royal6659]

I never even considered his stance against commercialism as a reason he wouldn’t want his face on a shirt. That explains a lot.

[@MEWMEWHAPPYSONG]

Honestly TechnoViking was very valid in sueing. This man was making all the money off a guy who was just existing. If he'd tried to find/contact TV before making merch, this might not have happened. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@rastabincoolie1]

Kinda ironic too considering the subject matter of the fk festival. I imagine that too informed technovikings feelings on the matter

[@emilyfaraday4968]

100% agree! I;m on his side with this one.

[@bobsnob3073]

I feel like him getting upset about being recorded in public is dumb, but making merch of him made without consent is downright scum behavior.

[@bearskin067]

I dont really agree with this one... obviously the laws and rights are going to be different from country to country... but you really should not have any expectation to privacy (incl. being filmed) while you are in public. Perhaps selling merch was too far, but I don't really agree he was entitled to taking the video down or receiving royalties from the video.

[@eviledward9]

Agreed, also how was he to know it would blow up, of course he'd capitalise on it, who wouldnt

[@CodSlap]

Darn - in the era of TikTok attention spans and people trying to craft attention-grabbing shorts, it was a breath of fresh air to find this level (and length) of quality content suggested by the algorithm. Kudos!

[@EHiggins]

My kids were young and I used the "Star Wars kid" as a cautionary tale. I told them never take a video or picture of yourself you don't want the world to see. Because it will happen.

[@draculactica]

Ghyslain's plight is literally the nightmare I fear whenever I take or see a picture or video of myself, god bless him

[@zoso1up]

It's sad that people bully others bc there having fun.

[@ktbecstasy]

@@zoso1up it's the world we live in, bro

[@de7ox]

@@zoso1up yeah idk why anyone would bully them for putting it online they were just having a laugh with the guy it's nothing serious

[@kingbouncer1314]

I've had a "Ned declassified survival guide" binge recently. Don't ask me why, I really don't know the answer. But they actually did a wonderful little homage to star wars kid in the episode. The footage was recreated, coconut head was the kid, and Ned edited it to make him look like a ninja star. It was pretty cool.

[@greedyProphet]

That episode is always one of the first things I think of when I think of Star Wars Kid. It did a good job of showing how fast something on the internet can spiral out of your control. Hopefully it helped at least a few people be a bit more aware of the consequences of what they post, especially if it's of other people.

[@Nakia11798]

Everyone seems to forget at least one word of the title.

[@zthecat]

Oh wow, I haven't seen that show in probably 14 years but I know exactly what scene you're talking about. I had no idea that was a reference to the Star Wars kid. I didn't really use the internet until I was a bit older.

[@Andy-ce3ij]

I believe it wasn't coconut head, it was Martin, that kid who talks a lot.

[@kingbouncer1314]

@@Andy-ce3ij yeah you right

[@Zaltic]

Becoming famous or viral is actually a big fear of mine. I love being a face among the crowd

[@Bunn.B]

Me too. It really terrifies me. I am honest enough with myself to know I wouldn't handle it well mentally. I'd become agoraphobic.

[@planexshifter]

I want to be nowhere near any crowd

[@supernova11711]

I need a break after the first one. Poor kid was just…being a kid. The internet it so cruel and disgusting sometimes and the kids that leaked it definitely should have done jail time. Bullies need to be held accountable. I’m so grateful I didn’t have to grow up with the internet…it just gives these slime leverage.

[@comedicsociopathy]

Agreed. The internet becomes even more important with each day and I become more and more grateful that I grew up in the 90s and 2000s.

[@Qwerty-ly8qk]

I find the cases where the kids uploaded the videos themselves to be really sad. They thought they shared something funny or cool, only to be bullied for it for years to come. Shit like that really puts the end to one's childhood.

[@davidhoward4715]

It's not "the internet", it's people who use the internet. But yes, they are disgusting bullies hiding in the crowd.

[@diahreea2022]

Interesting that you're complaining about the internet, on the internet. Did you know you can turn it off anytime you want?

[@maryseflore7028]

The one thing that makes me the saddest about these stories is the mental health impact on the real-life person. Ghislain's, Jason's and Norman's stories are painful to hear. How those three ended up in a dark mental place where things could have gotten so much worse. It's great that they're OK now, but humankind really needs to learn from what happened to them. They were dehumanized into insanity, basically, and no one ever deserves that.

[@asomelord]

I remember i first learned about Star Wars Kid from Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide. They used a similar video as part of an anti bullying episode. It was really well done. I never really understood why people were making fun of him. He was just a dude having a fun time

[@Bunn.B]

This is why viral things started really creeping me out a few years ago. Over a period of time, it started making me really uncomfortable not knowing whether these people welcomed the attention, whether they know what they're getting into long-term, know about it- like know they were filmed, how it affects their families, how they deal when everyone loses interest etc etc. And this isn't even getting into the alleged invasion of privacy and overzealous media people who dig into these people's lives.

[@medijate]

I love these longer compilations. Even when some of it's something you've already covered you at least do a fairly decent job putting a fresh coat of paint on the given subject. It's not just a rehash.

[@Kairos-XIII-2]

It's crazy Norman The Angry German Kid also had an interview in german recently where he was talking more in depth of his story that he derailed as far to getting into drugs and becoming homeless , but he managed to come back clean. His videos where satire which was on one part hard to discern for other language speaking people and his persona aswell , the shock value at this time for the videos made people wanting to believe he was just that angry german kid which flipped trying to play unreal tournement.

[@wiiztec]

weird that he let that go unclarified in his video explaining what happened to him

[@sizo02]

@@wiiztec The video shown here is older. In the recent video he said that the drug stuff was just a few years ago.

[@wiiztec]

@@sizo02 But did he explain it was satire?

[@sizo02]

@@wiiztec not just once. He did before but his reputation was already destroyed enough. Wavy showed one of these videos. And in the interview he mostly talked about the aftermath and said that he first was one of the cool guys but it changed to the opposite.

[@wiiztec]

@@sizo02 I just wanna know if buff older agk made a video that informed that the video was satire

[@toprightchannel3080]

Angry German kid Norman broke my heart, with the language barrier his acting is so good you don't even consider it's a deliberate performance.

[@thatgirlinautumn5995]

Without the language barrier as well! His vocabulary is odd though, somewhat akin to “what just passed?” instead of “what happened?“. As in weirdly elegant (but with a LOT of “son of a b*tch”es thrown in there). Needless to say, he is obviously very talented

[@MrTim223]

The Techno Viking bit was upsetting too, because Fritch absolutely violated his rights and only offered to reimburse and/or partner with him AFTER he was issued a cease-and-desist order.

[@Slade951]

Indeed he should have reach out first when he started making money. 0 pity for that euro trash. He's lucky the viking didn't power bomb him.

[@darrylfoxbalaski617]

He violated his rights by profiting off his image without permission. That is it. However, going out in a Public event -- like a parade and dancing -- well kind of hard to expect privacy when doing all that in a public place at a public event -- privacy laws when in public spaces or events are really about reasonableness expectations.

[@prezyy]

He filmed him at a public event. The techno viking was in essence, anonymous to fritz until he came forward. Fritz then offered to make it right by compensating him and asking for a partnership makes sense because he would not have been in thay position without fritz. Seems fair

[@crybabychrononaut]

@@prezyy THIS. Not sure why people are on the Viking's side. Dude was a dick.

[@prezyy]

@jackjackson8802 thank you. Viking was a dick.

[@RoleCrow]

So Mathias went to document a event against the over commercialization of art, records a random dude expressing himself and makes a ton of profits out of his image without his consent, glad to see the thecnoviking didn't sold himself for internet fame, even more of a Gigachad than i tought..

[@ThePeteyGunn]

Finally someone who is on the correct side of the story! I do not understand how people could have any sympathy for Mathias at all, he used his likeness made a ton of cash, and then tried to negotiate a contract with the viking for a cut, of course you would want most of it, internet famous or not he took his likeness without consent and printed it everywhere.

[@rilmar2137]

Agreed! And your own image is generally one of rights/freedoms that are constitutionally protected by the German constitution, so his claim had rock solid grounds

[@teethgrinder83]

Exactly! So glad others could realise this too, you'd think it was obvious but clearly not lol

[@sjcommander91]

@@Illusion517 "this KZbinr", "this KZbinr"? Is this a copy-paste comment?

[@RealAICCl]

Yea not sure what the sympathetic look at that story was about, I think it's "Content brain" Certain people just see things through a lens of content. Never should of been a thought in that guys head to "Share" in the wealth. The guy never asked to have his IMAGE AND LIKENESS STOLEN AND USED FOR PROFIT. Fuck that guy

[@elitescarecrowgaming4713]

Internet Historian has a really good video on Jason Russell. I don’t believe he was a scam artist, I think he truly wanted to do something good and the level of notoriety his documentary gained wasn’t something he anticipated.

[@82726jsjsufhejsjshshdjso]

Agreed, I also think he’s a religious space cadet and very naive. Perhaps less so now… The dance off video from before Kony 2012 is completely demented.

[@Chellz801]

I think he didn’t expect it to blow up that big and didn’t have an action plan on what they were going to do beyond the viral marketing. It sucks he had a mental break

[@VeiledHorizons]

Once you’re a meme you either become famous or an embarrassment, that’s just facts. Thanks for the video man!

[@michal31131]

Or both (like Chris Chan...)

[@BossPow1]

Good work, I like the fact I don't have to focus on the video if I'm busy I can just listen because your narration is on point.

[@nikkidarkangelpnope8400]

The AGK story is sad because Norman was really an unappreciated comedic genius.

[@ryanboomerbickerstaff833]

To be fair 32% of donated money being directly spent in a charity is about average maybe even higher I believe.

[@okay1582]

I thought the same but I assume that since many people don't know that about charities they singled that one out as a scam

[@endinfected8187]

I was surprised the merch wasn't one of the issues, if I saw a shirt saying Kony 2012 I'd assume it was supporting Kony and his cause, not the opposite

[@KeebeThePlush]

Memes can be like a gamble because sometimes it makes you famous while others make you embarrassed for life

[@cronaman3196]

Imo its how you handle it. If you embrace it you can get positive stuff out of it. Sometimes that can be used to become rich famous (like bad baby) or sometimes it can be used to become a genuinally liked and well respected person (michael rosen for example, the noice guy). Its just a matter on how u take it. The kony 2012 guy was doomed from the start cus his campaign didnt have a good plan and the meme exposed that. But starwars kid was young and its understandable he took it personally, even tho if he didnt it couldve been avoided. Thats not easy tho when youre a kid and you get bullied at school, but like starwars kid said just wait and you can make it. Even me as a young adult i have mental illnesses, i probably wouldnt be able to handle being a meme. I guerentee it, so its definatly not easy. It really just all boils down to can this person handle being a living meme.

[@datura_boof]

@@cronaman3196 yes

[@ParadiseAndGin]

@@cronaman3196 how about not uploading stuff without the persons permission in the first place LOL. thankfully in Germany, an actually progressive country compared to dumbfuck america, we have laws against such breaches of privacy. feels great.

[@logan666]

I really appreciate that no matter who you are discussing, you keep their humanity in mind. It’s easy to rag on someone, but it is important to realize we are all human and can all be affected in different ways. Really appreciate your style of content. Just found you but I’ve been binging videos. Keep it up Wavy! 💙

[@sarahr9894]

When I was a kid I played in an orchestra, and we performed at a public event. A few months later a photo of my face (fairly close up!) From the event showed up in the window of a local bingo hall. Turns out some local photographer took the photo and used it along with several other photos as part of an art exhibition at said bingo hall. So for years my face was on a big canvas right down town, without my permission. That being said, although it was a bit weird, and people (especially at school) would talk to me about it, I *thankfully* didn't suffer any further bullying or anything. It was weird this person used my face without me even knowing. But that goes with being out in public I guess. So I feel for Technoviking, and for the artist. Kinda sucks all around!

[@DaxMarko]

Good to hear that your class mates where chill about the information, some were less fortunate to be ridiculed over something so unimportant.

[@Cobra-yo7fx]

I’m glad you didn’t get bullied anymore.

[@Vee-Shan-CC]

I got a good laugh at the audacity of the film student that made money off of techno viking. You filmed at a parade against the commercialization of art and commercialized one of the attendees. Like how could you not see how much that would violate the rights and feelings of those attending? No remorse for that guy, he kinda deserved it.

[@DodgyDaveGTX]

Generally speaking: So what's the protocol in such a situation? If you film something/someone in the street do you need to either get the subject's permission or hide their identity if you plan to upload it online? I'm speaking hypothetically here. Like say an obscure nobody with a smartphone uploads a pointless clip of something happening in the distance in a public setting and puts it on KZbin & forgets about it. Then say like a decade later for whatever reason it goes viral and someone in the original video is identified, doxxed and unduly harassed (for example something/one like DJ Smile). Would the original uploader be culpable for any subsequent BS that ensues if they didn't get, say, a written agreement from everyone in the shot before putting it on their KZbin channel / shitty website or whatever?? 🤔

[@LagrangePoint0]

@@DodgyDaveGTX the laws are different over there, you just can't film somebody randomly and profit from the video, you can do that in the US. but not in most Europe, and forget about making jokes on twitter, facebook, etc, if someone gets offended by it, they dont' even need to sue you, they can complain to the police anonymously and you will be prosecuted.

[@datura_boof]

Filmed in public. Dumb thing

[@aplacecalledhometattooing7364]

@@DodgyDaveGTX if you are making money off of it. Yeah you need to contact that person. If you’re just doing it without profiting you’re fine. It’s when money is involved that it becomes an issue.

[@augged]

The technoviking was an absolute idiot, this would have been a huge pay day. Imstead of a small one time sum.

[@Hstudiosproductions]

The worst and tragic meme for me is the "porche girl". Basically the graphic photo of an accident of Nikki Catsouras was leak online and was used as a memem to bully the Catsouras Family. It really makes me lose my faith and trust in humanity.

[@lmno567]

I remember that. That situation was used in a class I had once for internet security since it was leaked illegally.

[@joeyjojos5839]

Poor Ghyslain. I always thought the video was funny and honestly cute seeing a kid just go ham and do something dorky and fun. I don't get why people made fun of him.

[@susanb.1113]

Me neither, people = shit @slipknot

[@rb98769]

Because of his appearance.

[@KingOfGaymes]

You know why. Because he was a bigger kid with glasses. People are cruel to those who don’t fit the beauty standard. And it’s disgusting.

[@rb98769]

@@KingOfGaymes Yeah. If it was some fit/good-looking guy the video would just be taken as the class clown being funny or something like that. That's just how it is, sadly.

[@xuhongmao7292]

The Kids in this video are truly resilient and tenacious souls. It’s wonderful to see them survive and thrive.

[@jadziajan]

There's something terrifying about the fact that at some point, even whilst drunk, the angry German kid claimed he might shoot up the school. He had been majorly involved with exactly that type of event in his youth even though he had nothing to do with it, and instead of receiving moral support, only got bullied more and more. It's heartwarming that he was able to reintegrate and enjoy life again. But it could have turned much worse, because he didn't receive the help he needed. Video-games wouldn't have been the culprit then.

[@bethzaida85]

I went to church with Jason Russell during the Kony era and you could feel the pressure, even from the outer ring. I was by no means BFFs with the guy, but close enough to experience Invisible Children in a different way than those who didn’t cross paths with those who started it. The hype was so intense and you could progressively feel the stress from everyone involved in the inner workings. It seemed like they couldn’t ever breathe because there was always someone wanting a piece of them. I still randomly think about turning on the TV and seeing the video of him out on the street. My heart absolutely broke for the guy. I do think his intentions were pure, he and the other guys just weren’t ready or properly guided through everything that happened. I’m glad he seems to have been able to move past it all because as we all watched in horror the collective thought/discussion was “How do you come back from that?…like, you’re pacing a busy road naked and ranting”. That moment is not the person we all knew and cared for, nor is it who he has become. It was just that, a moment…that everyone happened to see…

[@gattasara]

Yeah, im young so i wasnt alive at that moment of history but im really sorry for him especialy 'cause i think that a kid its in some way less hated because its a kid and kids are usually "cringe" or "weird" but i think that its worse for him because if i kid have a mental breakdown ur like "i mean, its weird but its just a kid" while i think that peoples espect adults to be more serious, professional and "perfect" than kids.. im sorry if u didnt understand, im not good explaining lol

[@nothing4mepls973]

The acting from the Angry German Kid is so realistic, it's not surprising it took so many people in, myself included. It's just a shame he couldn't pivot it into making bank off of it instead of letting it get him down. It's odd that his family didn't go after that documentary for slander like the Technoviking did - and that one is bogus as hell, like recording in public breaks privacy somehow.

[@BluntInnit]

YEAH, IT DOES. HE DIDN'T FILM THE PUBLIC, HE FILMED TECHNOVIKING. IT IS NOT THE SAME AS FILMING A CROWD. IF PEOPLE START FILMING ME IN PUBLIC I TELL THEM TO STOP. THE FOOTAGE WAS CUT TO BE JUST ABOUT TECHNOVIKING AND IT IS A BRILLIANT PIECE OF FOOTAGE. I UNDERSTAND HIM UPLOADING IT AND ALSO TRYING TO CASH IN ONCE HE SAW HE COULD EARN SOMETHING FROM IT. I ALSO KNOW HE HAD MADE EVERY ATTEMPT TO CONTACT TECHNOVIKING AND WAS TRYING TO MAKE A DEAL, AS HE WAS AWARE THIS WAS NOT JUST FOOTAGE OF THE PUBLIC BUT WAS COMERCIALISING TECHNOVIKING'S LIKENESS, WHICH HE DOES NOT OWN. THERE IS ALSO A LOT MORE CONTEXT THAT WE WILL NEVER KNOW, AS TECHNOVIKING HAS USED HIS RIGHT UNDER EUROPEAN LAW TO PRIVACY WE WILL NEVER GET THE BACK STORY THAT THE OTHERS THAT HAVE CHOSEN TO SPEAK HAVE SHARED, AND SO WE WILL NEVER KNOW ALL THE ISSUES AND HARDSHIPS HE HAS FACE FROM THIS UNWANTED ATTENTION. JUST BECAUSE WE LOVE HIM AND THINK OF HIM AS A HER, DOES NOT MEAN WE GET TO DECIDE HOW HE SHOULD REACTED. WAVY STATED THAT IN COURT HE HAD CLAIMED THAT HE HAD LOST WORK DUE TO THE VIDEO, SO IT HAD CLEARLY HAD A FINANCIAL IMPLICATION, ALSO HE HAD RECEIVED ATTENTION FROM THE FAR RIGHT, DUE TO WEARING A THOR'S HAMMER, HOWEVER FUCK PARADE IS ANTI NAZI. SO THE PAIN AND SUFFERING COULD HAVE BEEN LITERAL IF THE FAR RIGHT BECAME INTERESTED IN HIM AND THEN DECIDED HE WAS A RACE TRAITOR OR WHATEVER BULLSHIT. SO ALTHOUGH YOU HAVE NOT HEARD WHAT HAPPENED TO THE TECHNOVIKING AND CAN'T SEE WHY THE ATTENTION COULD BE UNWANTED. IF IT BROUGHT HIM INTO THE CROSS HAIRS OF THE GERMAN NEO NAZIS THEN HIS COULD BE THE WORST STORY OF THEM ALL, AND THE PRIVACY MAY BE FOR HIS PHYSICAL PROTECTION. OR HE COULD HAVE JUST WANTED TO MAKE SOME MONEY. WE WILL NEVER KNOW, SO BETTER NOT TO ASSUME, AS WE SEE HOW BADLY IT WENT FOR ALL OF THOSE WHERE WE DID FIND OUT. IT'S THE SAME WITH CHILD STARS, YOU NEVER SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING BEHIND THE SCENES UNTIL THEY GROW UP FUCKED UP AND ONLY THEN DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT MOST SUFFERING GOES UNSEEN AND UNNOTICED, IN SILENCE, BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

[@nothing4mepls973]

@@BluntInnit There is no such thing as privacy in a public place. Filming in public is a human right. If you don't like it, don't go in public or take steps to obscure yourself. Any unlawful or immoral act that could take place from the filming of public is a separate event and the blame rests solely on the perpetrator.

[@UmiZoomR]

Didnt he make some rapping videos a while back?

[@valinor5397]

Ya technoviking was a little bitch for that

[@mkw7147]

@@nothing4mepls973 privacy laws vary from country to country. In Germany recording people in public can break peoples privacy. You can’t just point a camera in peoples faces here and upload the videos to the internet.

[@CtchrRye75]

Wavy is the only KZbinr I’ve seen who’ll make a video that’s like “50 people who were murdered because of the troll face” and have every bit of information you could possibly have on every person

[@kieronireikets7884]

Oh man, the Kony 2012 thing brought back memories. I was in middle school, and so many people had buttons or bracelets or hats. I'm pretty sure it was more of a Tumblr fashion statement then anything to a bunch of 12 year olds. I only had the barest idea what it all was about

[@SirBlackReeds]

Turns out that Kony 2012 was a campaign to get the US involved in yet another war overseas.

[@rb98769]

@@SirBlackReeds Lol I wouldn't be surprised

[@iamjackscompletelackofsurp9606]

I was bullied and mocked in school back in the 70s and 80s way before the F’n internet and suffered severe depression because of it. If I was in school now, with social media, I would have ended myself before 10th grade. I feel so sorry for kids today. The agony social media bullying must put them thru.

[@LandoCalani404]

Love this guys' smirk and expressions, besides his voice and general amicable attitude. Also the fact that he avoids being melodramatic but still being kind of objective, and that without being too serious!

[@Liquid_Mike]

you mean Wavy? yeah, he's the shit!

[@Sassy-Ninja17]

I love the fact that the guy told the techno King he can make a bunch of money when the footage of them is from an anti commercialism March lol

[@vahlok1426]

Yet Techno still took basically all his money in the end.

[@kateanderson8384]

Think Germany is 2 way consent for being filmed in public otherwise I doubt there would be any grounds for the lawsuit. It sucks you can't shred up a dance floor anymore without being filmed I feel for him.

[@comedicsociopathy]

@@kateanderson8384 Our right to privacy is pretty strict here and Matthias should have known that. I completely support the Techno Viking.

[@J.Crime123]

@@kateanderson8384 you know how people do irl streams on twitch and filming everyone? You cant do that in Germany. Peoples right at their own image has huge value here. Lets say you stream and focus on some people, first the people come to you to tell you to stop and if you dont they can legaly make you to stop by taking your Equipment away and then call the police to hand it over to them and finally press charges for infringing on their rights.

[@Hiiiiiiiiieeee]

OK, but the techno Viking was not only gorgeous, but extremely chivalrous and gentlemanly. He deserved the world.

[@YourWaywardDestiny]

Yeah, in spite of how put-off the real guy was by how meme'd he was (and rightly so, being a meme in any right can be horrifying) I would say that clip is more wholesome than the vast majority of things that came out of the timeframe. There was a real case of humanity being showcased there that people genuinely sought to strive for, so it was a shame when it had to be legally struck down and it caused so much stress to the guy.

[@manuell3505]

That's what MDMA does...

[@gigiarmany4332]

Yes!!! 👍🏼🖤❤️❤️💥🔥💯🤣❤️

[@Stellar_Politics]

stops a rude guy and then leads a parade with sick dance moves... serious gigachad energy

[@Miller_Time]

He also financially ruined a camera man

[@Putrescence420]

The guy who edited in the real lightsabers actually made the vid cooler, must be the most wholesome edit of the bunch

[@yourenext2300]

This needs a part 2!! I Loved it and found it very interesting how a simple meme could change so many lives deeply

[@beyondobscure]

I thought the Star Wars kid was genuinely really damn cool. Kid has moves.

[@colin6603]

Nah you thought it was funny because he was a fat nerd

[@RB-yt6rx]

I realized in middle school the damage these memes can have on people and the way people treat others when that people of walmart thing was popular and people were just fodder for meme content to interner users. Its sickening that we dehumanize people so easily. And most of these stories are people just being themselves but someone else takes their life and their image and runs it through the internet ringer. I wish people were more self aware and more empathetic and understanding of others. The human on the other side of ghe screen is just that... A human.

[@gypsywoman9140]

So true. Even those videos of "Karen's" losing it in public. They might have been having a breakdown or something, maybe going through a rough time or having a bad day. The point is we don't know what led up to that moment and, really, many more of us than people care to realize are just one bad moment being filmed and uploaded away from becoming infamous online. Which is really unfair, considering we're in the age of "mental health awareness" but are still so quick to judge strangers we know nothing about. We all suck sometimes, y'know?

[@anima6035]

@@gypsywoman9140 I have a theory that a huge majority of the Karens are on prescription drugs - aka victims of the pharmaceutical industry.

[@Jerry_the_Head]

as someone who's been made fun of for not dealing with internet trolls correctly; i hated dealing with it all, I feel like the worst of it was someone telling me to go kill myself and that i was "nothing but a worthless whore who deserved to be raped and murdered" I remember being bullied all the way into march of 2021, and it just stopped, my life has turned around since then; i got to go to my first concert, get my first job at the local haunt, and i even got accepted into college, as of right now i'm a highschool senior who's planning up a story idea, and I'm gonna try to go through with making it into a webcomic. I know it seems off topic, but y'all should know that there's no need to fear about being bullied online, sometimes you can make your way through it and get up to a much better space.

[@AZTECKTHEBIGBOSS]

I'm glad to hear Normand changed things around despite the unintended bullying, misinformation and subsequent expulsion and temp jail time. It's just so wholesome hearing how much of a well rounded guy he is. It's just too much for my heart to take. Gotta love this guy for ability of being resilient. Much respect for this OG of the internet.

[@Chellz801]

I feel horrible for Heidi, she didn’t deserve that nonsense. And to have it affect your job sucks. And now it’s on the internet forever

[@MeganLynnn]

I feel so bad for Ghyslain :( I remember this video being a meme, but he definitely didn't deserve that bullying he got from his school.. let alone the internet.

[@Meeryx4]

As a person from Quebec when I heard that the "classmate" was a boy not only named Jerôme but had the surname LaFlamme that's when I knew things were going to go bad. Quebec bullying works in weird ways where they can hide their bullying under "innocent prank uwu" and get away with it. While I believe that now older he might regret it, I wholly believe that the constant mockery and bullying was entirely intentional. Quebec kids are strangely cruel.

[@floorks]

Quebec is just a cruel province in general. A lot of people there have very short tempers

[@DrT0705]

​@floorks ​that's an interesting take. Why do you think that is?

[@ChrissaTodd]

@@DrT0705 idk but i have heard similar things generally about french canada as someone from and currently lives in canada i am sure not everyone is like that, but french canada has a pretty sour repuatation. and that jerome guy didn't help the case.

[@Verosmom123]

So Canadians aren’t as nice we think, eh?

[@helvete983]

@@Verosmom123 There is an old joke by Al Murray, pointing at Quebec on a map, "The people here are so deluded they've convinced themselves they are French, but that doesn't hide the fact they are still living somewhere shit"

[@classicdomdadicewa1359]

This takes me back to when I first watched Wavy and he used to talk about the back stories of memes. It’s so satisfying to see him do a similar video again but with a twist.

[@julilla1]

As someone who remembers all of this, I do want to say that I never saw anyone making fun of Ghyslain. Every post I ever saw about the video was how awesome he was. His excitement to recreate Darth Maul's lightsaber battle was really a source of nostalgia for a lot of the posters. Any kid who loves SW has done this, they just weren't filmed doing it. So while his jerkface school mate thought to make him a laughing stock, he failed. SW Kid was and remains awesome.

[@christumimomor]

Leopold Slikk was a really convincing character! First time I saws the clip years ago, i easily relate, laughing while cringing seeing myself playing Counter Strike while raging internally over K/D ratio. What a genious!! He should be an actor, yet internet is a savage place. So glad he is better now! Thanks wavy for the video, you enlight!

[@HyperFleX77]

3:15 "this was intended to be a private recording never to be shared or seen by anyone else" *proceeds to show said recording*

[@Kari.F.]

A lot of adults would have been mentally destroyed by what the Starwars Kid had to endure throughout his entire teenage existence. Nobody should have to live through that during the most awkward and insecure period in any human's life. Puberty is tough enough without the shit he went through.

[@carlosencarnacion9425]

I honestly though I would only see 10 minutes of this video cause I though 'One hour about meme and their life after'...then I find myself going 'Wait is over? I want more!' The way you give the information, the production value and really interesting topic make it a great video! Glad to know everyone from this meme manage to get past the horrible years stage.

[@Minimojojoy]

Ghislain was 15, he HAD to leave school and move du to bullying. Imagine that happening today, 15 year old being ridiculed online, people would be beyond outraged!! Just think of that girl in the dance video being “bullied” for being an overweight dancer, she’s now internet famous! Making appearances on big TikTok’ers videos, ads, tv spots… That’s what should’ve happen to Ghislain. And he didn’t even make coin on all the play time his iconic moves got! But hey, he got an IPod!😑 And what about the fact he was a minor? Well, Ghislain said that the Justice system would’ve done more to help if he’d broken the law! And sadly, maybe situations exactly like his aren’t happening today because it’s “politically incorrect” But we all know people still do this. Maybe the “reasons” and reasoning are different, but the results are still the same. Sometimes it’s just in more insidious ways. I think the internet, all of us, owe Ghislain big time! He did get a long overdue apology from Andy, but only 19 years later! So an iPod & apology.😑 But seeing him become a successful lawyer, is the best comeback! Sends all of us a bit of a well deserved eff you!👌😂 I hope he bags some modern day bullies!!🤞

[@maddiewhatever441]

I was bullied growing up. The star wars kid thing broke my heart. Like yeah, there's been instances in the past where similar things have happened and everyone was able to laugh, but the guy never got the chance to join in on the joke. They just made fun of him.