Who Is the Guy in the Crying Meme? the Surprising True Story Behind the Viral Reaction

Here is a comprehensive breakdown on Who Is the Guy in the Crying Meme? the Surprising True Story Behind the Viral Reaction.

When the A&E Intervention crying clip hit early web video platforms, internet culture treated unfiltered emotion as an interactive playground. According to Know Your Meme history, the footage spawned an entire subgenre of digital remixes during the early 2010s:

  • The A-ha "Take On Me" mashup: Editors pitched Lockridge's cry to match the iconic high note in the 1985 synth-pop hit, generating tens of millions of impressions across early YouTube.
  • Auto-tune parodies: Producers digitized the wail into electronic dance tracks and ringtones.
  • Reaction GIFs: Forums like 4chan, NeoGAF, and Reddit stripped out the audio, creating the silent, looped crying reaction meme still deployed during NFL losses, gaming upsets, and market crashes.

The video detached itself completely from its source material. For millions of younger digital natives, Lockridge was never a world champion boxer; he was simply a face to project onto routine personal frustrations.

Maya Lin-Takahashi

Maya Lin-Takahashi

Consumer Tech & Gadget Reviewer

Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.

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