Inside Edition Logo
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Health
    • Entertainment
    • Royals
    • Human Interest
    • Inspirational
    • The Issue
  • Video
  • Photos
  • Investigative
  • Offbeat
  • More
    • Animal Edition
    • Heroes
    • Inside Edition InDepth
    • Sports
    • Flashback
    • Shopping
  • Watch on TV
    • Local Listings
    • Meet the Team
    • Today on Inside Edition
  • Facebook Inside Edition
  • Twitter Inside Edition
  • Instagram Inside Edition
  • YouTube Inside Edition

See What These Viral Sensations Are Doing Now

Entertainment
Caitlin Upton
Getty
By Lance Cartelli

1:09 PM PDT, March 25, 2018

Link Copied

Fame doesn't last forever, but these videos do.

1 / 32

Then: Tay Zonday

Link Copied
YouTube

Adam Bahner, better known as Tay Zonday, went viral in 2007 for his rendition of “Chocolate Rain,” which has amassed more than 116 million views as of March 2018.

Now: Tay Zonday

Link Copied
Getty

More than a decade later, Zonday is still making YouTube videos and acting. He recently provided his voice on an episode of the animated series, "Transformers: Titans Return."

The singer also appeared on "The Steve Harvey Show" to mark the 10th anniversary of "Chocolate Rain."

Then: Ken Bone

Link Copied
Getty

During the second presidential debate in 2016, a questioner, Ken Bone, became an internet sensation due to many factors, including his name, his red sweater and his use of a disposable camera.

Now: Ken Bone

Link Copied
Getty

Bone made appearances on "Jimmy Kimmel Live," "College Gameday" and "@midnight," and was portrayed on "Saturday Night Live" by Bobby Moynihan. The Illinois power plant operator also earned an endorsement deal with Uber.

After Bone participated in a Reddit “Ask Me Anything,” people discovered that Bone’s past comment history included statements about Jennifer Lawrence’s butt; Trayvon Martin and an apparent admission of insurance fraud.

He also hosts "The Ken Bone Show," a podcast that is currently in its second season.

Then: Jeremy Meeks

Link Copied
Getty

The mugshot of Jeremy Meeks, aka “hot felon,” went viral following his 2014 arrest and captured the attention — and hearts — of numerous social media users. While in prison, Meeks signed with a Hollywood talent agent.

Now: Jeremy Meeks

Link Copied
Getty

The hot felon is now quite the famous model. Meeks made his runway debut during New York Fashion Week in 2017. He’s also been featured in Vogue magazine.

Meeks is separated from his wife Melissa, and is currently dating Topshop heiress Chloe Green, who is reportedly pregnant.

Then: Chris Crocker

Link Copied
YouTube

Chris Cunningham, better known as Chris Crocker, went viral for his “Leave Britney Alone!” YouTube video — a tearful defense of Britney Spears’ 2007 performance at the "MTV Video Music Awards."

Now: Chris Crocker

Link Copied
Instagram/itschriscrocker

Crocker continues to create content on the internet. He’s also modeled for American Apparel, starred in the documentary Me at the Zoo and performed in Chris Crocker's Raw Love. 

Then: Caitlin Upton

Link Copied
YouTube

Caitlin Upton, the former Miss South Carolina Teen USA, went viral for her incoherent answer to a question during the Miss Teen USA pageant in 2007.

Now: Caitlin Upton

Link Copied
Getty

Upton finished third on CBS’ "The Amazing Race 16" in 2010, and she became a licensed real estate agent in Los Angeles in 2014.

Then: Steve Bartman

Link Copied
Getty

During Game 6 of the 2003 National League Championship Series, the Cubs were leading 3-0 until a foul ball was intercepted by Cubs fan Steve Bartman before it could be caught. The incident led to an eight-run rally that many believe sealed the Cubs' elimination from the playoffs and the World Series.

The fans directed their anger toward Bartman, who was offered a spot in a witness protection program by then-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Now: Steve Bartman

Link Copied
Chicago Cubs

Following the Cubs’ World Series victory in 2016, their first since 1908, Chicago gifted a championship ring to Bartman, who remains a Cubs fan but is staying out of the public spotlight.

Then: David After Dentist

Link Copied
YouTube

In 2009, David DeVore uploaded a video of his son’s hilariously loopy reaction to anesthesia given to him for oral surgery. As of March 2018, that video has garnered more than 137 million views.

Now: David After Dentist

Link Copied
YouTube

As of 2016, the DeVores still run a YouTube channel that has more than 63,000 subscribers. The father-son duo told NewStatesman.com that they are trying to go viral again.

Then: Antoine Dodson

Link Copied
YouTube

While living in Huntsville, Ala., in 2010, Antoine Dodson became an internet celebrity after telling a local news station to, "hide your kids, hide your wife and hide your husband because they raping everybody out here."

The bizarre interview and a subsequent auto-tuned song made Dodson a viral star.

Now: Antoine Dodson

Link Copied
Getty

In 2011, Dodson shot the pilot for a reality show based on his life, per TMZ. In 2013, Dodson made a cameo appearance in "A Madea Christmas" as the character "YouTube Guy."

Then: #AlexFromTarget

Link Copied
YouTube

Alex LaBeouf, better known as #AlexFromTarget, became a social media phenomenon in 2014 after a picture taken of him while working at a Texas Target store went viral.  

Now: #AlexFromTarget

Link Copied
Inside Edition

Since then, LaBeouf has appeared on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" and created his own YouTube channel. He's revealed that fame has been pretty overwhelming for him.

Then: Ghyslain Raza

Link Copied
YouTube

Back in 2002, Ghyslain Raza — then a 15-year-old high school student — wielded a golf-ball retriever to imitate Darth Maul from "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace" in a video that became an internet hit. That video earned Raza the nickname, "Star Wars Kid."

Now: Ghyslain Raza

Link Copied
YouTube

In a 2013 interview, Raza said the viral video led to cyberbullying. Despite initially dropping out of school, Raza finished his senior year of high school and went on to graduate from McGill University.

Raza also went on a media tour to denounce cyberbullying.

Then: Keyboard Cat: Reincarnated

Link Copied
YouTube

The star of the sequel to the Keyboard Cat, Bento, went viral in a 2010 video that had more than 10.7 million views on YouTube as of March 2018.

Now: Keyboard Cat: Reincarnated

Link Copied
YouTube

Unfortunately, the successor to the original Keyboard Cat recently passed away at the age of 9. But the video will live on in our hearts, and on the internet.

Then: McKayla Maroney

Link Copied
Getty

During the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, American gymnast McKayla Maroney won a silver medal in the vault event. On the podium, Maroney was photographed looking downright irritated by her feat, and the picture subsequently went viral.

Now: McKayla Maroney

Link Copied
Getty

After the Olympics, Maroney became an actress, appearing on “Hart of Dixie,” “Bones” and “Superstore.”

She and other gymnasts will receive the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2018 ESPY Awards for coming forward in the Larry Nassar sexual abuse case.

Then: Grumpy Cat

Link Copied
Getty

In 2012, a cat named Tardar Sauce went viral for her resting-surly-face, earning the feline the alias “Grumpy Cat.” The cat’s appearance is due to an underbite, according to its owner.

Within 48 hours, the Grumpy Cat photo was viewed more than a million times on Imgur, according to Fox News.

Now: Grumpy Cat

Link Copied
Getty

After going viral, Grumpy Cat appeared in the documentary “Lil Bub & Friendz,” and starred in the Lifetime film, “Grumpy Cat’s Worst Christmas Ever,” where the cat was voiced by “Parks and Recreation” star Aubrey Plaza.

Then: Salt Bae

Link Copied
Instagram/@nusr_et

Turkish chef Nusret Gökçe earned the nickname “Salt Bae” after his method of preparing meat became a viral sensation in 2017.

Now: Salt Bae

Link Copied
Getty
Since going viral, Gökçe has opened a steakhouse — Nusr-Et — in New York. He’s also reportedly planning to open a burger chain in Los Angeles.

Then: Judson Laipply

Link Copied
YouTube

Judson Laipply first performed and recorded the “Evolution of Dance” in 2001, but the clip didn’t take off until he uploaded the video to YouTube in 2006. Within eight months, the video was viewed more than 70 million times.

Now: Judson Laipply

Link Copied
Getty

After going viral, Laipply produced two more “Evolution of Dance” videos. Today, Laipply is a public speaker and comedian.

Then: Ted "Golden Voice" Williams

Link Copied
Getty

In January 2011, an interview with Ted “Golden Voice” Williams, a homeless man, went viral on YouTube because of his easy-on-the-ears voice.

Now: Ted "Golden Voice" Williams

Link Copied
Getty

After the interview went viral, Williams was offered multiple broadcasting jobs. He co-wrote “A Golden Voice: How Faith, Hard Work, and Humility Brought Me From the Streets to Salvation,” and he did voiceover work for Kraft and Pepsi.

Williams is also the founder of the Ted Williams Project, a non-profit organization that helps homeless people.

tags:

  • viral video
  • Opens a new window
  • Opens a new window
  • Opens a new window
  • Opens a new window
  • Opens a new window

About Us

  • Meet the Team
  • Awards
  • Contact

Connect

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • RSS

Watch Inside Edition

  • Local Listings
  • Submit a Story

Sites We Love

  • Paramount+
  • CBS News
  • ETonline
  • The Drew Barrymore Show
  • Rachael Ray Show
  • DABL
  • Dr. Phil
  • Star Trek
  • The Doctors
  • Last.fm
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Cookies Policy | Closed Captioning | Do Not Sell My Personal Information |  ™ King World Productions Inc. © 2022 Inside Edition Inc. and CBS interactive Inc., Paramount companies. All Rights Reserved.