The "What are those?!" meme originated from a viral video clip where a man loudly questions a police officer about his footwear in a surprised and mocking tone, implying the shoes look strange or ugly. The phrase is used humorously to call out someone's shoes as unfashionable or odd
. Origin and Spread:
- The meme started gaining traction on Instagram and Vine in 2015 after Brandon Moore (aka Young Busco) posted the original video confronting a police officer with the phrase "What are those?" while pointing at his shoes
- It quickly went viral, inspiring numerous parodies, remixes, and compilations on social media platforms like Vine, YouTube, and TikTok
- The phrase itself was defined earlier on Urban Dictionary in 2011 as a way to insult someone's footwear
- The meme is often used in urban culture as a playful insult about someone's shoe game or outfit
Cultural Impact:
- It became a catchphrase used widely to mock off-brand or unattractive shoes.
- A notable moment was when a kid at a Michael Jordan basketball camp asked Jordan "What are those?!" Jordan replied humorously with the actual shoe model, "29 Lows," which delighted the crowd
- The meme has been remixed into various formats, including autotuned versions and pranks on family members, gaining millions of views and likes
Legacy:
- Brandon Moore, the creator of the original viral video, sadly passed away in 2018, but the meme remains a lasting part of internet culture
In summary, "What are those?!" is a meme phrase used to humorously call out someone's shoes as ugly or unusual, originating from a viral Vine video and becoming a widespread internet phenomenon with many creative variations
