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Charlie Chaplin invented the “Distracted Boyfriend” meme almost 100 years ago

Jun 13, 2018 by Dunja Djudjic Add Comment

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I’m sure there aren’t many of you who haven’t stumbled upon the “Distracted Boyfriend” meme somewhere on the Internet. It caught fire last year and ended up having thousands of hilarious variations. And although we connect it with the present time, it seems like Charlie Chaplin invented it way back in 1922.

Film writer Peter Goldberg posted a screenshot from Charlie Chaplin’s short film Pay Day, where he turns around to check out another woman in the street while his wife is next to him.

I'm very sorry for this, but… pic.twitter.com/iewtkmUmkG

— peter goldberg (@peeto_g) June 11, 2018

Tom Ryan “fixed” the screenshot by flipping it horizontally, so it resembles more the 2017 “Distracted Boyfriend” meme we all know.

There, fixed it pic.twitter.com/HYHAqp9aq9

— Tom Ryan (@tomdryan) June 11, 2018

I didn’t take long for the people of the Internet to start turning the 1922 scene into a meme. Personally, I like the modern “Distracted Boyfriend” meme, so the vintage one gave me chuckles, too. Especially this “meta” meme:

pic.twitter.com/M4QSF7lwuG

— Hunmik (@hunmik) June 11, 2018

Here are a few other examples:

pic.twitter.com/yvux0YIgbj

— Kris Kerzman (@kriskerzman) June 11, 2018

pic.twitter.com/I8dWclaTyP

— Taffin (@Ballymoran) June 11, 2018

pic.twitter.com/pXLkR0ZS5W

— Torville Redenbotter (@TravBot) June 11, 2018

pic.twitter.com/Q8cbnRaHlj

— Chris Koss ? (@cwkoss) June 11, 2018

 

sorry if this has been done pic.twitter.com/lAFSceiBLj

— salad gravy (@bragool) June 11, 2018

I see internet memes as a very interesting phenomenon. I guess I’m not the only one, considering that they even sparked some academic research. I believe Antonio Guillem, the photographer behind the original image, couldn’t have ever imagined that his stock photo would turn into internet sensation. And I wonder what Charlie Chaplin would think seeing that his movie from 96 years ago is gaining this weird kind of popularity in the 21st century. : )

[via Paleofuture, Reddit]

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Related posts:

The girl from the “Distracted Boyfriend” meme is always totally shocked “Distracted Boyfriend” meme proclaimed sexist by Swedish advertising body What Christmas Morning Would Look Like If M. Night Shyamalan, Tarantino, & Charlie Chaplin Directed It This is what it took to capture a perfect selfie 100 years ago

Filed Under: Inspiration Tagged With: Charlie Chaplin, humor, MEME

Dunja Djudjic: from diyphotography.net

About Dunja Djudjic

Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.

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Dunja Djudjic: from diyphotography.netDunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.

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