In 2016, TikTok creator, then musical.ly sensation Ari (@arii), posted a series of photos of herself striking a sassy pose holding her Michael Kors tote bag. The photo continues to live on as a reaction meme on X, formerly known as Twitter. In the years since, TikTok user Noah Miller (@nmillz1) posed a question about the origin story of one of the internet’s favorite memes. Ari then duetted him, sharing her side of the story.
@nmillz1 SHE IS MOTHER #greenscreen
Ari, who was 15 years old at the time she posted the infamous photos, explained that she only meant to share her on-trend 2016 outfit at the time as a burgeoning digital creator on musical.ly. She then said that she “lost the plot” and has no idea how the photo has lived on as a notorious meme in a number of online circles. The reaction meme focuses on using a humorous picture to convey the public reaction to any original piece of content, notably within the entertainment and pop culture sphere.
Now, many encourage Ari to recreate the meme for old time’s sake.
@arii #stitch with @Hi yes im stan twitter meme girl
Ari is the latest of a number of the subjects of 2010s viral videos to share her story. Ava Ryan of Vine was a toddler when her mother Katie Ryan shared the humorous video in which she repeatedly insisted that she “smelled like beef,” that continues to be quoted by the masses in online circles. Ryan is now 13 years old, and the video was posted in 2014. The mother-daughter duo continue to share relatable and humorously absurd videos on TikTok.
Ryan came on TikTok with her now trademark teenage sass to explain the backstory of “I smell like beef.” She recounted her grandfather cooking dinner in the kitchen, and her mom pulling out her phone and capturing the moment when she continued to say that she smelled like beef. “I didn’t think it was a big deal but my parents just DIED,” said Ryan. The young digital creator went on to make several amusing pop culture references.
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@katieryan630 The lore of I Smell Like Beef! Also limited edition merch drop for the 11th (!) anniversary of i smell like beef. Link in bio
The internet star also joked that “I smell like beef” was a poetic thing to say.
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In response to Ari’s resurfaced backstory, many continue to share their thoughts on her pop culture history making meme.
A legend pic.twitter.com/Tdox4z5cVk
— gnarly (@iTalkShxtt) November 27, 2023
Specifically, the meme lingers on Stan Twitter. “Stan” refers to an obsessive or overzealous fan, originally formed as a combination of the words “stalker” and “fan.” The term likely originated from acclaimed rapper Eminem‘s song “Stan”, in which the rapper tells a story of a fan who wrote him increasingly shocking fan mail.
Nowadays, the term “stan” tends to take on a lighter meaning amid internet culture and social media that allows for a constant stream of exposure to many users’ favorite celebrities.
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She paved the way for mid 2010s stan twitter
— annabelle :3 (@oomfabelle) November 27, 2023
Ari is yet to recreate the iconic meme.
