In the mid 2010s, before there was TikTok, there was Vine. The video sharing platform allowed users to share videos that were six seconds long. Though the videos were short, thousands left lasting impacts on viewers. The platform is known for its numerous hilarious pop culture moments, but also for launching the careers of several actors and musicians, notably Shawn Mendes.
Now, the star of one of Gen Z’s favorite Vine videos is old enough to share her side of the story. Ava Ryan 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.
@katieryan630 Some of our favorite vines
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.
The internet star also joked that “I smell like beef” was a poetic thing to say.
@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 original video became so quotable, that even some celebrities joined in. Actress Camila Mendes of “Riverdale” once recreated it behind-the-scenes of the show.
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@ispaedits I SMELL LIKE BEEF????#camilamendes #babycamilamendes #crzgf #fyp #riverdale #plantilla #smelllikebeef
Internet Reactions
Ryan’s explanation video currently sits at one million likes and 7.2 million views. One commenter wrote “I have been waiting for this lore for years.” Others noted Ryan’s humorous personality has seemingly remained intact years after the original video was posted. Many TikTok users commented quotes of their favorite parts of Ryan’s explanation. One user wrote, “I’m glad to see her vibe hasn’t dampened over the years.”
Another commenter could not stop laughing when Ryan said “Shakespeare has been real silent on this one because he is deceased.” Her delivery was also likened to that of Brittany Broski, another popular TikTok creator.
Others could not believe how old Ryan is, and that Vine folded so many years ago.
@unyielding_bastion #duet with @katieryan630 #greenscreen I SMELL LIKE BEEEEFFFFF #ripvine #vines #vinesenergy #ismelllikebeefffffff #funny
Katie Ryan responded to a commenter confirming that Ava claims the beef video is her first childhood memory. The Vine app shut down in 2017, after Twitter purchased and deemed it no longer brought in adequate revenue. Many of Vine’s creators then moved towards creating YouTube videos and Musical.ly videos, the latter of which would go on to become TikTok. The Ryan family has not commented further on the “I smell like beef” video heard around the world. You can follow along with Ava’s teenage adventures on TikTok @katieryan630.
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