Top 20 Viral Stars: Where Are They Now?

In 2015, this fresh-faced 17-year-old rapper burst onto the music scene with his viral debut single “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae).” The catchy tune, accompanied by its own dance craze, sparked a huge online campaign, which helped propel it to the number three spot on the Billboard Hot 100. But just as quickly as he rose to fame, Silentó disappeared from the public eye once the song’s popularity waned. Unfortunately, the next time the rapper made the headlines, it wasn’t for a good reason. In 2021, Silentó was arrested and charged with multiple criminal offenses, including felony murder, related to the death of his cousin. He has remained in jail ever since, awaiting trial.

It’s pretty hard to upstage an artist during their own performance, but that’s exactly what Russell Horning did. In May 2017, Horning joined Katy Perry onstage for her single “Swish Swish” on “Saturday Night Live” and showcased his signature dance move, the Floss. This clip shot him to internet fame practically overnight and earned him the nickname “Backpack Kid.” Horning quickly gained a large following on social media and capitalized on his newfound fame to launch his music career. In 2018, his mother sued Epic Games on his behalf for featuring the Floss in their video game “Fortnite,” though this lawsuit was later dismissed. Horning currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia where he continues to create content for his YouTube channel.

As a parent, navigating the challenges of working from home with kids can be quite tricky. Even before the pandemic, Professor Robert Kelly, an American political analyst living in South Korea, found himself thrust into the spotlight due to this complex situation. In 2017, Kelly was being interviewed live on BBC News when his kids casually strolled into his home office, before being hilariously dragged out by his wife. The viral moment captured the hearts of many and drew millions of views online. By all indications, Kelly still lives and works in South Korea with his family, and has now fully embraced the “BBC Dad” moniker. He has also been kind enough to share yearly updates on his kids’ appearances.

Sometimes, it’s the most random things that can completely turn your life around. For Michael Senatore, a student at Ardrey Kell High School in Charlotte, North Carolina, it was the simple act of flipping a water bottle. In 2016, Senatore performed this at his high school talent show to wild cheers from the audience, and the clip broke the internet. Soon, everyone was attempting the feat, including Stephen Colbert, who featured Senatore on his late-night show. Since then, Senatore has given a TEDx talk and graduated from the University of South Carolina, reportedly with a business degree. It is unclear what exactly he has been up to, as he prefers to maintain a private presence on social media.

Ever wondered how far 15 minutes of fame can take you? Just ask Danielle Bregoli. Bregoli became an internet sensation in 2016 after appearing on “Dr. Phil,” where she famously coined her catchphrase. Leveraging on this, Bregoli adopted the stage name Bhad Bhabie and released her debut single “These Heaux” in 2017. Surprisingly, it reached number 77 on the Billboard Hot 100, making her the youngest female rapper to debut on the chart. Her subsequent singles saw similar success, leading to a Billboard Music Award nomination, alongside heavyweights like Nicki Minaj and Cardi B. Expanding her empire, Bregoli ventured into reality TV, started a lucrative OnlyFans account and launched her own record label, Bhad Music.

Most of us send in job applications with a simple resume and cover letter. But Aleksey Vayner was not like most of us. In 2006, while studying at Yale, Vayner applied for a summer job at a bank. Along with the necessary documents, he included one unusual addition: a seven-minute video. This video showed him offering advice on success, interspliced with footage of him lifting weights, skiing, playing tennis, dancing and even karate chopping bricks. It was shared online and was widely ridiculed. Despite not landing the job he applied for, Vayner went on to graduate from college, get married and start multiple businesses. Tragically, in January 2013, he passed away reportedly due to a heart attack caused by a drug overdose.

You might not recognize the name Judson Laipply, but you definitely recognize his sick moves. Dressed in a simple orange shirt and bootcut jeans, Laipply compressed an entire century’s worth of dance moves into his six-minute “Evolution of Dance” video. It became an unexpected hit and even once reigned as the most-viewed video on YouTube. As a public speaker already, this sudden fame served as invaluable promotion for his business. Despite his newfound popularity, Laipply remained dedicated to his speaking engagements, occasionally releasing follow-ups to the original “Evolution of Dance” video. These days, he blends comedy with his speeches, always striving to both “entertain and educate” his audience.

It was a simple hair tutorial gone wrong that the internet just never got enough of. Back in 2013, 13-year-old Tori Locklear decided to give her YouTube audience some hairstyling tips. While using a hot curling iron, she accidentally burnt off a chunk of her hair. The reaction on her face was priceless. Locklear’s video blew up, amassing millions of views in a short period, largely due to good old schadenfreude. She however made the most of it, appearing on “Ellen” and briefly collaborating with Pantene. Locklear has since taken her lingering stardom over to TikTok, where she still makes videos for her more than 200 thousand followers. But it’s safe to say her hair tutorial days are now behind her.

Stuntman Mark Allen Hicks experienced what many would consider a nightmare: the most embarrassing moment of his career went viral. It happened during a 2004 audition for a Lebron James Nike commercial. As Hicks attempted a backflip on camera, he fell flat on his face. He then tried to recover but only intensified the embarrassment. The clip was posted online without Hicks’ knowledge, earning him the nickname “Afro Ninja.” Although he actually landed the commercial role, Hicks was concerned about the video’s impact on his career. Over time, he embraced it, even producing a feature-length movie titled “Afro Ninja: Destiny.” Despite his initial misgivings, Hicks still thrives as a Hollywood stuntman, boasting credits in major films like “Avengers: Endgame,” “Watchmen” and “The Suicide Squad.”

If yearly awards were handed for people who “won” Facebook, the Chewbacca Mask Lady would’ve taken it in 2016. 37-year-old Candace Payne filmed herself bursting into laughter in her car over the sound effects of the Chewbacca mask. What started as a random video to share with her Facebook friends became an instant sensation, accruing over 140 million views within days. This led to Payne making appearances on various talk shows, as well as receiving $400,000 in scholarships from a university in Florida. Payne went on to host a set of TLC web series and authored a book titled “Laugh It Up!” in 2017. Today, she’s a motivational speaker and podcast host who still makes videos in her car.

Mason Ramsey exploded onto the music scene after he was filmed yodeling Hank Williams’ “Lovesick Blues” at a Walmart in March 2018. Made in a small corner of Illinois, the video propelled Ramsey into the national spotlight. Within days, millions had watched the clip, reigniting interest in Williams’ music and launching Ramsey’s career. The following month, he was signed by Atlantic Records, under which he released his debut EP “Famous.” In 2019, Ramsey released another EP, lent his voice to “The Angry Birds Movie 2,” and featured on one of the 653 remixes of Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road.” After taking a four-year hiatus, Ramsey returned with a third EP in 2023 titled “Falls Into Place,” which aptly summarizes his journey.

Kimberly Wilkins, or Sweet Brown as she’s more famously known, coined one of the most iconic catchphrases ever. After her apartment complex caught fire in 2012, Brown was interviewed by Oklahoma’s KFOR-TV, during which she vividly described the incident, ending with the now famous line. This interview made Brown an overnight sensation. She appeared on “The View,” had a cameo in Tyler Perry’s “A Madea Christmas” and starred in a few local commercials. But while her life changed drastically as a result, in a lot of ways it still remained the same. Brown seems to have retreated back to her regular life, and apparently still resides in the Oklahoma apartment complex that first brought her to the public eye.

Harry and Charlie are the stars of the viral phenomenon “Charlie Bit My Finger.” Uploaded in May 2007, it quickly made the rounds and was once the most-viewed video on YouTube, though it has since been surpassed. The family reportedly made £100,000 in advertisement revenue and bought a new house with the money, but they have also kept their privacy. The boys’ parents have declined talk show appearances on numerous occasions, and in a 2015 CBBC catch-up story, Charlie admitted that he found it “a bit odd” that the video became so popular. In 2021, it was auctioned off as an NFT and sold for over $700,000. That sure must have made it a little less odd for Charlie.

Poor Caitlin Upton. Miss South Carolina took part in the Miss Teen USA beauty pageant in 2007 and like in most beauty pageants, she was asked a question by one of the judges. Her rambling, nonsensical answer quickly went viral and made Upton the laughing stock of the internet. But rather than retreat from the limelight, she soldiered on. After the debacle, Upton began modeling work in advertisements and was signed to Donald Trump’s modeling agency. She then placed third in “The Amazing Race 16” with her former boyfriend Brent Horne. Today, Upton works as a real estate agent based out of Brentwood, Los Angeles. She is currently married with two children.

Gary Brolsma went viral before YouTube even existed. His claim to fame stemmed from a video he posted on the website Newgrounds in December 2004, showing him dancing energetically to O-Zone’s “Dragostea Din Tei.” By November 2006, the “Numa Numa Dance” video had been viewed more than 700 million times. Like many others on this list, Brolsma made appearances on talk shows, but he struggled to navigate his newfound fame. He disappeared from the public eye for some time, only to re-emerge in 2014 for the “Numa Numa 10-Year Reunion” video. Today, Brolsma runs his own YouTube channel, where he shares original music. In 2023, he delighted fans with a new version of the viral video.

Star Wars Kid is like the forerunner to all subsequent viral videos. In the video, dated from 2002, 15-year-old Ghyslain Raza wields a golf ball retriever like a lightsaber and completes some totally wicked moves. The video went viral and even made its way into pop culture, as spoofs appeared on “Arrested Development” and “American Dad!,” among many other shows. Raza was viciously harassed both online and in person for the video, and he was forced to leave school as a result. However, Raza would later become a legal graduate from McGill University and president of the Patrimoine Trois-Rivières heritage society. In 2022, he was the subject of a documentary which saw him confront one of the first people who uploaded the video online.

(“I move away from the mic to breathe in.”) When those nine words flashed across the screen, we all knew that we were watching a modern-day masterpiece of a viral video. In April of 2007, Tay Zonday, whose real name is Adam Nyerere Bahner, released “Chocolate Rain”, a bizarre song about racism. A combination of Zonday’s deep voice, the peculiar lyrics, and the unintentional hilarity of the video itself made it a sensation, and Zonday was suddenly making headlines in mainstream publications and touring the talk show circuit. Zonday is currently running his YouTube channel, doing voice-over work, and appearing in various television shows and movies, including “The Jack and Triumph Show.”

Dodson became a viral sensation in July 2010 following an interview on a local news channel after an intruder broke into his home and attempted to sexually assault his sister. Despite the serious subject matter, Dodson’s flamboyant attitude, warnings to neighbors, and threats against the perpetrator were considered funny by a lot of people. Dodson made money through a remix of his interview called the “Bed Intruder Song” and capitalized on merchandising. He has since gotten married and welcomed a son with his wife. In 2022, Dodson announced that he was working on his own beer brand called “Run N' Tell That.”

Does Rebecca Black even need an introduction? In case you were living under a rock during the 2010s, Rebecca Black was the famous artist responsible for the viral hit “Friday.” “Friday” was insanely popular - mostly due to its low quality - and Black quickly found herself ridiculed from all corners of the internet. Since that time, she has maintained a YouTube channel, which includes vlogs and covers of popular songs, and has consistently released new music. She released a sequel to “Friday” appropriately titled “Saturday”, which charted on the Billboard Hot 100, and released her debut EP, titled “RE / BL” in September 2017. Black seems to have redeemed herself, however, as her 2023 debut album “Let Her Burn” was released to generally positive reviews.

Cara Cunningham became a media sensation after posting the video “Leave Britney Alone!,” in which she defends Britney Spears’ performance at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards. Some people loved the passion, others thought it was melodramatic and selfish, as Cunningham seemed to be using Spears’s personal troubles to get famous. Either way, she became an internet star overnight. Since that time, Cunningham has done a lot. She starred in a HBO documentary about herself in 2012, released her second EP in 2013, and appeared in an adult film. Cunningham made the news again in 2021 after the documentary “Framing Britney Spears” reignited discussions about the media’s treatment of Spears. That same year, she came out as transgender, officially changing her first name to Cara.

Have you ever gone viral? How would you handle your 15 minutes of fame? Let us know in the comments below.