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9 ordinary people who went unexpectedly viral in 2022 described what it's like to be launched into the internet spotlight

9 ordinary people who went unexpectedly viral in 2022 described what it's like to be launched into the internet spotlight

Andrew Lloyd

TikTok became a viral launchpad for many in 2022.TikTok: @recesstherapy, @djrusspowell, @meaganglesmann

In 2022, videos that received millions of views made people internet-famous overnight.
Some were praised after their clips went viral while others became the target of online hate.

The year 2022 proved anyone can become an accidental influencer overnight.

Ordinary people have long experienced unexpected internet fame, but with the rise of TikTok, it seems to be more common than ever.

Unlike many previous social platforms, TikTok shows viewers videos that have no link to the accounts they follow, which can lead to people receiving tens of millions of views despite never going viral online before.

For some, the sudden attention of viral fame — on TikTok or otherwise — can be a positive experience, while others have become the target of online hate, proving it's difficult to predict what will happen once you hit "post."

From a Jewish choir whose catchy song took over TikTok thanks to a resurfaced video, to a wedding couple who had no idea their DJ had made them internet famous, here are nine stories from people who went viral in 2022, and their reactions to the sudden fame.

A TikTok interviewer went viral when he sat down for a chat with a seven-year-old who really liked corn.

Julian Shapiro-Barnum, host of an online interview series called "Recess Therapy," went viral on YouTube in August when he posted an interview with a seven-year-old named Tariq who expressed his love for corn.

The interview, which was posted on August 4, has been viewed over 10 million times on YouTube and received over two million likes on Instagram. It shone a light on Shapiro-Barnum's series and turned Tariq into a star, thanks to his witty responses and passion for the "beautiful" vegetable.

Musicians The Gregory Brothers turned clips of the interview into a song, in a video that has received 25 million views since it was posted on August 28. A sample of the hit went on to be used in 1.4 million videos on TikTok.

"It brings me so much joy that this interview took off in such a large way," Shapiro-Barnum told Insider. "Tariq's family have also handled it all with so much grace. They've really given him a good few weeks of unadulterated freedom with exploring all of the joys and benefits of going viral."

Read the full interview here.

A comedian launched a series where he asked taxi drivers to take him to their favorite spots in the city.

@keepthemeterrunning “VINNIE” PART 2 // Kareem’s ride with Vinnie continues all the way to a Buffalo Wild Wings all the way in COLLEGE POINT, QUEENS SPICY wings but hey at least they got a ride to JFK ‍ created by @kareem.rahma a @madrealities series #taxi #cab #travel #anthonybourdain #nyc #newyork #india #queens #hotwings #madrealities ♬ original sound - KEEP THE METER RUNNING

The Miami Boys Choir became a big hit on TikTok after a video from 2007 was shared online.

@miamiboyschoir after 40+ years of performance excellence, here were 4 soloists who helped usher in big changes for the Miami Boys Choir - the beginning of the Gen-Z generation of MBC’s worldwide fans and followers (2008-2012) #vocals #solo #performance #israel #ישראל #מוסיקה #music #jewish ♬ Miami Boys Choir. Yerushalayim Live Version - Yerachmiel Begun and MBC

A college student faced intense online judgment after she shared a video of her relationship reunion.

@meaganglesmann he wasn’t expecting that haha #surprise #longdistancerelationship #surprisingmybf #boyfriendsurprise #travellife ♬ still falling for you - audiobear

A 100-year-old doctor proved you're never too old to go viral.

@whatsnextmovie How many 2000’s songs does this 100 year old doctor know? #2000s #musicchallenge #fyp #songchallenge #2000sthrowback #100yearsold ♬ original sound - BVM

A canceled flight made a group of strangers go viral as they hatched a new plan to get home.

@alanahstory21 I cant make this up. Road trip! @The Farm Babe @StarrPuck @doerksen92 @Renee @robinwharton976 @CozumelAutentico ♬ original sound - Alanah

A tweet about a couple's morning coffee routine received backlash.

—daisey garden coffee lady (@lilplantmami) October 21, 2022

On October 21, Daisey Miller posted a "totally off-hand" tweet about her typical morning routine with her husband, which included taking their coffee out into the garden and talking for hours.

Miller received comments reacting to her post that called her out for being "privileged" and "wealthy" as the tweet reached over 334,000 likes and 14,400 quote tweets and became a source of negative attention and internet discourse about class. Miller assured people she was "not rich" in a follow-up tweet that received 18,800 likes.

"I just tweeted it because I felt happy and grateful. I was a little shocked that it was blowing up, and at first, there was so much negativity," Miller told Insider. Despite the backlash, Miller said she "wasn't affected" by the comments she received and she takes what people say online "with a grain of salt."

"It doesn't affect my life in the real world or the enjoyment I get from having coffee with my husband," she told Insider.