He turned a viral Popeyes meme. Now he sponsors the restaurant.

Collin has come to phrases with the meme lately as he has developed one other identification by soccer, which he performs at Division II Lake Erie Faculty in Ohio. This month, the 18-year-old used the meme’s reputation to signal a sponsorship take care of Popeyes that may connect his identify, picture and likeness to commercials.

“At first it was actually laborious,” Collin informed The Washington Submit. “However the household and pals that I had informed me, ‘Hey, that is going to be one thing good. You’ll be able to actually flip this.’ Part of me now could be pinching himself.”

A Popeyes spokeswoman confirmed the sponsorship deal, including in an announcement: “From memes to desires, Dieunerst and Popeyes will grace social media feeds as soon as once more.”

In August 2013, Collin stated his father, Evens, ordered a household hen meal at a Popeyes in Irvington, N.J. Collin stated he crammed his white cup with candy tea and waited for his household to exit the restrooms. A person, who was recording a video on his cellphone, approached Collin.

The videographer believed Collin regarded just like Lil TerRio, who was well-liked for his dance strikes on Vine earlier than it was shut down in October 2016. Collin didn’t know whether or not the videographer was talking to him or the individual beside him, he stated, so he regarded on the digital camera and glanced beside him earlier than shifting his eyes towards the digital camera once more. Collin stated he dismissed the encounter as a joke.

Then about three weeks later, his sister, Everlyne, shared the video. Individuals used the brief clip to precise reactions to awkward moments, comparable to seeing a instructor outdoors faculty or being requested to work weekends. As a fifth-grader, Collin stated classmates nicknamed him “TerRio” as he turned well-known for the meme.

Collin stated he felt accepted two years later in center faculty when he met new pals who had not discovered concerning the meme. In highschool, Collin stated, soccer helped him kind his identification and discover belonging. Collin’s teammates supplied him with a brand new nickname, “Killer Whale,” for his blocking on the offensive line.

“Individuals started to know who I actually was,” Collin stated.

When Collin’s highschool coach, Rae Oliver, discovered concerning the meme, he stated he invited Collin into his workplace. Though he usually internalized his feelings, Collin stated, he defined his difficulties overcoming bullying. Oliver stated he noticed an opportunity for Collin to rework the meme right into a advertising alternative.

After East Orange Campus received a soccer championship in December 2021, Collin posed for an image with the trophy whereas wanting sideways to imitate the meme. When an influencer requested Collin what he would do after profitable, Oliver stated Collin responded: “Man, I would like some hen.”

At Lake Erie Faculty in Painesville, Ohio, coaches discovered concerning the meme once they started recruiting Collin in 2021. When Collin dedicated to the small faculty in February 2022, phrase of the brand new classmate unfold throughout the coed physique.

“I don’t assume we bargained for the sunshine that Dieunerst was,” Lake Erie Coach Demir “D.J.” Boldin stated. “After we really obtained to know him, he’s one of many biggest children, like, ever.”

Collin, who’s 6-foot-1 and 330-pounds, redshirted within the fall to develop. Round January, sports activities personalities throughout social media started connecting Collin to the well-known meme. Collin, who research communications, tagged Popeyes in a Jan. 8 Instagram put up through which he wrote he was prepared to speak enterprise.

Inside a day, Collin stated Popeyes responded. He danced throughout his dorm after settling a deal, and Popeyes designed a billboard that includes Collin in Newark.

He’s now Lake Erie’s first soccer participant to obtain a paid sponsorship deal, Boldin stated. Collin declined to reveal his wage however stated, “It’s loads.”

“He’s accepting of who he’s,” Oliver stated. “He’s been in a position to take the ability from the damaging facet of it and switch that ache into revenue.”