What the viral Popeye's kid looks like now after coming full circle with chicken chain

For millennials he became an icon of the internet with his trademark knowing sideways glance.

This was, of course, in a far distant time, before algorithms, far before TikTok back when Vine was the short form video platform du jour.

Yes, it was full of just as much insane brain rot as TikTok and Instagram are today, but they don't get it, this was classy brain rot featuring badgers, mushrooms and snakes doing cute dances to catchy beats - rather than just randomly saying '67'.

I realise I'm definitely showing my age here.

But one of the big memes of Vine was, of course, the Popeye's kid, or Dieunerst Collin to give him his real name, who was just nine years old when he was immortalised as a meme.

At the time, his fame wasn't so much a flash in the pan as just waving something vaguely in the direction of the stove.

But things came full circle for Dieunerst after he became a state champion for his high school football team in East Orange, New Jersey, and attracted the attention of the chain that originally made him famous.

Podcast producer Jim Weber tweeted: "The @Popeyes meme kid @CollinDieunerst is now a freshman offensive lineman at Division II Lake Erie College and if this guy doesn’t have a NIL deal by tomorrow, the Louisiana kitchen needs to clean house on upper management."

Fans saw the post and jumped on the trend to get it to reach Popeye's, with one writing: "I NEED EVERYONE TO REPOST THIS AND TAG @popeyes I JUST WANNA TALK BUSINESS."

And sure enough, Popeye's did indeed spot the release, and in a poignant turn of events offered him a sponsorship in 2023.

In a statement, per People, Dieunerst said: "A lot can happen with the power of the internet behind you!

"I can't believe I can say I'm officially sponsored by Popeyes. Thank you to everyone who helped spread the good word!"

Popeye's even confirmed the news with a series of promotional posters that showed Dieunerst as his nine-year-old self in the meme.

They then put that alongside him playing for Lake Erie College as a freshman, marking the start of the partnership.

Fans took to the internet to share their congratulations.

"Good job dude, your meme made a lot of people smiling, you've earned it," wrote one fan.

Another posted: "The most wholesome Shi… well deserved indeed. Congrats man."

A third said: "@popeyes good on you for coming through!!"