Joey Chestnut competes in the 2012 Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Eating Contest at Coney Island in the Brooklyn borough of New York July 4, 2012. Chestnut ate a record-tying 68 hot dogs to take the crown. REUTERS/Eric Thayer (UNITED STATES - Tags: FOOD ENTERTAINMENT SOCIETY)
Every era finds a stupid new way for people to become famous.
In the 1970s, it was being a groupie . . . in the ’80s, being a druggie . . . in the ’90s, being on cable . . . in the 2000s, being on reality TV . . . in the 2010s, being on social media . . . and in the 2020s, being an “influencer.”
There’s a new list of “dumbest reasons someone became famous in the U.S.” And here are some notable examples from it:
1. “Balloon Boy.” In 2009, the “Balloon Boy” hoax went viral when a couple claimed their six-year-old son Falcon was trapped in a homemade balloon 7,000 feet up in the air. There was a balloon, but the boy was at home in the attic.
2. Hawk Tuah. Someone said, “She is really the textbook example of this.”
3. The “Island Boys” who went viral on TikTok, and got desperate for fame.
4. Honey Boo Boo.
5. “Just about every ‘reality TV star.'”
6. Bhad Bhabie . . . the “Cash Me Outside” girl from “Dr. Phil”.
7. Kim Kardashian, who was famous for: A.) Her father being one of O.J. Simpson’s lawyers. And B.) A “leaked” naughty video with Ray J.
8. The rest of the Kardashians, who are famous for: Association with Kim.
9. The Jenners, who are famous for: Association with the Kardashians.
10. “Alex from Target”
11. Being a Teen Mom.
12. Having eight kids, or in the case of the “OctoMom“, 14.
13. Singing badly on “American Idol”.
14. Jake Paul for “boxing,” and whatever else.
15. Eating a bunch of hotdogs.
16. Smashing a kneecap before an ice skating competition.
17. (PG-13) Scalding their crotch with McDonald’s coffee. This person didn’t become as personally “famous” as they might have in today’s world . . . but the lawsuit did become legendary.
(Ask Reddit) (What would YOU add to this list?)
