The Meaning Behind "I Like Turtles" On Facebook

I like turtles is a phrase that was popularised by a ten-year-old boy named Jonathan Ware during a news interview at the Rose Festival in Portland, Oregon, on May 31, 2007. When asked about his zombie face paint on camera, Jonathan responded with the now-famous line, I like turtles. This video clip went viral, spawning various internet memes, products, and merchandise featuring the catchphrase. The phrase is often used as a humorous non-sequitur to indicate one's disinterest or cluelessness about a topic.

The origin of the phrase

The phrase "I like turtles" became a phenomenon when a viral video emerged from Portland, Oregon's Rose Festival on 31 May 2007. In the video, a reporter is interviewing a young boy named Jonathan Ware, who is 10 years old and has his face painted like a zombie. When asked about his face paint, Jonathan responds, "I like turtles." The awkwardness of this moment derailed the interview, and the reporter quickly moved on. However, the clip was uploaded to YouTube and went viral, accumulating millions of views and inspiring countless remixes, memes, and parodies.

The viral video sparked a trend, and the phrase "I like turtles" took on a life of its own. It became a humorous non-sequitur, often used to indicate a lack of knowledge or interest in a topic. People started using the phrase as a verbal shrug or a way to dismiss a question they didn't want to answer. In some cases, it was also used to express genuine affection for turtles.

The impact of the "I like turtles" meme persisted for years, with Jonathan gaining recognition as the "I like turtles zombie kid." In 2017, a decade after the original video went viral, Jonathan was featured in a follow-up interview, reflecting on his unexpected fame. He stated that he still likes turtles and has no regrets about the interview, although he wishes he had trademarked the slogan.

The "I like turtles" meme has left a lasting impact on internet culture, with its usage evolving over time. It has been used in various contexts, sometimes as a random statement or to inject humour into a conversation. The phrase has also inspired the creation of "I like turtles"-themed products, such as T-shirts, mugs, and hats, further spreading its reach beyond the initial viral video.

The boy behind the meme

In 2007, a young boy named Jonathan Ware (also spelled Jonathon) attended the Rose Festival in Portland, Oregon. The 10-year-old had his face painted to look like a zombie, and this caught the attention of KGW local news correspondent Nancy Francis. She decided to interview him on camera, asking about his unique face paint. However, instead of commenting on his zombie face paint, Jonathan surprised everyone by declaring, "I like turtles." This unexpected response left the reporter momentarily speechless and created a viral sensation that would become a lasting meme.

The interview, which took place on May 31, 2007, was uploaded to YouTube shortly after and quickly gained traction. Within hours, the 17-second clip had amassed 500,000 views, and it continued to spread like wildfire on the then-popular social media platform MySpace. The appeal of the video lay in the awkwardness of the moment and the seemingly random nature of Jonathan's comment. It sparked countless parodies, remixes, and memes, with people embracing the phrase "I like turtles" as a lighthearted way to deflect boring or uncomfortable questions.

The "I like turtles" phenomenon also spawned a range of merchandise, including t-shirts, hats, mugs, and bags. Despite his likeness being used, Jonathan did not receive any financial compensation for the sales of these products. However, he did gain a degree of celebrity status, often being recognised in public as "Turtle Boy" or "Zombie Boy." In the years since the interview, Jonathan has embraced his viral fame, even recreating the original meme as an adult in an advertisement for the animated movie "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem" in 2023.

The "I like turtles" meme has endured as a lighthearted way to express cluelessness or disinterest in a conversation. It is often used as a humorous non-sequitur, injecting a bit of levity into otherwise dull or awkward moments. Jonathan's candid comment, made when he was just a young boy, has left an indelible mark on internet culture, with people still finding amusement in his unexpected declaration of affection for turtles.

The phrase as a response to boring questions

The phrase "I like turtles" became a popular response to boring questions following its utterance by a young boy named Jonathan (or Jonathon) Ware during a local news interview at the Rose Festival in Portland, Oregon, on May 31, 2007. Jonathan had his face painted to look like a zombie and was approached by a KGW local news correspondent, Nancy Francis, who asked him to comment on his face paint on camera. Jonathan's unexpected response, "I like turtles," caught the internet by storm, with a 17-second clip of the interview amassing 500,000 views on YouTube within hours of being posted.

The viral nature of the clip can be attributed to the awkwardness and humour it evoked, as it derailed the interview and created a memorable moment. The phrase "I like turtles" soon took on a life of its own, becoming a way for people to dismiss boring questions or indicate their lack of interest in a conversation. By using the phrase, individuals could express their disengagement from a topic or their cluelessness about it. This usage of the phrase aligns with its origin, as Jonathan himself admitted that he gave the "I like turtles" response because he was nervous during the interview and wanted to talk about something else, namely the turtle exhibit he had just seen.

The "I like turtles" phenomenon sparked a range of creative responses, including remixes, memes, and parodies. It also inspired a variety of merchandise, such as T-shirts, mugs, and bags, emblazoned with the catchphrase. The popularity of the phrase even led to a ""web redemption" on Comedy Central's Tosh.0, where Jonathan mocked his own video, explaining the appeal of turtles and eating turtle chocolates in a special turtle room.

The impact of the "I like turtles" phrase extended beyond its initial viral fame. Years later, Jonathan Ware reprised his role as the "I like turtles" kid in an advertisement for the animated movie "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem," demonstrating the enduring recognition of the phrase. Additionally, the phrase has taken on a life of its own, becoming a part of popular culture and continuing to be used as a humorous non-sequitur in various contexts.

The impact of the phrase

The phrase "I like turtles" has had a significant impact, both as a viral internet phenomenon and as a part of popular culture.

Firstly, it has become a well-known and enduring internet meme. The phrase originated from a viral video uploaded to YouTube in 2007, featuring a young boy named Jonathon Ware who, when interviewed about his zombie face paint, responded with the unexpected statement, "I like turtles." This video quickly gained a vast number of views, with people finding the awkwardness of the moment amusing. It inspired numerous parodies, remixes, and "I like turtles"-themed products, such as T-shirts, mugs, and bags. The popularity of the phrase led to its usage as a meme, often employed as a humorous non-sequitur to indicate cluelessness about a topic or as a response to a boring or stupid question.

Secondly, the phrase has left a mark on popular culture, with the "I like turtles" kid, or "Zombie Boy," becoming something of an internet legend. Even years after the initial viral sensation, people were still attempting to track down Jonathon, and he was invited to participate in various projects capitalising on his fame. For example, in 2010, he appeared on an episode of Tosh.0, and in 2013, he launched a YouTube channel. In 2023, he recreated the original meme as an adult in an advertisement for the animated movie "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem." This shows that the impact of the phrase was such that it brought ongoing fame to its creator, providing him with opportunities to engage in media projects.

Additionally, the phrase has had a personal impact on Jonathon and his family. While he did not earn any money from the merchandise that sold his likeness, he has expressed that he does not regret doing the interview and that he still likes turtles. His mother, Tina Ware, has reflected on how the sudden celebrity status brought a unique set of challenges but also made their family stronger as they navigated the situation together.

Overall, the impact of "I like turtles" has been far-reaching, from its role in internet humour and popular culture to its personal effects on the individuals involved. It stands as a memorable example of the unpredictable nature of viral content and the potential for a brief moment to leave a lasting impression on the online landscape.

The 'I like turtles' bomb

The video quickly spread online, amassing millions of views and inspiring various remixes, memes, and products. The phrase "I like turtles" has since become a way to dismiss a question or indicate a lack of knowledge about a topic. It is often used as a humorous non-sequitur, injected into conversations as a random statement to derail or add humour to the discussion.

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