Who Is 'Brian Peppers' And What Syndrome Did He Have? The Infamous Ohio Criminal Whose Picture Has Baffled The Web Explained

Depending on how long you've been online, you may have seen some stuff — things that make you question just how the world around you functions and why certain people act the way they do.

With the internet, the ability to see things you really wish you didn't has been multiplied, and there are plenty of people who wish they didn't see, or know, the person named "Brian Peppers," and you might be the next one.

Since the mid-2000s, the notorious photo of Brian Peppers has circulated the web via memes, videos and other types of media, but who is this guy and how did he become such a viral sensation? Let's explain the backstory behind this notable piece of early internet history.

Who Is Brian Peppers?

Brian Peppers is, essentially, an infamous criminal from Ohio who was one of the earlier, big widespread memes online to have a name attached to the face. This is courtesy of the government, as Peppers became well-known online after his mugshot was posted for what is described as a sexual imposition that involved a female child, leading many to vilify and hate him online regardless of what he looked like.

What Syndrome Does He Have That Affects The Way He Looks?

On the topic of his notorious mugshot, his appearance is due to a condition that he suffered from called Crouzon Syndrome, which actually makes a lot of sense after you hear about it. Basically, when humans are born, their skulls aren't fully fused together, as it allows for the head to grow as you get older.

Crouzon Syndrome, however, presents itself through the early fusion of skull bones, leading to deformities such as eye protrusion and awkward placing and proportions. All the science talk is to say that parts of his head just stuck together early, so it wasn't able to properly shape itself as he grew older.

How Is He Used In Memes?

Brian Peppers, through virtue of his crime combined with his facial abnormalities, quickly became a meme in reference to the act of forcing oneself upon others. Image macros, GIFs, reactions, exploitables, anything that could be made to involve Brian's known face and a reference to the act was created, leading to many examples of him being used as a prominent villain in early meme culture.

Is Brian Peppers Alive? What Happened To Him?

Brian Peppers passed away reportedly due to complications from excessive alcohol drinking on February 7th, 2012, at the age of 44 years old. This took place 14 years after his arrest and release from prison back in 1998, and seven years after he began to experience his online infamy.

Since then, he's continued to remain somewhat relevant on social media as people recall the early internet memories of him making the rounds online or using his face in memes and reactions. Additionally, new developments in his background and how he became a meme are even still being dredged up as recently as 2023.

For the full history of Brian Peppers, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.