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Who Is David Vujanić, aka 'Vuj'? The Man Behind The 'Awkward White People Smile' Meme Revealed
It's always interesting to learn who the person behind a given meme is and whether or not they embrace it and their viral fame.
Recently, the identity of the man behind the classic "Awkward White People Smile" meme and reaction image has been going viral after taking a photo with two other meme legends, Scumbag Steve and Bad Luck Brian, revealing to many for the first time what that boy with the iconic awkward smile looks like now.
But who exactly is David Vujanić, also known as Vuj, and what has he been up to since becoming a meme? Here's what we know.
What Is The 'Awkward White People Smile' Meme And How Is It Used In Memes?
Back in 2015, Twitter user @rashadpls shared a photo of a then-unknown young boy striking an awkward smile or smirk, captioning the post, "this how white people smile at you when you pass them on the street." The post went viral and spread widely across social media, inspiring memes for years about all the situations during which you might give someone that humorous smile.
One viral example of the meme includes a post in which someone attempts to resist the urge to pull out the smile when they walk past a stranger. Another uses the face to describe the expression someone makes at the cashier as their debit transaction processes.
It's a face that many find relatable, which has elevated the meme to something of a classic status alongside formats like Bad Luck Brian and Scumbag Steve.
Who Is 'David Vujanić' And How Was His Identity Revealed?
The man behind the meme is actually a Croatian-Serbian content creator and football fan named David Vujanić, or Vuj for short. Vujanić has a decent following on social media, including a YouTube page with over 100,000 subscribers where he occasionally posts football-related content and has posted some notably viral music video parodies back in the 2010s.
This knowledge has been floating around online since as early as 2018, but largely flew under the radar until November 2024 when Vuj posted a selfie from the Dogeday 2024 event.
In the photo, Vuj poses with Blake Boston of the Scumbag Steve meme and Kyle Craven of Bad Luck Brian, two undeniable meme legends.
Vuj is notably seen holding a cellphone displaying his meme, while Bad Luck Brian holds a sticker of his meme and wears the exact same outfit. Scumbag Steve is pictured wearing a shirt designed with images of his meme.
By all accounts, it seems as if Vuj has fully embraced his meme status and has been embracing it for years. He's even had a moderately successful social media career, which got him invited to the 2016 Sidemen charity football match.
In 2024, Vuj seems less focused on content creation but is still active on his Instagram and X accounts under the handles @dvujanic and @DavidVujanic, respectively.
For the full history of the awkward white people smile, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.