Who's Ethan Crumbley And Why Is His Face On A Meme? The 'As A Former Street Myself' Meme Explained

The true crime community on TikTok just uncovered that a meme from 2022 has been using a picture of the teen Ethan Crumbley, responsible for the 2021 Oxford High School shooting.

So, who's Ethan Crumbley and how did a picture from his childhood end up as the face of the "as a former street nigga myself" meme? Let's explain!

Who Is Ethan Crumbley?

Ethan Robert Crumbley was sentenced to life in prison without parole for shooting down four classmates and wounding six others and a teacher at Michigan’s Oxford High School in 2021. His sentence was defined in December 2023, as @USATODAY explained in the video below.

Why Ethan Crumbley's Picture Was Used In The 'As A Former Street Myself' Meme?

On January 13th, 2022, X user @chickenjorhe tweeted that the American rapper Lil Durk had deleted all his social media accounts, writing that "As a former street nigga myself, I know what dat means." User @Toriquex1 then replied to the tweet with a picture of Ethan Crumbley, copying the original tweet's phrase "As a former street nigga myself" (shown below).

The image was used as a form of mockery towards white people who use African American Vernacular English slangs on social media, especially the N-word.

How Did People Found Out About Ethan Crumbley's Picture In The 'As A Former Street Myself' Meme?

On May 9th, 2024, TikToker @charleybournetruecrime posted a video about the Oxford High School shooting that occurred in November 2021. In one frame of the video, the creator used the same picture featured in the "as a former street myself" meme, revealing that Ethan Crumbley, the teen gunman who killed four students, is the kid used in the meme. (shown below)

For the full history of "as a former street nigga myself," be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.