Where Are They Now? Here's What The 'Apparently Kid' Has Been Up To In The Decade Since His Viral Video
A clip of young Noah Ritter speaking to a local Pennsylvania news channel back in August 2014 led to him making appearances on everything from Good Morning America to The Ellen DeGeneres Show for months after, earning him the nickname "Apparently Kid."
The video of 5-year-old Noah Ritter went hugely viral 10 years ago thanks to his inexplicable overuse of the word "apparently." The cute kid also gave his 2 cents on cable news and the park's more exciting rides, all punctuated with his then-favorite word.
This year, at the 10th anniversary of the viral video's release, Noah "Apparently Kid" Ritter returned to Pennsylvania's Wayne County Fair to revisit the site where he made his claim to fame. Soon after, KYM caught up with Ritter to ask him about what it's like to be a meme growing up.
In case you're curious, here's what Noah "Apparently Kid" Ritter has been up to in the years since his moment of fame, from having a standing date with Ellen to starring in what he calls "Shark Tank for toys."
Who Is The Apparently Kid And How Did He Earn That Name?
The Apparently Kid first went viral back in August 2014 after a local news network stopped young Noah Ritter to ask him how he liked one of the rides at the Wayne County Fair in Pennsylvania.
After posing her first question, WNEP-TV reporter Sofia Ojeda quickly had her microphone taken right into Ritter's hand as he began an amazing stream-of-conscious monologue punctuated by one word — "apparently."
Young Noah Ritter's striking red hair and casual green-and-white shirt were already a sweet sight, but it was his thoughts on live television and the rides at the fair that had onlookers both in real life and online cracking up.
"I've never been on live television before," Noah said, his tiny fingers tightening around the too-large microphone and his eyes staring unblinkingly into the camera. "I don't watch the news because I'm a kid," he continued, "and apparently … grandpa just gives me the remote after we watch the Powerball."
After WNEP reposted the video to its YouTube channel, it exploded in popularity and went viral, now standing at over 60 million views not counting numerous reposts.
How Did The Apparently Kid Go Viral?
WNEP's YouTube upload of the Apparently Kid's interview went viral almost instantly, gathering over 4 million views in the first 48 hours it was uploaded. Shortly after, internet comedians began recreating and reimagining his video, with BuzzFeed posting a dramatic recreation of the segment with an older, still ginger but more somber-looking man.
Meanwhile, YouTube remix legends schmoyoho posted a "songified" version of the Apparently Kid's video, raking in millions of views themselves.
Noah Ritter also landed a commercial just a month after the video of him at the fair went viral, logging over 5 million views on a FreshPet commercial, where he advertised healthy dog food in his typical boisterous style.
But as much as social media propelled the Apparently Kid video to new heights, it was the legacy media storm he generated that really added to his viral fame. The Apparently Kid made several television appearances in the aftermath of the WNEP-TV interview, but he came to be a real fixture on Ellen in 2014.
In a series of appearances on Ellen DeGeneres's talk show, the Apparently Kid was sent to interview Sofia Vergara, got to meet an animatronic dinosaur, and even got a chance to go to Hawaii. According to Noah, his repeat Ellen appearances even earned him the nickname "Ellen" from his high school football coach.
How Old Is The Apparently Kid Now, And What Does He Think About His Viral Moment?
Noah Ritter is now a teenager in 2024, a whole decade after his television interview skyrocketed him to fame. To commemorate August 4th, Ritter went back to the Wayne County Fair and recreated his iconic clip. The 15-year-old still dons the same cool smirk he had as a toddler and starts the video by gesturing to the water slide that inspired his first interview.
Highlighted in Noah Ritter's Wayne County Fair update is his special relationship with his grandfather, who talks about how closely his family is connected to the fair, and how deeply involved he was in Noah's upbringing. Noah talks about his grandfather with fondness as clips of him accompanying Noah on his various adventures 10 years ago begin to play.
In a recent interview with Know York Meme, Noah talked about his moment of fame almost nonchalantly, saying that he took becoming a meme in stride, even as a child. According to him, the people stopping him for a high five or a photo were the ones that made him famous in the first place, so he didn't mind humoring his fans.
What Has The Apparently Kid Been Upto Since He Became A Meme?
Noah Ritter had a brief but exciting run on cable television in the mid-2010s, with his various media appearances acting as a launch pad to a reality show he was a judge on. The Toy Box saw Noah and three other kids playing with and judging toys, which would eventually be created and distributed by Toys R Us.
Noah describes the show as "Shark Tank but for toys," but also talks about how it was discontinued after just two seasons. According to him, the show was "supposed to go on for six but only lasted for two" due to Toys R Us declaring bankruptcy in the middle of production.
Where Can You Find Noah "Apparently Kid" Ritter Online Today?
Nowadays, the Apparently Kid is focused on wrapping up school, playing football and working on his own YouTube channel, where he posts casual vlogs that often feature his grandfather.
Noah also posts on his Instagram sometimes, with his feed peppered with photos from his child star days and more current photos of him playing high school basketball.
For more on the Apparently Kid, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry here.