Some moments stand out within the vast expanse of the internet meme world, and Lorde’s infamous selfie, moving from the transience of virality, entered an indelible place in pop culture. Kyle MacLachlan's parody of Lorde's selfie—a photo that sparked waves of amusement and fascination across social media was one such example.
This everyday moment, so apparently banal, became the stuff of legend, fusing humor, celebrity culture, and serendipity into something the internet seemed to fall under its spell.
Disclaimer: This article contains the writer's opinion. Readers’ discretion is advised.
Origin of the Lorde Selfie Explored
The original selfie from Lorde first appeared to people in 2024. Lorde was observed with headphones and a comfortable facial expression in the image, within a short while, this pose caught the internet's attention. The widespread sharing of the image followed when combined with her easygoing mood and the generally incongruous presence of headphones. Soon, it became a meme where people found humor in the simplicity of the photo, and even created parodies, and edits to amplify its charm.
Enter Kyle MacLachlan, the acclaimed actor known for his roles in Twin Peaks and Dune. In 2024, MacLachlan posted his take on Lorde’s selfie, imitating her pose with remarkable precision while donning a similar pair of headphones. The parody was shared on his social media accounts, and fans were quick to embrace his take as both hilarious and endearing. MacLachlan’s serious expression and commitment to mimicking the original photo added an unexpected layer of humor that took the meme to another level.
How did Kyle MacLachlan’s take on Lorde’s selfies become a popular meme?
The internet immediately took notice, with many finding MacLachlan’s version even funnier than the original. With the seriousness from MacLachlan, and the juxtaposition with a middle-aged actor trying to be hip, these elements, along with his perception of the selfie, delivered an added layer of the absurd, making the meme all the more irresistible to share.
The reason MacLachlan's parody is now one of those legendary memes is that very perfect combination of timing, personality, and humor. The internet had already memorized the photograph, and then MacLachlan appears out of nowhere to get involved so that the meme feels newer again.
Deadpan and characteristic of MacLachlan's acting style were what made his parody, funny. There was also a surreal element to it, a young pop star was contrasted with MacLachlan, an older, stoic actor, which added to the humor of the situation. This was the meme that had everything, combining pop culture references into a perfect storm of virality.
Most memes are flash in the pan, but some live on to take on lives of their own. MacLachlan's parody stayed around far longer than most Internet jokes, circulating widely on social media platforms.
There are a few reasons for its longevity: it rode the universal wave of celebrity absurdities, it employed an iconic image that had already sunk deep into public consciousness, and it remained circulating through fan remixes and parodies, thereby sinking it further into meme culture. MacLachlan ensured the joke lingered on by accepting the meme as it began to grow more popular and then playing on it.
Kyle MacLachlan's performance of Lorde's selfie is one way in which memes are extracted from a context, creating a persistent cultural reference point. Using a mix of humor, perfect timing, and surprising celebrity involvement, MacLachlan transformed what would have otherwise been a simple parody into something that went viral across the internet.
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After all, the internet is filled with humor in some of the most unexpected places, sometimes, all it needs are oversized headphones and a very serious expression to produce memes that will last long into the future.
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