In case you spend any time online, you must have come across the Distracted Boyfriend meme at least once. It’s that iconic picture of a man turning around, pausing to check out another woman while his girlfriend is next to him, looking at him in disbelief. It is temptation,distraction,n and the infamous side-eye glance that normally follows all of the above. But this meme is not just the internet mocking the relation between twocharacters—it has become a worldwide phenomenon as a comic gloss on any situation, be it a personal problem or a political commentary.
But what’s its origin, and how did it rise through the ranks and become part and parcel of internet savvy? Let’s dive in.
Origins of the Distracted Boyfriend meme
This story setting starts in 2015 in the backdrop of Gerona in Catalonia. The Spanish photographer Antonio Guillem, who produces stock images with everyday subjects, arranged a series to capture scenarios of infidelity. His goal was to provide lighthearted visuals of disloyalty for commercial use.
Guillem worked with three models to create what he described as challenging scenes—so challenging, in fact, that the models often broke into laughter during the shoot. Among these playful setups was one labeled “Disloyal man with his girlfriend looking at another girl,” which, unbeknownst to the world, was about to become a cultural phenomenon.
The photograph was uploaded to iStock on November 1, 2015, joining countless other stock photos, its destiny unknown.
The Distracted Boyfriend image was first seen as a meme on internet platforms at the beginning of 2017. A Turkish Facebook group dedicated to progressive rock used the image to make a cheeky comparison:
The boyfriend was labeled Phil Collins. The girlfriend stood for prog music. The woman walking by represented pop music.
It was quirky, targeted humor—but it did not become famous.
The true climax came in August 2017 when the meme spread to X (formerly Twitter). This time, it adopted a broader cultural narrative:
The boyfriend became The Youth. The girlfriend was Capitalism. The alluring passerby? Socialism.
This version resonated wildly, gathering thousands of retweets and likes. It was just the spark the image needed to ignite its meme superstardom.
The meme’s golden era
What makes the Distracted Boyfriend meme so universally loved is its flexibility. In its many iterations:
The boyfriend is often someone distracted by shiny, tempting alternatives.
The girlfriend symbolizes established commitments or norms.
The passing woman represents new desires or interests.
This formula is simple, yet endlessly adaptable. From pop culture references to deeply political commentary, users around the world began reinterpreting the image to fit their own narratives.
The possibilities are endless, and that’s precisely why the meme became such a sensation.
The photographer’s reaction
Trending
Antonio Guillem, the creator of the image, was as surprised as anyone by its meteoric rise. He didn’t even know what a meme was until his models alerted him to the phenomenon. In an email to WIRED, Guillem shared his astonishment, admitting he never imagined his stock photo could achieve such fame.
He attributes the meme’s success to its versatility. The expressions and body language captured in the photo make it the perfect metaphor for distraction, desire, and societal commentary.
Your perspective matters!
Start the conversation
