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Chris Crocker Told the World to 'Leave Britney Alone' 10 Years Ago and We Feel Old AF
The viral star reflects on his experience as one of the world's first memes.
Chris Crocker had no idea how iconic he would become when he uploaded a video to YouTube in 2007 defending Britney Spears from media scrutiny.
On the 10 year anniversary of the upload, Crocker opened up on social media about his experience as one of the world's first viral memes and his life since. "10 years ago on this day, I defended my favorite pop star against the media," he wrote on Instagram. "While I'm known to do comedy: This was the one video that I was serious in."
Crocker then opens up about his private life that affected his defensiveness of Ms. Spears.
"That year, my mom was battling addiction & became homeless after serving for our country in Iraq. The struggles in my home life and family life made me defensive over any woman going through a hard time. The internet and YouTube was a very different, less LGBT friendly place at the time. Nothing I said in the video was listened to. I was mocked for my femininity. I was called every gay slur in the book. Talk show hosts questioned if I was a man or woman, after playing the clip. I knew there was no way people would take me serious. So I decided that I would play up to the joke everyone thought I was. Realizing that telling them about what had actually triggered my emotional reaction (What my mom was battling) wouldn't be of interest to anyone. So I gave them a cartoon of what they assumed I was, in my public appearances afterward. But the truth is and always was about standing up for someone and not standing idly by when you see someone being hurt by others. In the 10 years since this video- A lot of LGBT YouTubers are celebrated for who they are. I often wonder if I had started videos later, if I would've been treated differently. But what I will say is this: Even if I got a public beating for standing up for what's right: I'm happy I did. And I'll always love @BritneySpears."
So what has he learned since the video went viral?
1. Don't let the things people say online get to you.
2. Don't let the words other people say about you define you.
3. Be cautious of what you post online.
4. Let the haters kick fucking rocks.
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Taylor Henderson is a PRIDE.com contributor. This proud Texas Bama studied Media Production/Studies and Sociology at The University of Texas at Austin, where he developed his passions for pop culture, writing, and videography. He's absolutely obsessed with Beyoncé, mangoes, and cheesy YA novels that allow him to vicariously experience the teen years he spent in the closet. He's also writing one!
Taylor Henderson is a PRIDE.com contributor. This proud Texas Bama studied Media Production/Studies and Sociology at The University of Texas at Austin, where he developed his passions for pop culture, writing, and videography. He's absolutely obsessed with Beyoncé, mangoes, and cheesy YA novels that allow him to vicariously experience the teen years he spent in the closet. He's also writing one!
