Unmasking The Burger King Guys: Stories Behind Viral Moments

Have you ever scrolled through social media and stumbled upon a video featuring someone connected to Burger King, leaving you wondering about the full story? It seems, too it's almost, the internet has a special way of turning everyday occurrences, or even some not-so-everyday ones, into moments that everyone talks about. From peculiar food incidents to unusual travel experiences, figures associated with the well-known fast-food chain have, in a way, captured the public's imagination, creating quite a buzz across various platforms. We’re talking about those viral sensations that pop up on your feed, making you pause and think, "Wait, what just happened there?"

For a brand that, as a matter of fact, traces its roots back to Miami, Florida, in 1955, Burger King has always been a place for burgers and, you know, quick meals. But beyond the flame-grilled patties and the iconic mascot, the brand has, somewhat unintentionally, become a backdrop for some truly memorable internet lore. These moments, often captured candidly and shared widely, offer a fascinating glimpse into how ordinary people can, in short, become overnight internet sensations, sometimes for all the wrong reasons, or even just for something quirky.

Today, we're going to explore the compelling narratives behind some of these figures, often referred to collectively as the "burger king guy." We'll look at the real people involved, the events that brought them into the spotlight, and the lasting impact these moments have had on internet culture. It's quite interesting, actually, how a global food chain can become intertwined with personal stories that spread like wildfire online, creating a unique kind of fame for those involved.

Table of Contents

• The Foot Lettuce Phenomenon: Alex's Story
• Alex, The Burger King Foot Lettuce Guy: Personal Details
• The Crown Guy on the Plane: Ryan Brewer's Tale
• Ryan Brewer, The Burger King Crown Guy: Personal Details
• The Unexpected Connections and Brand Impact
• Frequently Asked Questions About the Burger King Guys

The Foot Lettuce Phenomenon: Alex's Story

Remember that viral image from 2012 showing someone standing in two bins of lettuce at a Burger King? Well, that particular moment, you know, sparked countless jokes and became a foundational meme for a whole generation of internet users. For years, the identity of the person in the photo remained a mystery, adding to its almost mythical status online. People would often just share the image, without much context, letting the absurdity speak for itself, which, in a way, made it even funnier.

Fast forward to more recent times, and the man who claims to be the person in that infamous photo has, quite frankly, stepped forward. His name is Alex, and he shared his side of the story in a YouTube video posted by Epic Alex Time on December 31st, 2024. He stated that the whole thing was, basically, a joke among friends, something that got out of hand and, in fact, turned into a global internet sensation. This video, which gained over 24,000 views in just seven months, gave people a glimpse behind the meme, showing the human element of a moment that, for a long time, was just a picture on a screen.

In February 2025, the popular meme database Know Your Meme even conducted an interview with Alex, providing more details about his experience. This kind of attention, you see, highlights how deeply ingrained these moments become in our shared online culture. Alex's story, in some respects, serves as a reminder that behind every viral image or video, there's a real person whose life was, perhaps unexpectedly, touched by internet fame. It’s pretty wild, really, how a simple prank can, just like that, become a piece of digital history.

Alex, The Burger King Foot Lettuce Guy: Personal Details

The Crown Guy on the Plane: Ryan Brewer's Tale

Moving from a fast-food kitchen to the confines of an airplane, another "burger king guy" captured widespread attention in 2020. This individual, often seen wearing a Burger King crown, became infamous for a rather chaotic incident aboard a JetBlue flight. The video, which circulated widely on platforms like TikTok and Reddit's publicfreakout community, showed a man hurling racial slurs at fellow passengers on a flight set to depart for Kingston, Jamaica. It was, frankly, a disturbing scene that left many people quite shocked, and really, it showed how quickly a private outburst can become public.

The man in the crown, who some people, you know, started calling "the King," was later identified as Ryan Brewer. After the incident, which led to his arrest in Kingston, Jamaica, on October 20th, Ryan Brewer took to his own YouTube channel to discuss his personal life and, in some ways, address the situation. This gave viewers a chance to, sort of, hear directly from the person behind the viral moment, offering a different perspective than just the chaotic plane footage. It's interesting, really, how these individuals, thrust into the spotlight, sometimes choose to share their own narratives.

The "Burger King hat guy on plane" videos, you might remember, gained millions of views across various platforms. There are numerous TikTok videos related to him, using phrases like "guy with Burger King crown on plane" and "burger king on plane guy." This incident, pretty much, became a case study in how quickly negative behavior can go viral and the lasting impact it can have on a person's public image. It also, arguably, sparked conversations about conduct in public spaces and the immediate consequences of such actions, especially when a camera is rolling, which is often the case these days.

Ryan Brewer, The Burger King Crown Guy: Personal Details

The Unexpected Connections and Brand Impact

It’s rather fascinating, isn't it, how a fast-food giant like Burger King, which, in fact, focuses on delivering delicious burgers and a consistent customer experience, can become so deeply intertwined with these unexpected viral moments. The brand's identity, built on things like the first Burger King restaurant in Miami in 1955 and its recognizable mascots, sometimes gets a little bit of an extra, unplanned layer of public awareness through these internet sensations. You might be thinking about the quality of the burgers, but then, you know, a memory of the "foot lettuce" or "plane guy" pops into your head.

While these "burger king guy" incidents weren't exactly planned marketing campaigns, they certainly put the brand in conversations, albeit sometimes for unusual reasons. It highlights, in some respects, the unpredictable nature of public perception in the digital age. A brand known for its culinary offerings, like the twists on burgers imagined by chefs such as Geoffrey Zakarian, who gets the day started with a breakfast sausage burger, or Jeff Mauro, who shares Sarah Mauro's perfect turkey, finds itself also associated with these quirky human stories.

Consider, too, how food experts, like Guy Fieri, talk about burger places doing it right for decades, like the burger bar in Roy, Utah, which has been successful for 52 years. He loved the Big Ben burger there, and you can order yours double, quarter, or even quad. Or Bobby Flay, who shares his best burger tips for making perfect burgers, including that one secret ingredient that's key to success. Ree Drummond, similarly, likes to serve burgers and tacos for big games, even combining them into smash tacos. These are the kinds of culinary achievements that Burger King, as a burger-focused company, probably wants to be known for. Yet, the internet, quite honestly, has a way of adding its own narrative layers.

The "burger king guy" phenomena, in a way, show how public figures and brands alike navigate the modern landscape of viral content. It’s a stark reminder that anything can become a meme, and anyone can become an internet sensation, sometimes with lasting effects on their public image. From the discussions about how and when to season for perfect burgers, including different types of burgers, to the very real stories of people caught in viral moments, the world of Burger King, it seems, offers more than just food; it offers unexpected human drama, too.

On a somewhat different note, there was also the story of Benjaman Kyle, whose real name was William Powell. He was found naked and injured in 2004, without identification, next to a dumpster behind a Burger King in Richmond Hill, Georgia. He had severe amnesia and, for years, couldn't determine his identity. This isn't a "burger king guy" meme, but it's another instance where the restaurant became a notable location in a very human, very poignant story. It just goes to show, you know, how these places, which are just businesses, can become settings for deeply personal events, some of which, like the foot lettuce and plane incidents, capture public imagination on a massive scale. You can learn more about internet culture on our site, and link to this page for more viral sensations.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Burger King Guys

Who is the Burger King foot lettuce guy?

The "Burger King foot lettuce guy" is Alex, who claims to be the person in the viral 2012 photo where someone appears to be standing in bins of lettuce at a Burger King. He recently shared his story in a YouTube video and was interviewed by Know Your Meme, explaining that the original incident was, pretty much, a joke among friends that, in fact, got out of hand and spread widely online.

What happened to the Burger King crown guy on the plane?

The "Burger King crown guy on the plane" is Ryan Brewer. He gained notoriety in 2020 for a viral video showing him yelling racial slurs at passengers on a JetBlue flight to Kingston, Jamaica. He was later arrested in Kingston and, in a way, has since discussed his personal life on his own YouTube channel, providing his perspective on the incident that, you know, made him an internet sensation.

Are there different "Burger King Guys" in internet memes?

Yes, there are, actually, different figures who have become known as "Burger King Guys" in internet memes. The two most prominent are Alex, associated with the "foot lettuce" incident, and Ryan Brewer, known for the "crown on the plane" video. These individuals gained viral fame through distinct events that, in some respects, unexpectedly involved the Burger King brand as a backdrop for their moments in the spotlight.