- People on the internet were in shock after a popular meme of a lumberjack nodding was revealed to be Robert Redford – not Zach Galifianakis, as some thought.
- The scene that inspired the meme was taken from a 1972 western film called “Jeremiah Johnson” that starred Robert Redford as an outdoorsman living in the Rocky Mountains.
- While some were shocked to find out that the meme wasn’t Galifianakis, others were appalled that people couldn’t tell the difference between Redford and the “Hangover” actor.
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The internet was shocked when it was revealed on Tuesday that a popular meme of a lumberjack nodding was actually the actor Robert Redford – not “The Hangover” star Zach Galifianakis, as some originally thought.
An article and subsequent tweet from the publication Splinter seems to have started it all:
Did you know the nodding meme guy is Robert freakin' Redford??? https://t.co/EOAtfLb1cB pic.twitter.com/DCV5gEcAwL
— Splinter (@splinter_news) July 9, 2019
Twitter users were reeling after Splinter pointed out the true identity of the man in the meme.
https://twitter.com/YouGotSnowd/status/1148660316244365312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfwhttps://twitter.com/SarahNEmerson/status/1148721008276148226?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfwhttps://twitter.com/mike_weimer/status/1148958628826820613?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Robert Redford, huh? Never in my life did I think I'd get Robert Redford and Zach Galifianakis confused. pic.twitter.com/1ow8G6SV4s
— Hjels (@HjelsYells) July 10, 2019
I’ve always called this gif “the zach galifianakis lookalike.” I cant believe this is Robert Redford. 😂 https://t.co/YNqOik8mMV
— ᴍᴀʀ ✿ | ʙᴏᴏ ꜱᴇᴜɴɢᴋᴡᴀɴ’ꜱ ᴘʀᴏᴛᴇᴄᴛᴏʀ 👊🏼 (@martwtss) July 10, 2019
But some films buffs were disappointed that so few people seemed to realize that the meme was from Redford's 1972 western film "Jeremiah Johnson."
Today my faith in the world (of Twitter, at least) was chipped away at a little further. I was not aware that so many people thought "the nodding guy" was @galifianakisz. I don't expect #millennials to know the amazing actor, Robert Redford, but to think it's Zach? Jeez... 🙄 https://t.co/1lRP533Wln
— J.L. Galache (@JLGalache) July 10, 2019
People are uncultured if you don’t know Robert Redford or Jeremiah Johnson when you see em 🤦🏻♂️ https://t.co/0Wboz89YI3
— Idk something clever (@Fifty3_pt) July 10, 2019
https://twitter.com/TheGrumpyPat/status/1148957380249620481?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfwhttps://twitter.com/the_rickdavis/status/1148956827771637761?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Arguably, though, Redford - known for his roles in iconic films like "The Way We Were," "The Great Gatsby," and "All the President's Men" - does look somewhat like Zach Galifianakis circa 2009's "The Hangover" here.
The perceived similarities between the two actors even spawned some memes.
I had no idea that this was Robert Redford. pic.twitter.com/hQJS48rJMy
— Gremliny Nussboo (@emilynussbaum) July 10, 2019
https://twitter.com/BrianChurilla/status/1148954507306393600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
here’s another robert redford meme: pic.twitter.com/vwDlKxCbmF
— Elwood S 👓 (@wooden_files) July 10, 2019
But the Twitter account for "Next on TCM" probably had the best response to the whole thing.
Look people, it’s an optical illusion, like that dress. Some people see Robert Redford and some see Zach Galifianakis. There is no right answer.
— Hexed on TCM (@NextOnTCM) July 10, 2019