'I'm the famous woman behind Overly Attached Girlfriend meme – there's big downside' – The Mirror US
Ever wondered what it's like to become a meme that defined a generation? While it can result in you receiving fame and fortune, it can also end up having negative repercussions.
And one person who knows this well is 33-year-old Laina Morris. While you may not recognise her name, you'll likely have seen her face if you spent any time on the internet in the 2010s.
That's because she was the creator of the infamous Overly Attached Girlfriend meme. It first originated from a YouTube video posted in June 2012, when Laina performed a parody version of Justin Bieber’s song "Boyfriend". She altered lyrics that humorously portrayed an overbearing and possessive girlfriend.
In the video, her wide-eyed expression and intense stare became iconic. It became the central image of the meme, which typically includes captions that exaggerate clingy or overly possessive behaviors in relationships.
Somehow, her clip found itself on Reddit and garnered millions of views. A day later, a Redditor going by the name yeahhtoast took a screenshot from the video, photoshopped in some words in white text, and the Overly Attached Girlfriend was born.
Many could relate to the 'overly attached girlfriend', which they applied to scenarios in their own lives. And as a result, Laina was able to build an impressive following on YouTube at the tender age of 20.
But it wasn't all good news – as years later, Laina sat down with host Tommy Bowe and fellow online sensations Tay Zonday and Keith Leak Jr. to talk about her viral meme.
She revealed that one area in life she has found awkward is dating – as people sometimes associate her with her internet persona instead of getting to know the real Laina.
Speaking about on particular incident that became a "problem", her date actually "ended early" because it got "very awkward". Laina disclosed that, upon showing her date her viral meme, they said, “That… is you?”
Her date then proceeded to text people to share the news and started googling her while she sat there. Morris dejectedly shared that the date ended with the person saying: “I can’t believe I just went on a date with the Overly Attached Girlfriend.”
Sounds like some people find it hard to see Laina as a real person and not just a funny meme, which can't be nice. Fingers crossed she meets the right person soon!
