I’m usually not the one to bash strangeness on the internet, from the potato salad Kickstarter that got $55,000 to kicking off Justin Beiber’s career through Youtube videos. Grumpy Cat, however, is just one I never truly understood.
Look at it. It’s a cat with a sad face.
And now she’s the most famous cat in the world.
Step aside, Hang in There Kitty, Grumpy Cat has taken your spot.
Grumpy Cat has become an Internet phenomena almost overnight. Forbes, Hot Topic, Good Morning America, a brand of coffee, a book deal, in-person meetings, and a movie – you name it, this cat is involved.
How did this relatively common feline reach national prominence?
Grumpy Cat, originally christened Tartar Sauce, had her picture posted online and almost instantly kicked off and obtained her infamous name. Unlike other memes that disappeared into the dark corridors of the internet, she has herself a manager: Ben Lashes.
Lashes has become a self-declared talent manager for memes, including other online personalities like Ridicously Photogenic Guy and Scumbag Steven. He cites his work as if he’s Walt Disney with the power of the Internet.
He has taken the job of managing the day to day events for Grumpy Cat, including her television appearances and meet-and-greets, like any other talent manager. His latest success is the movie deal signed, featuring actress Aubrey Plaza voicing Grumpy Cat in a holiday movie.
Many critics are against having memes and internet “jokes” being turned going mainstream, arguing that all Lashes is doing is cashing in on an oversaturated topic. It is unsure how much further this little cat can go into everyday news but if anything, this little cat that grumps has shown that if properly lobbied, an internet phenom can become a household name. The only question becomes for how long.
