Remember your worst photo ever? Now imagine that photo going viral and spawning an entire alternate identity. Welcome to Demi Lovato’s world, circa 2014.
The Birth of a Legend
At the 2014 Royal Variety Performance, a single unflattering photo of Demi Lovato was snapped.
This bizarrely angled shot made the usually stunning pop star look like she’d been drawn on a potato.
Enter Tumblr user Versaceslut, who decided this wasn’t just Demi having a bad hair day.
They declared it evidence of Demi’s secret twin sister, who’d been “locked in a basement her whole life.” And just like that, Poot Lovato was born.
Why Poot Went Viral
So what made this photo meme gold? Let’s break it down:
- Harsh lighting: Paparazzi flashes gave Demi that “I’ve never seen the sun” look.
- Awkward angle: Shot from below, it’s the equivalent of your dad’s unfortunate Facebook profile pic.
- Motion blur: As if Demi was caught mid-sneeze or dodging a rogue Frisbee.
The result? A photo that made one of Hollywood’s most photogenic stars look like she was melting faster than an ice lolly in Death Valley.
Demi’s Journey: From Annoyed to Amused
Initially, Demi was not thrilled. In a now-deleted 2015 tweet, she wrote: “Cool to see a s****y angle turn into a meme that circulates the Internet to people’s amusement ha.”
The passive-aggressive “ha” was doing some heavy lifting there.
But in a plot twist worthy of a soap opera, Demi decided to flip the script.
In 2017, she tweeted a GIF of the infamous Poot photo. By 2018, she was adding to Poot’s lore, tweeting: “Poot is locked up. She’s allergic to sunlight.”
The cherry on top? For her 31st birthday in 2023, Demi celebrated with Poot-faced cupcakes.
In her TikTok reveal, she declared, “FREE POOT.” It was the weirdest birthday wish ever uttered by a pop star, and we’re here for it.
Poot’s Enduring Legacy
Why has Poot outlasted so many other memes? Perhaps it’s because she’s the perfect cocktail of absurdity and relatability.
We’ve all had that moment of horror seeing a tagged photo of ourselves looking like we just crawled out of a radioactive swamp.
Poot is that moment, frozen in time and blown up to celebrity proportions.
Poot’s Place in Meme History
Poot isn’t just surviving; she’s evolving. From a simple photo edit to a character with her own backstory, Poot has become a cultural touchstone, bridging generations of internet users.
And she’s not alone. From unflattering photos to outlandish comparisons, the internet has a knack for turning even the most polished stars into unexpected viral sensations.
Whether it’s a pop icon’s awkward angle or a rapper being compared to marine life, these memes remind us that in the digital age, fame is just one weird image away from taking an entirely new form.
Long Live Poot
As we cruise through 2024, Poot Lovato remains the meme that just won’t quit.
She’s outlasted prime ministers, survived countless internet trends, and even made it through that weird phase where everyone was cake.
So what’s next for our basement-dwelling, sunlight-allergic icon? Will Demi release a duet with her fictional twin?
Perhaps a limited edition Poot Lovato skincare line for that “I’ve never seen the sun” glow?
Or maybe Poot will follow in the footsteps of other memes-turned-moguls and run for Parliament. (Hey, stranger things have happened in politics.)
Whatever the future holds, Poot Lovato has earned her place in the annals of internet history.
So here’s to you, Poot. May your complexion stay pasty, your expression eternally confused, and your meme status forever dank.
After all, in the fickle world of internet fame, we’re all just one weird camera angle away from becoming the next Poot. And honestly?
There are worse fates than being immortalised in cupcake form.