Mark Zuckerberg became a target of online humor after a video of him seemingly pretending to enjoy a Guinness went viral. People closely analyzed his stiff body language, tight lips, and minor flinch after taking a sip. The video reignited a familiar internet joke that suggests the Meta CEO is a robot mimicking human behavior. One observer commented on how Zuckerberg, despite his wealth, felt he had to hide his dislike for the drink.
This moment occurred during an episode of Cheeky Pint, a tech podcast hosted by John Collison, co-founder of Stripe. Zuckerberg appeared with Alexandr Wang, Meta’s chief AI officer, to discuss the company’s plans for artificial intelligence. The idea was to chat about technology while enjoying a pint. Zuckerberg even brought a keg of Guinness from Dublin, thinking it would be a fitting drink for the occasion.
When the camera captured him drinking, viewers quickly noted his stiff movements as he raised the glass and recoiled slightly after tasting the beer. His expression sparked a wave of memes, with some viewers saying he seemed more like someone following directions than enjoying a casual drink. One joked that a PR person must have told him to take a good sip to seem relatable.
Others suggested that Zuckerberg’s awkwardness made drinking Guinness seem overly complicated. One person humorously noted he was likely wondering what a normal person would do at that moment. Another remarked that Zuckerberg was still learning how to do human things, pointing out that while he managed to get the drink in his mouth, it seemed like his reflexes struggled with it. Comments included observations about how he placed the pint far from himself after sipping.
The mockery included remarks about his confusion over whether the drink was Coke or coffee. Some viewers wondered why he did not simply admit he did not like it if he were a real person. The reactions extended beyond his facial expressions, with one viewer saying it looked like an unfamiliar substance triggered a response in him.
This viral moment brought back years of jokes about Zuckerberg being robotic or not fully human. His stiff posture and controlled expressions have led to comparisons to characters like Data from Star Trek. This trend began in 2018 when his congressional testimony about Facebook’s data practices sparked the “Robot Zuck” meme due to his rigid demeanor and calculated behavior.
Zuckerberg has acknowledged these jokes before. During a 2022 appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, he laughed when Rogan teased him about his robotic drinking during congressional hearings. Zuckerberg explained that the environment of the Senate testimony does not showcase humanity well, noting that anyone facing long hours of questioning would eventually react in a memorable way.
What do you think about the reactions to Zuckerberg’s video?
Sources:
Source: Bored Panda, by Lei RV