In 2007, a moment that would go viral long before social media had the power it does today occurred at a John Kerry speech at the University of Florida. During the event, a young man named Andrew Meyer, a student at the university, was forcibly removed from the auditorium after attempting to ask Kerry a question. As Meyer was being escorted out, he famously shouted, “Don’t tase me, bro!” This phrase quickly became a cultural phenomenon, spawning countless memes, parodies, and public discussions. Nearly two decades later, many still remember Meyer’s words, but the question remains: where is he now?
The incident itself was captured on video and spread rapidly across the internet. Meyer, a 21-year-old communications student, was attempting to ask Kerry about the controversial 2004 presidential election and the role of the media. His microphone was cut off as he spoke, and he was soon surrounded by police officers who began to forcibly remove him from the event. As Meyer struggled, one of the officers deployed a Taser on him, causing him to scream, “Don’t tase me, bro!” The phrase was instantly popularized, becoming a symbol of overreach by authority figures, particularly in the context of law enforcement and college campus protests.
The incident quickly drew national attention, sparking debates about free speech, police power, and the treatment of students on university campuses. Meyer was charged with resisting arrest and disturbing the peace but later had the charges dropped. The footage of his tasing incident was widely shared, and Meyer’s words became an enduring internet meme.
So, where is Andrew Meyer now? After the incident, Meyer appeared in several interviews and was even invited to talk shows, capitalizing on his newfound fame. However, despite the viral success of his moment, he largely shied away from the limelight in the years that followed. In the aftermath, Meyer continued his education and later pursued a career in media, which seemed to align with his aspirations at the time of the incident. He worked as a journalist and even started his own online media platform. However, his life post-viral fame has been relatively private, and he has occasionally reflected on the event, acknowledging its influence on his life while expressing a desire to move beyond it.
Meyer’s public life took a more grounded turn in the years that followed, as he focused on personal growth and professional development. He has expressed regret for the way the viral moment led to a public perception that defined much of his identity for years. In more recent years, Meyer has kept a low profile, preferring to live away from the constant media attention that the incident brought him.
The “Don’t tase me, bro” moment is now viewed as a snapshot of a time when viral internet culture was just beginning to form, and it remains one of the early examples of how a single moment could capture the public’s attention in the digital age. Andrew Meyer’s life since the event has been relatively quiet, with occasional reminders of his internet fame but little of the public spectacle that followed the infamous outburst.
While Meyer may have initially gained fame as the “Don’t Tase Me, Bro” guy, his life since then has been focused on moving past the viral moment and continuing with his career and personal endeavors. Meyer’s story serves as a reminder of the fleeting nature of internet fame and the long-lasting consequences of viral moments in the age of social media.
