The kid stole the show during JT's "Can't Stop The Feeling" performance.
Justin Timberlake performed his new song “Filthy,” sang his throwbacks “Cry Me A River” and “SexyBack,” and dueted with a Prince hologram. But objectively the best part of his Super Bowl LII halftime show was a teen boy in the crowd.
Watching this cool teen was the best part of the halftime show #SBLII pic.twitter.com/FYAvwY6jJy
— Mashable (@mashable) February 5, 2018
During Timberlake’s performance, he ran off the stage and into the stadium’s stands, ending up next to a boy who did not hesitate to take a selfie with the pop singer. The kid was on his phone the whole time Timberlake was performing right beside him, prompting the internet to ask — what, exactly, was he doing after he got that selfie?
Was he looking up to see who this guy was? Was this kid even alive for *NSYNC?
— Jamie (@JamieMcCarty) February 5, 2018
Was he looking up the lyrics to “Can’t Stop The Feeling?” Did he not see Trolls?
Was he more concerned with the new episode of This Is Us that premiered after the Super Bowl?
#SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/h2myKvtJVz
— This Is Us (@NBCThisisUs) February 5, 2018
Was he just overwhelmed by what was going on?
— ian 🧙🏻♂️ (@GALDYTRON) February 5, 2018
Or, worst of all, was he out of phone storage?
AND HERE IT IS.#SelfieKid with @jtimberlake!#HalftimeSelfie#SuperBowlSelfie#SuperBowl #PepsiHalftime pic.twitter.com/Edww4CSSm7
— Good Morning America (@GMA) February 5, 2018
A reporter from the St. Paul Pioneer Press tracked down selfie kid, 13-year-old Ryan McKenna who talked about what was really going on during the “Can’t Stop The Feeling” performance.
“I just thought to myself, ‘I’ll never get this opportunity again in my whole life,'” McKenna told the Press. “I just went for it.”
“It’s been so crazy,” McKenna continued. “I don’t even know what to think. All my friends have been texting me and stuff. It’s insane… My phone is almost dead. I’ve gotten so many notifications. I’ve got like 36 Snapchats, like 21 DMs and like 150 follower requests on Instagram.”
Who’s more iconic: selfie kid or left shark? #HalftimeShow pic.twitter.com/Jz4dtcRctN
— Collin Eric (@PopeClementsIV) February 5, 2018
Just like Left Shark before him, McKenna will always be remembered as a glorious Super Bowl meme.