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I was today-years-old when me and many other social media users discovered that the man featured in one of the internet's favorite gifs is Oscar winner Robert Redford, and not Zach Galifianakis like we previously thought.
Here is the gif in question:
The gif is often used on Twitter to show approval, but many were unaware of the origin of the clip, which comes from a 1972 Western called Jeremiah Johnson featuring Redford as the titular mountain man.
So, I learned a little something today: https://t.co/Is15KGcHJY— Nick Martin (@Nick Martin) 1562708141.0
One such person was journalist Nick Martin, who was so startled by the revelation that he wrote an article about it for Splinter.
He said:
“I have seen a ton of Redford's films, and I have seen this meme a million times, but until today I just thought this was some pleasant lumberjack rando."
"But nope!"
"This blew my mind; I'm sure yours is likewise dripping out of your ear right now."
And Twitter users seemed equally shocked.
I just found out that this gif is Robert Redford and I am shooketh https://t.co/xhUPp6MWOP— Stephanie Snowden (@Stephanie Snowden) 1562696935.0
@purplebuckeye @splinter_news Mind = blown.— Austin Belisle (@Austin Belisle) 1562704443.0
Even more jarring than when I learned the "lots of equations" lady isn't Julia Roberts https://t.co/pMxb62tutk— dylan matthews (@dylan matthews) 1562707101.0
Many had thought the guy in the meme was Hangover star Zach Galifianakis.
Always thought this was Zach Galifianakis... You learn something new everyday https://t.co/3sIcueb1w7— Zac Goode (@Zac Goode) 1562710190.0
I thought that was Zach Galifianakis. 🤷🏿♀️ https://t.co/3UY06zu64C— Britni Danielle (@Britni Danielle) 1562707871.0
I will not accept that this isn’t Zach Galifinakis https://t.co/7CdiL71vnu— Tom Hoare (@Tom Hoare) 1562707920.0
Some users were amazed that so many people were not already aware that the gif featured Redford.
Wait...people didn’t know? https://t.co/dhQLr7fvRc— steph 🦃🍗 (@steph 🦃🍗) 1562708506.0
@splinter_news My first clue was his face— Pile of Leaves France (@Pile of Leaves France) 1562707510.0
The revelation has done the rounds on social media several times before.
I just learned that pretty much every under-30 Twitterer thinks this gif is Zach Galifianakis nodding, not Robert R… https://t.co/axeLiC3JwV— Eric Vespe (@Eric Vespe) 1518250348.0
But not everyone took the news 100% seriously.
I had no idea that this was Robert Redford. https://t.co/hQJS48rJMy— Emily Nussbaum (@Emily Nussbaum) 1562718659.0
my favourite Robert Redford gif https://t.co/dJgsMigyy9— big guy on campus? (@big guy on campus?) 1562720715.0