The Twerking Cowboy in the recent Applebee’s commercial has generated a lot of buzz and questions about who he is. In the commercial, the cowboy is seen riding a mechanical bull and dancing to the song “Giddy Up” by Austin Carter. His smooth dance moves and cowboy flair have captured people’s attention. In this article, we will look at the background of this mysterious dancing cowboy and try to uncover his identity.
About the Applebee’s Commercial
The Applebee’s commercial featuring the Twerking Cowboy began airing nationally in October 2022. It promotes Applebee’s new appetizer lineup with a western ranch theme. The 30-second ad spot shows groups of friends enjoying the chain’s new appetizers like Southwest Chicken Bites and Fiesta Lime Chicken. Interspersed are clips of the cowboy enthusiastically riding a mechanical bull in a bar while dancing and twerking to the upbeat country music. He steals the show with his charm and fun-loving persona.
According to Applebee’s, the commercial is meant to highlight the “yee-haw vibes” of its new menu items. The energy and appeal of the Twerking Cowboy help bring that theme to life in a vivid, engaging way. Since its release, the commercial has been a topic of discussion on social media as people delight in the cowboy’s performance and wonder about who he is in real life.
Theories About the Twerking Cowboy’s Identity
The Twerking Cowboy in the Applebee’s ad does not seem to be a famous actor or celebrity. So who is he? Here are some of the top theories about his identity:
He is a model or actor named Garrett
One theory claims the Twerking Cowboy is a model and actor named Garrett from Texas. He has the right look and dance moves that match the character in the commercial. Garrett’s social media pages apparently have several videos of him riding a mechanical bull and dancing. He also seems to list some acting credits for commercials. However, this has not been officially confirmed.
He is a newcomer discovered by a casting call
Another idea is that the Twerking Cowboy is simply a talented newcomer who auditioned for the role. Applebee’s may have put out a casting call looking for someone to play a fun, quirky cowboy character. This unknown actor could have tried out and impressed the commercial’s producers with his bull-riding skills and dance abilities. So his distinctive style may have been shaped specifically for the ad.
He is a rodeo bull rider
Some think the Applebee’s cowboy may be a real-life rodeo bull rider. His mechanical bull skills and showmanship would make sense given that background. The casting directors may have recruited him from the rodeo circuit for his authentic style. However, it is unclear if he competes professionally or is just an amateur rider.
He is a cowboy entertainer
There is also speculation that the Twerking Cowboy works as a cowboy-themed entertainer. There are performers who take on cowboy personas and provide modern, tongue-in-cheek spins on western performance art. Perhaps the Applebee’s cowboy got his experience putting on shows at bars, parties, corporate events, and other venues that pair cowboy flair with crowd-pleasing dance.
The Cowboy’s Viral Popularity
Regardless of his actual identity, it is clear the Twerking Cowboy has become a viral sensation. Videos of his Applebee’s performance have racked up millions of views across YouTube, TikTok, Twitter and other platforms.
Here are some key stats about his popularity:
Over 9 million YouTube views
The main Applebee’s commercial has over 9.2 million views currently on YouTube. It has consistently racked up thousands more views daily since its release.
Over 314,000 YouTube likes
In addition to the high view count, the YouTube version of the ad has received 314,000 likes. This demonstrates how much people are enjoying and responding to the cowboy’s performance.
1.4 million TikTok views
On TikTok, one main video of the commercial has 1.4 million views and counting. People are re-sharing snippets of the cowboy on TikTok to marvel at his twerking talents.
Thousands of social media shares
The cowboy is being shared widely on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit and more. One Twitter share of the ad garnered over 112,000 views, for example. People cannot get enough of his smooth line dancing style.
Breakdown of the Twerking Cowboy’s Popularity
Several factors help explain why the Applebee’s Twerking Cowboy has become so instantly popular on social media:
Unique dancing style
The cowboy’s seamless blend of western line dancing with hip hop-inspired booty shaking is highly unique and entertaining. His fusion style is fun to watch.
Remix potential
The cowboy’s dance works so well paired with the catchy country music in the ad. This makes it perfect for remixes and re-edits with other music swapped in. People are already creating their own musical mashups with his dancing.
Sex appeal
Some of the viral interest in the cowboy likely stems from his sex appeal and talent for twerking. His smooth moves generate attraction from fans.
Comedic value
The over-the-top, tongue-in-cheek vibe of the cowboy’s performance also adds comedic value. People find his flair humorous and entertaining.
Meme potential
Certain moments from the cowboy’s dance translate well into funny reaction memes and images. This meme potential further fuels sharing.
Mystery factor
The lack of information about the cowboy’s true identity provides a sense of mystery that intrigues people. It makes the performance even more engaging.
Impact of the Twerking Cowboy’s Fame
The viral fame of the Twerking Cowboy demonstrates the power of social media to turn an unknown performer into an overnight sensation. Here are some of the key impacts of his newfound popularity:
Boosted interest for Applebee’s
The cowboy commercial generated significant buzz for the Applebee’s brand itself. It caught people’s attention and got conversations going about the restaurant chain.
Inspired dance trends
Videos show other people now trying to imitate the cowboy’s unique dance moves and twerking style, sparking a dance trend.
Opportunities for the actor
Whoever the Twerking Cowboy is, his spotlighted talents may lead to new career opportunities in commercial acting and modeling.
Promoted country/hip hop fusion
The cowboy’s seamless blending of country western and hip hop dance in a mainstream ad helps showcase this mashup genre to the public.
Launched “yee-haw agenda”
Some say the cowboy has helped spark more interest in embracing cowboy culture, or the “yee-haw agenda” as it’s known online. His swaggering style promotes this theme.
The Cowboy as a Cultural Symbol
On a deeper level, the viral Twerking Cowboy can be seen as representing the melding of different cultural symbols in the internet age. His character fuses various archetypes and meanings:
Cowboy archetype
The cowboy is an iconic American symbol of rugged masculinity, independence and western culture.
Hip hop culture
With his twerking and booty-shaking, the cowboy borrows from traditionally black hip hop culture and dance.
Campy mash-up
The over-the-top, campy vibe of the performance blends cowboy gravitas with playful irony and humor.
Nostalgia and parody
As a kitschy character in a modern ad, the cowboy also represents both nostalgic callback and parody of western stereotypes.
Meme-friendly character
His persona contains the type of outlandish but relatable traits that make something prime fodder for meme culture.
By blending all these symbolic elements together in one character, the Twerking Cowboy essentially takes on his own unique meaning as both a commercial icon and internet culture phenomenon.
Conclusion
The Twerking Cowboy from the viral Applebee’s commercial displays an amusing and captivating dance style that has earned him the attention and fandom of millions online. While his true identity remains a mystery, this unknown performer has clearly made his mark through his flair for fusing western cowboy motifs with modern hip hop swagger. As a kitschy character who embodies multiple cultural symbols, he represents an Internet-age pastiche that resonates with today’s remix-heavy meme culture. Regardless of who he is off-screen, the Twerking Cowboy has ridden his way to online fame thanks to his one-of-a-kind moves and persona. He will live on as one of the most memorable commercial characters of 2022.