When 29-year-old Ariel Griggs, of Mobile, Al saw her 22-month-old son as the latest viral internet meme, she didn’t know what to think. Everyone from celebrities such as Tyrese to the average Joe has used Ashton Howell’s picture for meme-worthy cuteness and fun!
So, just how did Ashton’s picture get posted online? Well, Griggs had no idea that her 18-year-old brother, Steven Small, a freshman at the University of California, Berkeley was behind the creation of this new viral star.
“He thought it was funny to dress Ashton up,” comments Griggs to AL.com, “putting his ‘little’ big head in caps and stuff and taking pictures of him. I found out he has a ton of pictures of Ashton on Instagram. I guess people just thought his pictures were so cute and went from there.” And yes, they did! Check out some of the memes that are circulating out there starring Ashton, aka the “Honey Bun Baby”.
https://twitter.com/HoneyBunBabie/status/802573195689807876
https://twitter.com/HoneyBunBabie/status/802540486783365120
https://twitter.com/FreddyAmazin/status/803733394081325056
However, some social media aficionados have taken the photo humor far beyond where they should. “After Thanksgiving, I’m starting to see more that are the crazy ones,” comments Griggs. “The last couple of memes I have seen, they’ve been a little X-rated. I don’t want people looking at my baby’s picture and thinking of stuff like that!”
Griggs goes on to say that she still struggles a bit to come to terms with her son’s accidental fame, but it is important to keep him grounded as he grows, knowing that he has now joined the ranks of Internet social media child stars.
“People ask me, ‘Oh! He’s famous. What are you going to do now?” Well, for starters, sign him up for his own Twitter page! Check out the “Honey Bun Baby” here to keep up with his trending memes.
