Appearing on a recent episode of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Keanu Reeves was discussing his comic book, BRZKR. One frame in particular grabbed the attention of the host, who said, “There’s one frame in here which everyone is saying is a reference to you.”
Next, Colbert showed an image that most of us who have been on the internet has seen — the “Sad Keanu” meme. The meme features an image of the iconic actor sitting on a bench with food in his hand. He looks very sad in the photo, but is he, really?
“I’m just eating a sandwich, man!” he explained to Colbert, who then revealed a panel from the first volume of BRZKR of a mimicking “Sad Keanu” on a bench. The talk show host then asked, “So, you’re not actually sad in ‘Sad Keanu’?”
“I was thinking,” Keanu replied. “I had some stuff going on. I was hungry.” Keanu said of Ron Garney, BRZKR‘s illustrative artist, “I didn’t know he was going to do that, but that’s what he did,” Keanu stated. “So, I think it’s kind of meta.”
And when Keanu was asked why he thinks he’s become so endlessly meme-able, his answer was very Keanu: “I have no clue, sir… Really.” He then sang, “Meme on me! When you’re not strong! And I’ll be your friend, I’ll help you carry on!” to the tune of Bill Withers’ “Lean on Me.”
Watch Keanu Reeves on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert below:
Catch Keanu on the big screen next on December 22, with Matrix: Resurrections. Watch the trailer below:
