What Happened To The '4 Lads In Jeans'? The 2024 Update Of The Meme Explained

The classic Bri'ish meme featuring four men dressed in the pinnacle of Birmingham fashion at the time has proved to be a litmus test for what is and what isn't trendy globally, and a recent update to the meme goes to prove just that point. Affectionately called 4 lads in jeans, the image features four strapping young British men dressed for a day out in town in perhaps the tightest jeans known to man.

The stylistic choices of the lads in the meme have always been subject to scrutiny, whether it was the jeans, the high taper fade haircuts, or even the distinct lack of socks. To top it off, the lads received love and accolades from people who came to respect their unabashed personal style to the point where they even received a paper maché and bronze paint statue dedicated to them at the 2022 Birmingham Weekender.

Now, in 2024, the 4 lads have posted a style update and the change is undeniably drastic. Here's a recap of their rise to fame and a look at how they have switched up their presentation, ditching the tight pants for baggy ones and the pec-hugging polos for breezy button-downs.

Where Did The Image Of The 4 Lads In Jeans Come From?

The image of the 4 lads in jeans came from one of the very lads pictured in the meme, in an Instagram post from back in 2019. The post was captioned in a manner quite self-aware; "Tight trousers chose us," with the photo itself appearing to be a snap captured before a night out in town with the boys. The lads' names are Alex Lacey, Jamie Philips, Kevin Rooney, and Connor Humpage.

How Did The 4 Lads In Jeans Go Viral?

According to an interview with the lads in question, a big Facebook meme page supposedly screenshotted the photo and shared it around, although the page has been unable to be traced since. But they weren't the only ones. X user @BoxeoDeBlog reposted the image with a caption miming something the lads might say, while @mediobentro wrote, "Peaky Blinders is quality mate, Tom Hardy surely the best actor going."

But according to the lads themselves, not every meme trying to parody and imagine their opinions landed. In an interview with The Tab, the lads shared that they found the meme storm funny but did not agree with the way they were sometimes characterized; in particular, they found a tweet that imagined their reaction to George Floyd's death to be in quite poor taste.

But the better meme makers among the lads' fans prevailed, with X user @vonstrenginho posting a deepfake version of the image where the boys launch into a raucous delivery of the Wellerman sea shanty.

What's Up With That Statue Dedicated To The 4 Lads?

Just when one would think that the lads' fame is tapering off, an artist with the "vision" to bring the lads back into the limelight came forth with her statue project. Tat Vision unveiled a statue dedicated to the lads at Birmingham Live, the very city the photograph was originally snapped at. The statue, made of papier-mache and painted bronze, was a temporary installation for the Birmingham Weekender 2022 art festival.

Where Are The 4 Lads In Jeans Now, In 2024?

The lads' embraced their viral fame with a level head, and returned in 2024 to collaborate with brand Bullring and promote their new and improved style. In an update fit pic posted to Bullring's social media, the lads can be seen dressed in much baggier clothing, relaxed fit t-shirts, and an overall more casual sense of style.

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Many internet users saw this as a representation of popular trends in fashion, with skinny jeans making way for loose-fit baggy ones in the 2020s. As for the lads themselves, they appear to be living their best lives and doing well with the minor fame they have received over the past few years.

For the full history of four lads in jeans, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.