Deez Nuts became 2015’s inescapable meme when Welven Da Great’s Instagram video revived 1990s Dr. Dre joke, peaked when 15-year-old filed to run for president as “Deez Nuts” and polled at 9% nationally, proving internet chaos could disrupt politics.

The Video

March 2015: Welven Harris (“Welven Da Great”) posted Instagram video:

Phone call setup: Welven: “Are you looking for ‘Dee’?”
Friend: “Who?”
Welven: “DEEZ NUTS! GOT EEM!”

His delivery—genuine excitement, infectious laugh—made the ancient joke hilarious again.

The Virality

Spring 2015:

• 20M+ views across platforms
• “Got eem” became catchphrase
• Vine/Instagram proliferation
• Remix versions

The joke from Dr. Dre’s “Deeez Nuuuts” (1992) had 2015 renaissance.

The Political Moment

August 2015: Iowa 15-year-old Brady Olson filed FEC paperwork to run for president as “Deez Nuts” (Independent).

Public Policy Polling (August 2015):

• Deez Nuts: 9% (North Carolina)
• Hillary Clinton: 38%
• Donald Trump: 40%
• Deez Nuts beating established candidates

The joke candidate polling in single digits was national news.

The Media Coverage

Major outlets covered:

• CNN: “Who is Deez Nuts?”
• NYT: Profile of joke candidate
• Washington Post: Analysis
• Late night shows: Segments

Journalists covering meme candidate seriously was peak 2015.

The FEC Filings

The FEC acceptance revealed loophole:

• Anyone can file to run
• Minimal verification
• “Deez Nuts” legally acceptable name
• Campaign finance rules apply

The system’s vulnerability to trolling exposed.

The Copycats

Immediately after:

• “Limberbutt McCubbins” (cat) filed
• “Captain Crunch” filed
• Dozens of joke candidates

FEC flooded with meme candidates.

The Cultural Moment

Deez Nuts represented:

• 2016 election’s approaching chaos
• Distrust in traditional politics
• Meme culture’s political power
• How easily systems could be trolled

It foreshadowed Trump era’s political absurdity.

Welven Da Great

Welven Harris struggled post-virality:

• Mental health issues
• Exploitation concerns
• Used for content without compensation
• Viral fame without financial security

His story highlighted dark side of viral moments.

The Meme Format

“Deez Nuts” became:

• Setup/punchline template
• Gotcha joke revival
• “Got eem” catchphrase
• Referential humor

The format outlived specific video.

The 2016 Connection

Deez Nuts polling predicted:

• Voters’ frustration with establishment
• Willingness to vote for chaos
• Political system’s vulnerability
• Meme candidates’ viability

It was early warning of what 2016 would bring.

The Decline

By late 2016:

• Joke worn out
• Political reality sobering
• Deez Nuts candidate out
• Welven’s videos less viral

The peak was brief but intense.

The Legacy

By 2023, Deez Nuts represented:

• 2015’s peak meme
• Political system trolling
• Viral video exploitation
• How jokes become movements
• Pre-Trump political absurdity

The joke that became legitimate political movement proved internet could disrupt anything—even democracy.

Welven Da Great revived ancient joke. A teenager made it presidential campaign. America laughed then elected actual meme president year later.

The lesson: Nothing is sacred, everything can be memed, and Deez Nuts polling at 9% was least weird thing about 2016 election.

Source: PPP polling data, FEC records, view counts, news coverage