KEKW is Twitch emote featuring Spanish comedian Juan Joya Borja (El Risitas) laughing infectiously during 2007 TV interview. Added to FrankerFaceZ August 2019, the emote became Twitch’s most popular laughter expression—transcending language barriers with pure, genuine joy that made everyone laugh along.
Origin: El Risitas Interview (2007)
June 2007: Spanish comedian Juan Joya Borja (nicknamed “El Risitas”—The Giggles) appeared on show “Ratones Coloraos” telling story about working in beach restaurant. His distinctive high-pitched, wheezing laughter punctuated the story, creating infectious comedy gold.
The interview circulated Spanish-speaking internet for years. English-speaking internet discovered it 2014-2015 through subtitled parodies—creators added fake subtitles making El Risitas “laugh” about various topics (video games, politics, tech). The format went viral 2015-2016, introducing El Risitas to global audience.
KEKW Emote Creation (2019)
August 2019: FrankerFaceZ user uploaded still frame of El Risitas mid-laugh as “KEKW” emote. The name combined:
- KEK: Internet slang for “lol” (from World of Warcraft—Horde players typing “lol” appeared as “kek” to Alliance)
- W: FrankerFaceZ naming convention (LUL → LULW, OMEGALUL → OMEGAW)
The emote exploded immediately—El Risitas’s genuine, uncontrollable laughter conveyed hilarious moments better than text “lol” or other laugh emotes. His joy was infectious even in still image.
Usage & Cultural Impact
KEKW became go-to response for:
- Funny moments in streams
- Karma/justice situations
- Absurd fails
- Ironic outcomes
- Wholesome humor
- Anything genuinely laugh-inducing
Unlike Kappa (sarcastic) or LUL (standard laugh), KEKW conveyed REAL, uncontrollable laughter—the kind where you can’t breathe. Seeing KEKW spam in chat signaled genuinely hilarious moment.
El Risitas’s Death & Tribute (April 2021)
Juan Joya Borja died April 28, 2021 (age 65) from complications related to diabetes. Twitch communities mourned—El Risitas brought joy to millions who never knew his name. Streamers held tribute streams, chat spammed KEKW in farewell, and clips of original interview circulated with newfound appreciation.
His death transformed KEKW from simple emote to memorial—every use honored his infectious laughter. The community’s genuine grief showed how memes and emotes connect real humans across language/cultural barriers.
Legacy & Platform Spread
KEKW spread beyond Twitch:
- YouTube comments: “KEKW” typed for funny moments
- Discord: KEKW emote imported to servers
- Twitter: “KEKW” used as text expressing laughter
- TikTok: El Risitas clips gained new life
By 2023, KEKW was among Twitch’s most-used emotes, competing with LUL and PogChamp’s successors. El Risitas’s laugh achieved digital immortality—his joy continues spreading daily through millions of chat messages.
The emote proved best memes come from genuine human moments, not manufactured content. El Risitas wasn’t trying to go viral—he was just laughing at his own story. That authenticity made him beloved globally.