Emo Dad

About

Emo Dad is an image macro series centered around various profile pictures posted by MySpace user CrisXcruX, who appears to be a middle-aged man dressed in a “scene” or “emo” fashion that is usually associated with teenagers. The bio description on his MySpace profile features a poem summing up the character:

Alone it is I face the tide
the swelling waves that drown my pride

For solace is my quiet friend
illuminating thoughts within
which then cast shadows from my doubts
of what my life should be

Too quick to take the lonely path
to climb aboard my broken raft
and cast myself upon life’s sea
and think of no one else but me?

A tortured soul in me resides
Alone it is…I’ll face the tide

Origin

CrisXcruX’s MySpace page^[1] was created sometime in 2009, with his earliest profile pictures dating to August 11th, 2009. The original profile image depicts a gloomy middle-aged man taking an iPhone picture of himself in front of a mirror, which was turned into a template for “Emo Dad” image macros.

Spread

CrisXcruX’s MySpace profile images soon became adopted by other internet users as their avatar pictures. Beginning in September 2009, they were picked up by internet humor blogs like FunnyJunk^[2], BuzzFeed^[3], Reddit^[4] and I Am Bored^[5] among others. The images also sparked a debate on various forums like Sherdog^[6] and eBaumsworld^[7] over the identity of CrisXcruX, with some speculating a midlife crisis as his motive and others advocating his youthful style of fashion.

Meanwhile on MemeGenerator^[8], a series of image macros were produced using the profile image, featuring various captions like “Emo Dad Does Not Approve” and “Justin Bieber 30 Years Later.”

Notable Examples

Search Interest

External References

^[1] MySpace CrisXcruX’s Profile

^[2] FunnyJunk – Emo Dad Posted on 9/1/09

^[3] BuzzFeed – Emo Dad Posted on 11/5/09

^[4] Reddit – Emo Dad Posted on 1/29/11

^[5] I Am Bored – Emo Dad Not Cool With MySpace Demise [Pic]

^[6] Sherdog Forum – Emo Dad Meme / Posted on 12/12/2010

^[7] eBaums World Forum – Emo Dad

^[8] MemeGenerator – Emo Dad (no longer available)