Viral Video of the Day: Spelling Bee Show-Stealer Eliminated
Meet Jacob Williamson, your new meme
The 2014 Scripps National Spelling Bee has its breakout star, and it’s not one of the two co-winners. It’s Jacob Williamson, a homeschooled 15-year-old from Florida, whose elimination from the finals might have gone unnoticed by the Internet if not for his exuberance. Or would it be hubris?
Williamson was given the word ‘kabaragoya’—a large Southeast Asian lizard; we looked it up—which he giddily exclaimed that he knew how to spell. Unfortunately, he spelled it with a ‘C’ and was eliminated from the competition, leaving the stage with an admirable quiet dignity and grace.
Though he’ll age out of the competition by next year, we’re certain young Jacob will go far in life. We’re also certain that he’s going to be the Internet’s favorite thing for the next few weeks, so he should probably learn to milk it.
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