You know the face. It’s that split-second reaction of pure, unadulterated shock. The eyes go wide. The mouth drops open. Sometimes the camera zooms in fast to catch every millisecond of the disbelief. It’s the surprised black guy meme, and it has been a staple of internet culture for over a decade. But if you’ve spent any time on TikTok or Twitter lately, you might have noticed something weird. People are still arguing about who the guy actually is. Some people think it’s a random extra from a sitcom. Others are convinced it’s a reaction shot from a professional wrestling match.
The truth is actually way more interesting and tied to a specific era of YouTube "cringe" comedy that most people have completely forgotten about.
The Tricky Origins of a Viral Legend
The guy in the meme isn't just some random person caught on a doorbell cam. His name is Nathan Barnatt. Or, more accurately, the clip comes from a video featuring Nathan Barnatt’s alter ego, a character named Keith Apicary.
Wait. Nathan Barnatt is white.
This is where the internet gets its wires crossed. There are actually two massive "surprised" memes that people constantly conflate. The first is the "White Guy Blinking" (Drew Scanlon), and the second is the surprised black guy meme which often refers to a specific reaction shot of a man in the background of one of Barnatt’s chaotic dance videos. Specifically, the footage comes from a 2011 video titled "Keith Apicary's Victory Dance" or related outtakes from his "Skittles" commercial audition.
If you look at the most famous version of the reaction, you’re looking at a man named J.T. Dalton.
Dalton was an actor working on a set with Barnatt. In the clip, Barnatt (as Keith Apicary) is doing this absolutely unhinged, high-energy dance routine. He’s flopping around, screaming, and being generally disruptive. The camera pans or cuts to the background, catching Dalton’s face. It is the perfect "what on earth am I witnessing" expression. It wasn't scripted to be a meme. It was just a genuine reaction to a guy acting like a maniac in a neon shirt.
Why This Specific Reaction Ruled the 2010s
Context is everything. Back in 2011 and 2012, the internet was moving away from "Advice Animals" (those static images with white Impact font) and toward "Reaction GIFs."
The surprised black guy meme hit the sweet spot because it was versatile. You didn't need to know who Keith Apicary was. You didn't need to know about Barnatt’s physical comedy career. You just needed a way to tell your friend that their "hot take" on a movie was absolutely insane.
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It’s about the timing.
The zoom. The way his head tilts back just a fraction of an inch. It communicates a level of shock that words can't quite hit. It’s the "I can't believe you just said that" face. It’s the "I just saw the price of a sourdough sandwich in 2026" face.
Honestly, the meme’s longevity is a testament to J.T. Dalton’s face. Most viral stars fade in weeks. This one? It’s been 15 years. People still use it because the human emotion of "Wait, what?" is universal. It doesn't age.
The Confusion with Other "Shocked" Memes
We have to clear something up. A lot of people search for the surprised black guy meme and end up looking at Terio (the "Ooh Kill 'Em" kid) or the legendary Shaquille O'Neal wiggle.
Then there’s the "Magical Negro" trope or the "Confused Nick Young" meme. Nick Young (Swaggy P) is the NBA player with the question marks floating around his head. That’s a "confusion" meme. The J.T. Dalton clip is a "surprise" meme. There is a nuance there that meme connoisseurs take very seriously.
Then you have the "Shocked Black Guy" which is often confused with the "Black Guy Hiding Behind a Tree" (Anthony Adams). Anthony Adams is a former NFL player who became a comedy legend in his own right. His meme is about anticipation—specifically, the anticipation of something good (like a plate of ribs or a fumble). Dalton’s meme is about the sheer horror or surprise of the present moment.
How to Find the Original Footage
If you want to see the source of the surprised black guy meme in its natural habitat, you have to go down the Nathan Barnatt rabbit hole.
- Go to YouTube.
- Search for "Keith Apicary Skittles."
- Look for the "Outtakes" or "Behind the Scenes" versions.
Barnatt is a physical comedy genius who actually did a lot of work with Adult Swim and various video game companies. He’s known for doing these incredibly high-energy, dangerous-looking dances in public places. The meme happened because, during one of these shoots, the camera operator decided to keep rolling on the spectators.
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It’s a rare case where the "straight man" in the comedy bit became more famous than the guy doing the bit.
The Cultural Impact of Reaction GIFs
The surprised black guy meme helped define the "Reaction GIF" era of Tumblr and early Reddit. Before we had high-fidelity video memes on TikTok, we had these low-res, 256-color GIFs that looped forever.
They were the original "No Cap" communication style.
Think about it. In a text-heavy world, a face can say 1,000 words. If someone sends you a weird DM, you don't type out "I am surprised by your request." You just drop the J.T. Dalton face. It ends the conversation. Or it starts a better one.
What Actually Makes a Meme "Stick"?
Scientists (yes, actual sociologists) have studied why certain faces become memes while others don't. It’s called "High Arousal Emotion."
Basically, if an image triggers a strong physical reaction in the viewer—like a laugh, a cringe, or a "same"—it gets shared. The surprised black guy meme works because it triggers a "mirror neuron" response. You see his shock, and you feel the shock.
Also, it’s about the framing. The tight crop on the face eliminates distractions. There’s no background noise. No confusing text. Just a man and his eyebrows.
The Misconception: Is It From a Movie?
No.
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I see this all the time on Reddit. People asking, "What movie is the surprised black guy meme from?"
It’s not from a movie. It’s not from a TV show. It’s not a scripted reaction from The Office. It’s a piece of 2011 YouTube history. The fact that it looks like it could be from a big-budget sitcom is just a credit to how well the original video was shot. Barnatt always had high production values for his "indie" content, which is why his videos have aged so well compared to the shaky-cam vlogs of that era.
Can You Still Use It in 2026?
Memes go through cycles. Some become "normie" memes and die. Others become "ironic" memes. The surprised black guy meme has moved into the "Classic" or "Vintage" category.
Using it now doesn't make you look out of touch; it makes you look like a veteran of the internet. It’s like wearing a vintage band tee. It shows you were there when the old gods of YouTube were still walking the earth.
Real Insights for Content Creators
If you're a creator trying to go viral, there’s a massive lesson in the surprised black guy meme.
- Don't just film the action. Film the reaction. Often, the person watching the chaos is funnier than the chaos itself.
- The "Zoom" is your best friend. The dramatic zoom-in on a face is a foundational element of comedy editing.
- Authenticity wins. J.T. Dalton wasn't trying to be funny. He was actually confused. You can't fake that kind of wide-eyed stare.
Actionable Steps for Meme History Buffs
If you want to track down more about this specific niche of internet history, here is what you should do next:
- Check out Nathan Barnatt’s channel. Look for the "Keith Apicary" dance videos from the 2010-2012 era to see the evolution of this style of comedy.
- Verify your GIF sources. Next time you see a reaction face, use a tool like "Know Your Meme" to trace the actual human being behind it. It’s usually more interesting than the meme itself.
- Differentiate your reactions. When posting, remember that the surprised black guy meme (J.T. Dalton) is for "What am I seeing?" moments, while "Confused Nick Young" is for "That makes no sense" moments.
The internet is a vast archive of accidental fame. J.T. Dalton's face will likely outlive us all, immortalized in a few kilobytes of looping data. It’s a weird kind of immortality, but in the digital age, it’s the most honest kind we have.
Next Steps: To see the meme in its full context, search for the "Keith Apicary Skittles Audition" on YouTube. It provides the chaotic energy necessary to understand why that reaction was so genuine. If you're looking for more modern variations, check out how the "Shocked" genre of memes has evolved into the "Staring" memes of current-day TikTok.