Overly Attached Girlfriend
{{Short description|Internet meme}}
{{about||the CW television series|Crazy Ex-Girlfriend{{!}}Crazy Ex-Girlfriend|the LMN series|My Crazy Ex{{!}}My Crazy Ex}}
{{redirect|Laina|the Greek poet|Maria Laina|the Spanish politician|Francisco Laína}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox character
|image = Laina Morris by Gage Skidmore.jpg
|alt = Morris smiling next to a cat with onlookers taking photos
|caption = Laina Morris, the "Overly Attached Girlfriend", posing with Grumpy Cat at the 2014 VidCon in Anaheim, California
|creator = Laina Morris
|portrayer = Laina Morris
}}
{{external media
| width = 22em
| float = right
| video1 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yh0AhrY9GjA Laina's original video that started the Overly Attached Girlfriend character]
}}
Overly Attached Girlfriend (OAG) is a fictional character and an Internet meme originating in a YouTube video published on June 6, 2012. The character was created by Laina Morris (born June 22, 1991). The video was a submission to a contest held by Justin Bieber who challenged fans to create a "Girlfriend" counterpart to his hit song "Boyfriend". The video, which satirized elements of the Bieber song that have been perceived as clingy, featured Morris staring at the camera with a fixed smile while singing about Facebook-stalking her boyfriend and other themes.Wenjia Zhao. [https://www.forbes.com/sites/wenjiazhao/2012/06/14/rise-of-the-overly-attached-girlfriend/ "Rise of the Overly Attached Girlfriend".] Forbes, June 14, 2012.
In 2019, Morris announced her departure from YouTube and posted a video on July 24, 2019, detailing that she is no longer going to make videos and is quitting YouTube altogether. She talked about the depression and anxiety that she experienced off camera. Prior to this announcement, she had only posted one video to YouTube in the previous two years.{{cite web |title=Breaking Up with You...Tube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUfEfCSQBts |website=www.youtube.com |language=en}}
In April 2021, an image of the Overly Attached Girlfriend was sold as an NFT for $411,000.{{cite web |title='Side-eyeing Chloe' Clem to sell iconic meme as NFT |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-58659667 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |date=23 September 2021}}
Popularity
As of December 2021, her YouTube channel has more than 1.25 million subscribers and more than 161 million views. Her username is still "wzr0713" officially, but her display name now identifies her as "Laina". Her video was noticed by the social news website reddit and quickly became popular, gaining more than 170,000 views the first day.Ileana Llorens. [https://huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/07/overly-attached-girlfriend_n_1579133.html "Overly Attached Girlfriend: Justin Bieber Fan Creates 'Boyfriend' Parody About Attached Girlfriend".] Huffington Post, June 8, 2012.
Arising from the success of the video, 'OAG' became an Internet meme that features the image macro of the young woman featured in the video, smiling and staring maniacally at the camera that has been captioned in a way that portrays her to be a stalker, jealous, or committed to her love interest to an unhealthy degree.George Jones. [http://www.wistv.com/story/18790908/viral-do-not-date-this-girl-ever "Viral: Do not date this girl ... ever".] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102022540/http://www.wistv.com/story/18790908/viral-do-not-date-this-girl-ever |date=November 2, 2013 }} WIS, June 14, 2012. The image still came from the video and was made into an image macro which also became very popular and spread across many social media websitesFruzsina Eördögh. [http://www.dailydot.com/entertainment/bieber-girlfriend-contest-overly-attached-meme/ "Bieber girlfriend contest spawns Overly Attached Girlfriend meme".] The Daily Dot, June 7, 2012. and was remixed in various ways.Lorraine Murphy. [http://www.dailydot.com/entertainment/morning-gif-bieber-girlfriend-meme/ "The Morning GIF: Overly Attached Girlfriend".] The Daily Dot, June 8, 2012.Alexander Abad-Santos, Jen Doll. [http://www.theatlanticwire.com/entertainment/2012/06/guide-attachment-dating-what-type-attachment-dater-are-you/53444/ "What Type of Attachment Dater Are You?".] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014173549/http://www.theatlanticwire.com/entertainment/2012/06/guide-attachment-dating-what-type-attachment-dater-are-you/53444/ |date=October 14, 2013 }} The Atlantic Wire, June 12, 2012.
During 2021, the still macro image was converted into an NFT and sold by Morris.http://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna1265875 A meme gold rush?
Overly Attached Girlfriend on YouTube
On June 18, 2012, another video, in which the Overly Attached Girlfriend sang a parody of Carly Rae Jepsen song "Call Me Maybe", also became very popular.James Plafke. [http://www.geekosystem.com/overly-attached-girlfriend-carly-rae-jepsen-call-me-maybe/#0 "Overly Attached Girlfriend is Back With Parody of Carly Rae Jepsen’s 'Call Me Maybe'".] Geekosystem, June 18, 2012. Morris has also made videos of Drake's "The Motto", a lip-synced medley of "Every Breath You Take" by The Police, "As Long as You Love Me" by Backstreet Boys, "Girlfriend" by Avril Lavigne, "Your Love Is My Drug" by Ke$ha, "Just Got Started Lovin' You" by James Otto, and "You Belong with Me" by Taylor Swift.Brian Anthony Hernandez. [https://news.yahoo.com/overly-attached-girlfriend-returns-medley-stalker-songs-131019961.html "Overly Attached Girlfriend Returns With Medley of Stalker Songs".] Yahoo! News. A parody of Taylor Swift's "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" was uploaded on December 17, 2012. A parody of "What Makes You Beautiful" by One Direction uploaded on January 14, 2013, was done not as OAG.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBtWfMjyTtg |title=1D Parody - "Maybe You're Delusional" |publisher=YouTube |access-date=January 16, 2013}}{{cite web|author=Laina242,812 likes · 1,947 talking about this |url=https://www.facebook.com/laina622 |title=Laina |publisher=Facebook |access-date=January 16, 2013}} "Snapchat," a parody of "Blurred Lines," was uploaded on July 4, 2013. Morris has also been featured in videos by Shane Dawson, Tyler Oakley and TheBrothersReidell among others, and has been featured in a Teens React by TheFineBros. She continued to bring out new videos every Thursday, often using her signature "smile". On June 6, 2013, she uploaded a video featuring a montage of clips from her past uploads, reactions by viewers, and television appearances, to celebrate the first anniversary of the original OAG video.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y99f8xcdGl0|title=Our One Year Anniversary|website=YouTube |date=June 6, 2013}}
On June 13, 2013, she uploaded her first political video, a parody of the U.S. national anthem in which she is dressed as Uncle Sam and sings about watching you through Skype, Facebook, and Google because she "cares" but does not mention the current NSA leaking controversy specifically.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3cw4185gvM |title=Overly Attached Uncle Sam |publisher=YouTube |date=June 13, 2013 |access-date=June 17, 2013}}
On May 20, 2015, Delta Air Lines posted a safety video that included OAG and other Internet memes.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DKhFATccno |title=The Internetest safety video on the Internet |publisher=YouTube |date=May 29, 2015 |access-date= February 15, 2019}}
On July 25, 2019, Morris uploaded a video announcing her retirement from YouTube. Morris has cited multiple reasons for the announcement, including depression, stress and mental health.{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Dave |title=The 28-year-old woman behind the 'overly attached girlfriend' meme announced she's quitting YouTube for good in a teary goodbye video |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/overly-attached-girlfriend-meme-originator-laina-morris-quits-youtube-2019-7 |website=Business Insider |date=July 26, 2019}}
On June 6, 2022, Morris uploaded a video celebrating the 10th anniversary of the meme while thanking her fans for support. She appears both in and out of character in the clip.{{Citation|title=Our 10 Year Anniversary|date=2022-06-06|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNXkDhUHTdo|access-date=2022-06-19}}
Identity of Overly Attached Girlfriend
The user behind the meme is Laina Morris from Denton, Texas,{{cite web|author=The Daily Dot |url=http://www.dailydot.com/culture/overly-attached-girlfriend-identified/ |title=Overly attached girlfriend identified |publisher=Daily Dot |date=June 21, 2012 |access-date=March 12, 2013}}{{cite web |url=http://centraltrack.com/Culture/1295/A-New-Sensation/We-Found-The-Overly-Attached-Girlfriend-Shes-A-Sophomore-At-UNT |title=Central Track // A New Sensation |publisher=Centraltrack.com |date=June 25, 2012 |access-date=March 12, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130224002147/http://centraltrack.com/Culture/1295/A-New-Sensation/We-Found-The-Overly-Attached-Girlfriend-Shes-A-Sophomore-At-UNT |archive-date=February 24, 2013 |df=mdy-all }}{{cite news|last=Gorman|first=Sean|title=Video: Denton girl responsible for Overly Attached Girlfriend meme|url=http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2012/jul/19/denton-girl-overly-attached-girlfriend-meme/|access-date=January 14, 2013|newspaper=North Texas Daily|date=July 19, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131001183415/http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2012/jul/19/denton-girl-overly-attached-girlfriend-meme/|archive-date=October 1, 2013|df=mdy-all}}{{cite web|url=https://issuu.com/ntdaily/docs/magazine2 |title=Behind The Meme: Dentonite An Internet Sensation |last = Gorman |first = Sean |work=On The Record Magazine |publisher=NTDaily |date=July 13, 2012 |access-date=January 15, 2013}} and has been named by Mashable as one of "15 People Made Famous by the Internet in 2012".{{cite web|author=Christine Erickson|url=http://mashable.com/2012/11/15/internet-famous-people-2012/|title=15 People Made Famous by the Internet in 2012|work=Mashable|date=November 15, 2012|access-date=December 4, 2012}} She identifies herself in videos only as Laina with many articles leaving out her last name on her request. Morris has tried to add to the "Overly Attached" image by showcasing a gentler, more playful side. This has involved a new "attachment" to her Kia Soul,{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9TfdBIfXoY |title=Two Years Later - Kia Soul |publisher=YouTube |date=November 8, 2012 |access-date=January 10, 2013}} comedy skits on "LifeAccordingToJimmy", reporting from the red carpet at the American Music Awards,{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQKPqDWBA8w |title=American Music Awards |publisher=YouTube |date=November 26, 2012 |access-date=January 15, 2013}} videos starring her dogs Luna and Gilly, and "Dare to Share" for charity.{{cite web |author=Jason Whitely |url=http://www.wfaa.com/home/Viral-video-star-shares-her-success-with-charity-181119251.html |title=Viral video star shares her success with charity |publisher=Wfaa.com |date=November 27, 2012 |access-date=January 10, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121201031705/http://www.wfaa.com/home/Viral-video-star-shares-her-success-with-charity-181119251.html |archive-date=December 1, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}{{cite web|url=https://rally.org/surfcamp |title=Surf Camp |publisher=Rally.org |access-date=January 10, 2013}}{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXt-PH6TW7w |title=Dare to Share: Episode 1 - Surf Camp |publisher=YouTube |access-date=January 10, 2013}}{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4_DPboeEx8 |title=Laina (Overly Attached Girlfriend) on the Dare to Share Project | WHAT'S TRENDING |publisher=YouTube |access-date=January 10, 2013}}{{cite web |url=http://www.crowdsourcing.org/editorial/dare-to-share-most-unique-crowdfunding-campaigns-of-2012/22769 |title=Dare to Share: Most Unique Crowdfunding Campaigns of 2012 |publisher=Crowdsourcing.org |date=December 21, 2012 |access-date=January 18, 2013 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126111655/http://www.crowdsourcing.org/editorial/dare-to-share-most-unique-crowdfunding-campaigns-of-2012/22769 |archive-date=January 26, 2013 |df=mdy-all }}
She did revisit the character but with a twist, playing an "Overly Attached Computer" on November 12, 2012, in a commercial published by Samsung displaying its 840 SSD.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-d-rRkV4fo |title=Overly Attached Computer |publisher=YouTube |date=November 12, 2012 |access-date=December 19, 2012}} The reaction was mixed with some labeling her a sell-out and others applauding the move to creating a career from her "meme".{{cite web|url=https://huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/13/overly-attached-computer-samsung-laina-morris-video_n_2121936.html |title='Overly Attached Computer' Samsung Commercial Taps Creepy Web Celeb Laina Morris (VIDEO) |publisher=Huffingtonpost.com |date=November 13, 2012 |access-date=January 23, 2013}}{{cite web |url=http://hypervocal.com/vids/2012/overly-attached-girlfriend-reddit-samsung/ |title=Overly Attached Girlfriend Leaves Rdeddit for Samsung |access-date=2017-04-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170409110934/http://hypervocal.com/vids/2012/overly-attached-girlfriend-reddit-samsung/ |archive-date=April 9, 2017 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}{{cite web|last=Gianatasio |first=David |url=http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/samsung-gets-overly-attached-girlfriend-play-possessive-pc-145201 |title=Samsung Gets Overly Attached Girlfriend to Play a Possessive PC |publisher=Adweek |date=November 15, 2012 |access-date=January 23, 2013}} On September 25, 2013, Morris appeared with Good Girl Gina, Sheltered College Freshman, and Bad Luck Brian in a "Meme Hunters" commercial for RealPlayer Cloud.{{cite web |author=RealPlayer Cloud |url=http://memehunters.real.com |title=Meme Hunters - Watch this Video - By RealPlayer Cloud |publisher=Memehunters.real.com |access-date=September 26, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925205615/http://memehunters.real.com/ |archive-date=September 25, 2013 |df=mdy-all }}
Despite the "Overly Attached Girlfriend" being portrayed as a crazed hopeless romantic, Morris confirmed on a viewer fan mail episode on January 22, 2015, that she was in a relationship at that time.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-wo-b-TYwA|title=Do I Have A Boyfriend?|via=www.youtube.com}}
Appearances
On March 11, 2013, Morris appeared on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gSeR6i3JFY |title=Mets Bucket Hat Guy Meets Overly Attached Girlfriend (Jimmy Fallon) |publisher=YouTube |access-date=March 12, 2013}} In May 2013, Morris won a staring contest with Jessica Alba at the Singapore Social Awards, presented by Starcount.{{cite web|url=http://www.starcount.com/profile/5188dac118065b6d970007cd/laina--overly-attached-girlfriend- |title=Laina (Overly Attached Girlfriend) ★ Starcount |publisher=Starcount.com |access-date=May 28, 2013}} In December 2013, she was a guest on The Nerdist podcast with Chris Hardwick. She appeared with the Epic Meal Time team in the 2013 YouTube Rewind. She appeared on TableTop playing Cards Against Humanity.
References
{{reflist|30em}}