Viral first-year campus internet microcelebrity @yaniware proves the “UC Socially Dead” allegations wrong with their post-post-post-ironic TikToks dancing all over campus. 

Yani first took UC San Diego students’ Instagram Reel algorithms by storm with a video of them dancing next to Silent Tree, where one of Library Walk’s more prolific visitors preaches at the students walking by. Momoland’s “Bboom Bboom” plays in the background of the video. 

Whatever eclectic circumstances brought this video to life, it has certainly struck a chord with the UCSD campus community. Since Yani posted the video in early March, it has amassed over 330,000 views.

In a comment, which received over 6,000 likes, Yani wrote, “he just ragebaits students and insults them so they debate with him but he didnt wanna talk to me about john pork so i started emoting.” 

For those not in the know, the esteemed John Pork refers to an AI-generated virtual creator who appears as an anthropomorphic pigman. Pork’s uncanny and uncomfortably realistic image represents a uniquely modern meme era, reflecting the deep and varied reaches of the internet age. Those who know John Pork know him well, and those who don’t are confused. 

Yani and his videos spark a similar reaction. Responding to a comment criticizing Yani’s use of the word “ragebaits,” Yani wrote: “[the Library Walk man] doesnt argue using evidence and just insults people so that he can get them riled up Wait did you just ragebait me Bro i feel [fell] for it.” The comment garnered over 400 likes, compared to the original commenter’s 50, and Yani’s immediate follow-up — a genuine clarification of the misogynistic encounter that soured Yani to the man in the video — garnered 200 more. 

What is compelling about Yani is less the internet-isms he wears, but rather the freedom and audaciousness with which they express them, equally in real life and online. “I was like, ‘Do you have a moment to talk about John Pork who died for us because Tim Cheese killed him?’” Yani said to The UCSD Guardian about his encounter with the man. “He looked at me, and he said, ‘I’m not going to engage with that.’ Like, he knew what I was doing, trying to divert the attention away from whatever he was spewing.”

The careful balance of life’s funnies and life’s difficulties is the exact line Yani walks. It is this unique and coexisting mix of earnestness and sharp command of irony that has made Yani such a magnet, especially on a campus so desperately craving connection. 

“I asked one of my friends to be like, ‘Hey, here’s TikTok, film me dancing,’” Yani said. “I don’t want people to stop here, listen to him and get … riled up by what he’s saying. Well, that’s his intention. … I’m like, ‘You guys, the whole point was to ignore him, right? And it’s just, if you stand here and listen to him spew stuff, of course you’re going to get mad.’” 

Yani was shocked when the video went viral. “I just do stuff for fun; I never expected some of my videos to blow up like that,” Yani said. And true to their internet persona, Yani cares just the right amount about their newfound social media fame. 

To make it serious would defeat the point, and Yani wants to keep things fun. This past month, he has casually built up his microcelebrity status through kismet-esque collaborations with student organizations.

“All of my videos are just in the moment, spontaneous,” Yani explained. “All my classes are in Pepper Canyon and Price Center this year, so that’s probably why I run into these tablers a lot, and they just ask me.”

Yani began these collaborations with UCSD’s satire newspaper, the MQ, but has since gone on to dance alongside Keyboard Club, the Pilipino Undergraduate Society for Health, and Revelle ResLife, to name just a few.

“The [collaborations] … definitely make the campus feel more connected,” said Annelise McCullough, a fourth-year student and copy editor for the MQ. “It seems like things that I’ve been wanting to work towards — bringing the community together — are being spearheaded by this person. … It’s really great to see that initiative in the youth, as one might say. It makes me really hopeful.”

Fourth-year interdisciplinary computing and the arts major Kalea Porter is an internal leadership member of Kidz Next Door, a dance organization on campus that filmed with Yani last week. Porter highlighted the deeper meaning she sees behind Yani’s content. 

“It shows a connection between art and politics and being able to use dance as a form of creative expression,” Porter said. “It was kind of like an act of resistance as well. I think I love the idea of art being used as rebellion, but also to bring people together. That’s why I joined a dance group — to be able to express myself and find a community of people.”

This resistance Porter identifies was Yani’s exact motivation behind the original viral moment.

“My logic was, okay, if he’s not going to get in trouble for, you know, literally yelling at students, I’m just going to dance next to him because how is that going to get me in trouble for anything?” Yani recalled. “I’m just dancing. It’s a public space. I’m a student here. I have every right to be here.”

A recent collaboration with a candidate running in the Associated Students election last week accidentally left Yani embroiled in political controversy. 

“Me filming a dance video with someone has nothing to do with endorsement unless I explicitly state it,” Yani said. “Like, I dance with the Mormons. That’s not me saying I love the Church of Latter-day Saints. Like, are we serious right now?”

Nevertheless, an attempted grievance against executive vice president for external affairs candidate Aydin Yelkovan for the video they filmed together resulted in Yani’s first notice from the A.S. Judicial Court.  

“I think they tried to frame it as endorsement because Aydin posted it to his story and said, like, ‘Aydin x Yani,’” Yani said. “I said, ‘Anyone who’s been on the internet knows if you say “this” x “this,” that’s shipping. Number one, I’m not getting shipped with you; number two, I never said it was an endorsement. It could be satire. It could be me making fun of you, for all people know.’”

Yani’s honesty is a refreshingly real reflection of the most boring and silly truths of being a UCSD student. As the newest campus celebrity, people have indeed asked Yani about their politics. On April 6, their account garnered massive attention once again after they posted a video dancing with A.S. President William Simpson in front of Geisel Library.

“People would tell me, ‘Hey, did you film the dance for inflation furries with him?’” Yani said. “I’m like, ‘Yeah.’ And then, they were like, ‘Okay, what are his policies?’ I’m like, ‘I don’t know. Like, I actually don’t know. I actually don’t know, seriously.’”

To Yani, the election is simply not that serious; he thoughtfully verbalized his belief that the “iron fist” of the institution will fundamentally limit the scope of any student government. Of the candidates from this year’s election, Yani joked, “I’m not going to endorse them. Wait, I’m not going to endorse them unless one of them promises me [free tuition over] the next of my four years. … But, you know, as a joke.”

Yani briefly considered running in the A.S. election himself “out of spite,” but decided it wasn’t worth his time. His Instagram page will stay a lighthearted corner for students to enjoy.

“You know, if I’m really serious about keeping up the engagement, the best thing for me to do is just keep collabing with clubs,” Yani said. “We kind of just backpack off each other’s publicity; it helps me stay quote-unquote relevant, and it helps them get more people to join the club. Oh my god, I feel like I’m so up in my own butt right now.”

But Yani’s fame is certainly undeniable. There is something about Yani and his videos that resonate with UCSD students. 

For as long as it lasts, Yani plans to enjoy it.

“In general, I just like filming dance videos,” Yani said. “I’m just doing what I usually do; it’s just that now, there’s more eyes on me, right? But it’s really sweet because people are really sweet about it. They’re just like, ‘Please, please keep dancing,’ and I’m like, ‘Okay, I got it.’”