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The Story Behind Chloe Kim’s Viral Breakfast Tweet
If you follow winter sports or social media, you may have heard of Chloe Kim, a 17-year-old snowboarder from California who won a gold medal in halfpipe at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. However, you may not know that Kim also became a viral sensation for a tweet she sent during the competition, in which she mentioned a struggle that many people can relate to: hunger.
On February 12, 2018, Kim had just finished her first run in the women’s halfpipe final, in which she had already scored a 93.75 out of 100, the highest of all the riders. As she waited for her next turn, she tweeted: “Wish I finished my breakfast sandwich but my stubborn self decided not to and now I’m getting hangry.” The tweet included a sad-face emoji and a photo of her looking out of a window, probably from the Olympic Village.
The tweet quickly spread across Twitter and other platforms, gathering thousands of retweets, likes, and comments within hours. Many people empathized with Kim’s situation and praised her honesty and humor. Some even offered to bring her food or satisfy her cravings. The tweet also sparked a cheerful conversation about breakfast food, Korea’s cuisine, and Kim’s personality and talent.
However, the tweet also raised some questions and controversies. Some people wondered why Kim, who is sponsored by several food and drink brands, didn’t have enough options for breakfast or snacks before her event. Others criticized her for complaining about being hungry when many people in the world, including some in Korea, face food insecurity or starvation. Some even accused her of being a spoiled and entitled athlete who didn’t care about anything else but her performance.
Kim, who had been using Twitter and Instagram to share her perspectives on the Olympics and her career, continued to tweet and post even after the breakfast tweet. She responded to some of the comments and thanked her fans and supporters. She also shared more photos and videos of her smiling, posing, and snowboarding. Her second run was even better than her first, with a score of 98.25, securing her the gold medal before her third run. She tweeted: “I hate crying but I’ll give myself a pass for this one. Thank you everyone for the love! Stoked to bring home the gold.”
So, what’s the story behind Chloe Kim’s viral breakfast tweet? Here are some possible answers, based on interviews, articles, and social media. Note that some of the details may vary or be subjective, and that the purpose of this blog post is to entertain and inform, not to judge or criticize.
The story behind the screenshot
First of all, let’s examine the screenshot of Kim’s tweet that circulated online. You may have noticed that the tweet looked different from a usual tweet on Twitter.com or the Twitter app. It had a white background with a black border, and a vertical alignment that left some space on both sides. It also had a blue checkmark next to Kim’s name, indicating that she had a verified account.
So, where did this screenshot come from? According to some sources, including Kim’s own Instagram story, the screenshot was actually a photo of a phone screen that belonged to one of Kim’s coaches or assistants. The person had taken the photo and sent it to someone else, who then shared it on social media. The screenshot was not a direct upload from Kim’s account, and may have been edited or cropped to fit the sender’s preference.
However, the content of the tweet itself was genuine and unaltered. Kim had indeed tweeted it from her own account, which had over 200,000 followers at the time. The tweet had also triggered a series of positive and negative reactions that reflected the complexity of social media and the human psyche.
The story behind the breakfast sandwich
Now, let’s focus on the substance of Kim’s tweet. What was the breakfast sandwich that she mentioned, and why did she regret not finishing it? Unfortunately, we don’t have a clear answer, as Kim didn’t specify what kind of sandwich it was or where she got it from. Some people speculated that it could be a typical American breakfast sandwich, with eggs, bacon, cheese, and bread. Others imagined that it could be a Korean-style sandwich, with meat, vegetables, and sauce between two slices of toast or rice cakes.
However, we do know that Kim is a foodie who enjoys a variety of cuisines and has a sweet tooth. In her interviews and social media posts, she has mentioned some of her favorite foods and snacks, such as In-N-Out burgers, Korean barbecue, churros, and Snapchat’s dancing hot dog filter. She has also shared photos and videos of herself eating and cooking, sometimes with her family or friends. For example, she showed off her skills in making spam musubi, a Hawaiian snack that consists of spam, rice, and nori. She also mentioned missing her dad’s homemade kimchi, a spicy and fermented Korean side dish.
Therefore, it’s possible that the breakfast sandwich was just a random item that Kim grabbed on her way to the halfpipe competition, without much thought or appetite. It’s also possible that she had a particular craving for a certain flavor or texture that the sandwich couldn’t satisfy, or that she felt nervous or stressed and didn’t have a big enough appetite. We don’t know for sure, but we can relate to the feeling of regretting not eating when we could have.
The story behind the cultural context
Moreover, we should consider the cultural context of Kim’s tweet and the Olympics in general. Kim, who is of Korean descent and speaks some Korean, was competing in her parents’ homeland, in front of a global audience that included both Koreans and Americans. Her performance and personality were celebrated by both sides, as well as by people from other countries and backgrounds. She was seen as a symbol of the multicultural and inclusive spirit of the Olympic Games, which aims to unite people through sports and mutual respect.
However, Kim’s tweet also highlighted some differences and tensions between the two cultures. For example, some Koreans were surprised or confused by the notion of a breakfast sandwich, which is not a common or traditional breakfast food in their country. They also wondered why Kim didn’t eat more Korean food, or why she didn’t have a Korean breakfast, which typically consists of rice, soup, kimchi, and other side dishes. Some even suggested that she try some of the street food or local restaurants near the Olympic venues, to experience the authentic Korean cuisine.
On the other hand, some Americans were sympathetic to Kim’s tweet and saw it as a relatable and humorous expression of hunger and impatience. They also defended her from the criticism and shaming that some people had directed towards her, arguing that she was entitled to her own feelings and preferences, and that hunger was a normal and human sensation. They also praised her as a talented and brave athlete, who represented the best of America and its diversity.
The story behind the aftermath
Finally, let’s see what happened after Kim’s viral breakfast tweet. As we mentioned earlier, Kim continued to tweet and post about her Olympic experience, as well as her personal life and interests. She shared some of her reactions to the coverage and attention that she received, including some of the negative comments and memes that circulated online. She also thanked her supporters and sponsors, and expressed her gratitude and joy for winning the gold medal.
However, some of the controversies related to her tweet and her identity didn’t go away. For example, some people accused Kim of being disrespectful to Korea or to her Korean heritage, by not appreciating the food or the culture. Some even suggested that she should have given up her American citizenship and compete for Korea, if she didn’t feel proud or connected enough to her Korean roots. Others defended Kim as a young athlete who shouldn’t be forced to represent a certain country or culture, and who should be allowed to express her own opinions and feelings.
Moreover, some of the debates spilled over to other social issues, such as race, gender, and society. Kim, who is a woman of color, faced some sexist and racist comments that criticized her appearance or her abilities. She also faced some classist and elitist comments that portrayed her as a spoiled and entitled brat, who didn’t deserve her success or recognition. Some people used her tweet as a way to symbolize larger problems in the world, such as wealth inequality, cultural clashes, and celebrity culture.
Despite all this, Chloe Kim remained a role model for many young people, especially girls and Asian Americans, who saw her as a talented, confident, and relatable figure who broke barriers and chased her dreams. She continued to inspire and entertain her fans, both on and off the snowboard, and showed that social media can be a powerful and positive force for connection and expression. She even got a response from a brand that offered to send her a breakfast sandwich, after she won the gold medal. She tweeted: “Oh my god I just realized I tweeted about breakfast seconds before my final and now I’m getting a bunch of food companies telling me to eat their stuff and it’s getting a little overwhelming and I’m not mad at all.”
In conclusion, the story behind Chloe Kim’s viral breakfast tweet is a story of a young woman who shared a simple and honest message that resonated with millions of people around the world. It’s also a story of a diverse and complex society that reflected its own values, biases, and conflicts through her tweet and her performance. By examining this story from different angles and perspectives, we can learn more about ourselves and our world, and appreciate the power of social media to connect and inspire. Oh, and don’t forget to eat breakfast, or you may end up regretting it like Chloe Kim.
Image Credit: Pexels