Long Boi

Long Boi is an abnormally tall male duck that lives on Campus West of the University of York, England. He is an Indian Runner duck. He went viral and became an internet meme in 2021.

Long Boi
Long Boi near Derwent College in 2021
Other name(s)Longboi
BreedIndian Runner Duck
SexMale
Known forTallness, memes, popular culture, media appearances
ResidenceDerwent College, University of York
Heightc. 70 cm

Origins

Little is known about Long Boi's origins, although it is believed that he was left on the University of York campus as an unwanted pet.[1] When first found, he appeared "very lonely and nervous" and struggled to fit in with the other ducks, who often bullied him.[2] Students fed him to help him to settle into his new home.[2]

Virality

Long Boi became an internet sensation in 2021 following a Reddit post that incorrectly described him as the tallest mallard ever, at over 1 m tall (in fact he is around 70 cm tall).[1] Long Boi was subsequently mentioned by James Corden on his US late-night talk show The Late Late Show in April 2021, who showed an edited image of Long Boi dressed in a trench coat and quipped, "Put a trench coat on that duck and he looks like two ducks trying to get into an R-rated movie".[3] Followers of Long Boi's Instagram account, run by University of York biology student Zoe Duffin, increased to 16,300 people in less than 24 hours.[3] Footballer Peter Crouch shared his appreciation of Long Boi, tweeting "That's my kind of duck!".[4] In 2022 Long Boi was mentioned by Greg James on BBC Radio 1.[5]

Long Boi has become a University of York campus celebrity and informal mascot,[4] and has a student society dedicated to him.[6] Long Boi fluffy toys have been presented to the university's graduates.[7] He has been the subject of April Fools jokes by The Tab, claiming that the university planned to feature Long Boi on its new logo and that Vice-Chancellor Charlie Jeffery had awarded him an Honorary Doctorate, calling him the "perfect ambassador" for the university.[8][9]

Personal life

Long Boi spends most of his time on and around the lake near Derwent College, University of York. He appears to have become more confident and accepted by other ducks.[2] His friends include a smaller male Indian runner duck called Chonky Boi, some female mallards, and a male mandarin duck called Fancy Boi.[2]

References
  1. "Tall duck becomes social media sensation". BBC News. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  2. Fernando, Christine. "Meet Long Boi, a big (but not the biggest) duck that's become a 'superstar' at the University of York". USA Today. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  3. Laycock, Mike (1 May 2021). "WATCH: York duck Long Boi stars on The Late Late Show with James Corden". York Press. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  4. Chudy, Emily; Elliott-Gibbs, Sam (2021-04-30). "Huge duck Long Boi has own Instagram account and is loved by Peter Crouch". Mirror. Retrieved 2022-12-09.
  5. "Uni of York is campaigning for Long Boi to go on BBC Radio 1 and it's iconic". University of York. 6 December 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  6. "Long Boi Society". University of York Students' Union. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  7. "PSA: Uni of York is selling mini Long Bois to all graduates next week". University of York. 13 July 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  8. "Uni of York logo is officially changing to have Long Boi in it". The Tab. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  9. "York to award Long Boi an honorary degree for all he's done for the university". University of York. 31 March 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2022.

Media related to Long Boi at Wikimedia Commons

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