YouTube superstar MrBeast, aka Jimmy Donaldson, has teamed up with Manchester City and Norway striker Erling Haaland to re-create a famous viral AI meme in real life. Posting across his social media accounts on Monday, 21 September 2026, MrBeast shared a short video clip featuring the football star accompanied by the caption, "scariest meal of my life @erling". The video immediately gained millions of views across platforms, showing Haaland directly leaning into internet culture by bringing a famous digital deepfake to life alongside the world's most-subscribed content creator.

Origin of the Jump-Scare Dining Trend

The skit is a direct homage to an AI-generated video that swept social media platforms earlier in the summer. A widely circulated clip in June 2026 appeared to show Haaland sitting at a restaurant table next to a mirror, casually eating before suddenly flinching in comedic shock after spotting his own reflection. Subsequently confirmed that the video was an AI face-swap overlay created from an original clip by Chinese comedy duo Jin Long and Qiu Qiu. The AI edit seamlessly placed Haaland’s face over creator Jin Long, fooling millions of fans before digital fact-checkers clarified its synthetic origin.

High-Profile Creator Collaboration

In the newly published real-life version, Haaland sits at a dining table beside MrBeast, meticulously re-enacting the absurd jump-scare reaction and exaggerated flinch on camera without the need for digital effects.

The collaboration follows recent social media teasers published by Haaland on his personal channel, where he posted photographs alongside MrBeast hinting at joint projects.