Actor and comedian Kevin James has been unexpectedly thrust into the spotlight in recent days, though not for something he's done lately. Promo photos from his days on the hit sitcom The King of Queens have been circulating online, with one in particular gaining particular meme fame as James cracks a half-smile with his hands in his pockets. Now, he's finally responded to the hype.
“yo my homie thinks you cute”
— juju ???? (@ayeejuju) September 24, 2023
the homie: pic.twitter.com/DGLMiqvbvG
Me after hitting “no tip” and turning the tablet back around pic.twitter.com/3LzsiBlCRl
— Josh Black (@SirJoshuaBlack) September 24, 2023
Travis Kelce talking to Taylor Swift after the game asking her if she saw his touchdown pic.twitter.com/Znh5LalZrU
— A Nobody’s Burner Account (@clevelandidiot) September 24, 2023
they just had kevin james doing anything for those king of queens press shoots pic.twitter.com/8YjnDHvjkN
— luca (@LucaGuadagnegro) September 25, 2023
she was the baddest, he was the realest pic.twitter.com/7YPzq9R57n
— Al Shipley (@alshipley) September 25, 2023
The meme's rapid spread comes on the heels of the 25th anniversary of The King of Queens' first episode on Sept. 21. "25 years ago today, we aired. I am so incredibly blessed to have taken this ride with the insanely talented Leah Remini and Jerry Stiller. I love you both so much… and thank you to the GREATEST FANS in the world. LOVE YOU!" he wrote on Instagram marking the occasion.
Remini, his onscreen wife on the show, has been getting a kick out of the photos going around online, some of which she appears in. "I wanted to let you all know I'm seeing all of The King of Queens memes and tweets and I absolutely love them," she wrote, adding, "Thank you for 25 years of amazing memories!"
I wanted to let you all know I'm seeing all of The King of Queens memes and tweets and I absolutely love them.
— Leah Remini (@LeahRemini) September 26, 2023
Thank you for 25 years of amazing memories!
In the days since James' press photos have gone viral, he hadn't addressed it online, only posting photos from his stand-up comedy tour, The Irregardless Tour. When he finally shared the photo on his Instagram, he used it to plug his latest endeavor. "The 'Double Hands in the Pocket' Tour... Sheepishly coming to a city near you," the flyer reads.
"Gearing up for my new stand-up tour… so happy I found this headshot," he wrote.
If nothing else, the meme will be a perfect and easy Halloween costume this year.
