Rebecca Black as she appeared in the now infamous music video for Friday. Photo / You Tube
Rebecca Black as she appeared in the now infamous music video for Friday. Photo / You Tube
Nine years on from the viral earworm that in many ways defined millennial meme culture, Rebecca Black has promptly made us all feel old with one single selfie.
Having burst into the spotlight in 2011 with Friday, the insanely catchy pop tune with lyrics including "tomorrow is Saturday and Sunday comes afterwards" and a morning play-by-play as Black readied herself for school ("gotta have my bowl, gotta have cereal" being a highlight), it's hard to imagine Black as anything other than the 13-year-old who couldn't decide whether to sit in the front seat or back seat, reports news.com.au.
Now, the overnight sensation has shared what she looks like now, and she's definitely grown up a bit.
Rebecca Black looks very different from the young teen looking forward to the weekend we came to know and love. Photo / Twitter
Black in the viral video from 2011. Photo / You Tube
The photo accompanied a heartbreaking post in which she detailed the mental health struggles she endured after she became the butt of an internet joke, which she says destroyed her early reputation as a singer.
"9 years ago today a music video for a song called "Friday" was uploaded to the internet," she began.
"Above all things, I just wish I could go back and talk to my 13-year-old self who was terribly ashamed of herself and afraid of the world. To my 15-year-old self who felt like she had nobody to talk to about the depression she faced.
"Friday is legendary and you are an icon. thank you for nine years of fun fun fun fun!!!!," one said, quoting the chorus.
"Your track is still one of the most memorable major musical moments of my youth and you've gotta be proud that such a phenomenon had such an impact … that moment was so culturally iconic and I wish u such a hopeful future," RuPaul's Drag Race star Aquaria wrote.
Black later thanked fans for their outpour of well-wishes, writing in a follow-up post:
"Okay so I just got back on twitter and I am just so blown away and confused and grateful at the messages you guys have been sending to me in response to this. I could have never imagined support like this. that you a million times I just wanna cry! (happily!!!)"
okay so i just got back on twitter and i am just so blown away and confused and grateful at the messages you guys have been sending to me in response to this. i could have never imagined support like this. that you a million times i just wanna cry!! (happily!!!) https://t.co/SOxFLJhjD9
The singer shot to fame overnight in 2011, later that year appearing in Katy Perry's film clip for anthemic pop tune Last Friday Night.
She went on to release a number of other songs including her Dave Days collaboration Saturday, with a new single out called Sweetheart.
The 22-year-old still uploads music to her YouTube channel, along with clips about various topics, including one with Billie Eilish's brother and producer Finneas.
