A new documentary follows the life of Jack Kay, who became a meme after a clip of him dancing in a club went viral
Samantha King is a Content Editor for Screen Time. She covers film, TV and streaming news across Reach’s titles including The Express, Mirror, Manchester Evening News and Daily Star with a focus on what under-35s are watching. She is particularly interested in writing about the horror genre.
Samantha previously worked as a Creative Lead at Curiously bringing social-first celebrity and showbiz news to young audiences online. Prior to this, she headed up regional news sites Oxfordshire Live and Buckinghamshire Live, led on digital innovation at the Oxford Mail and oversaw national radio station Talk Radio’s website as its Assistant Digital Editor.
A typical lads’ holiday took an extraordinary twist for 26-year-old Jack Kay this summer when footage of him dancing in Ibiza was posted online and racked up millions of views.
He was quickly dubbed the Ibiza Final Boss by viewers of the brief clip, thanks to his unmistakable look which ticked every box of the stereotypical party-mad Brit on holiday. Immaculately styled hair? Tick. Muscles and ink, absolutely. Massive chain and a bronzed glow? Job done.
Jack fulfilled every cliché and more, transforming into an instant sensation. Following the video’s release, his image has been commandeered by companies flogging everything from baked goods to Ibiza getaways, reports the Mirror.
His meteoric rise features in a fresh Channel 4 documentary that tracks the celebrity as he tries to cash in on his viral fame with assistance from talent representative Dave Read, whose roster includes perpetual reality television personality Joey Essex.
We discover that Jack now has a vodka venture in development, with his driving force being his young daughter back in Newcastle.
“I had nothing growing up so to give her the life when she’s older, she can have anything she wants, is just unbelievable,” he reveals to the cameras.
What rapidly becomes apparent is that Jack Kay is a completely ordinary bloke, and one who is relishing every second of his bizarre and unforeseen celebrity status. This is precisely where the issue emerges.
After arriving late to a radio interview nursing a severe hangover and offering monosyllabic responses, Jack incurs the wrath of online trolls who expected more from the man behind the meme.
He manages to avoid a reprimand from his talent manager who understands he’s a novice in the harsh world of media. However, he is still obligated to adhere to a demanding daily social media posting schedule, which he finds challenging to keep up with.
The documentary serves as a stark warning, illuminating the darker aspects of sudden fame. The very lifestyle that catapulted him to stardom – the party scene – is something he must relinquish yet maintain the illusion of, to preserve his success.
People are quick to pass judgement on him, forgetting he’s just a young lad in his twenties who never actually sought this level of attention.
It’s evident he’s also unaware of the hefty price tag that comes with celebrity status, as he expresses his shock at multiple media outlets unearthing his father’s criminal history, which he perceived as an attack on his own character.
The Ibiza Final Boss represents a new breed of celebrity for whom the guidelines are still being established. Perhaps the internet could show a bit more compassion as he navigates a situation that, truth be told, most of us would find daunting.
The Ibiza Final Boss: UNTOLD is now streaming on Channel 4’s catch up service and YouTube
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