5 Times IShowSpeed Failed The 'Try Not To Laugh' Challenge And Created Legendary Viral Moments
Darren Watkins Jr. (IShowSpeed) Biography & Career Profile
Darren Jason Watkins Jr., universally known by his online alias IShowSpeed or simply Speed, is one of the most explosive and globally recognized figures in the world of online streaming and content creation. His rise to fame has been characterized by his high-energy, often chaotic, and unpredictable live streams, which have captivated millions of viewers.
- Full Name: Darren Jason Watkins Jr.
- Online Alias: IShowSpeed, Speed, Speedy
- Date of Birth: January 21, 2005
- Age (as of late 2025): 20
- Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
- Career: YouTuber, Online Streamer, Rapper, Internet Celebrity
- Content Niche: Gaming (often *FIFA*, *Roblox*, *Getting Over It*), Reaction Videos, Vlogs, Pranks, and Challenges (like the "Try Not To Laugh Challenge").
- Notable Collaborators: KSI, Kai Cenat, Adin Ross, MrBeast.
- Key Milestones: Gained massive traction in 2021; achieved a two-week YouTube ban in 2024; known for his obsession with Cristiano Ronaldo; his "Trying Not To Laugh" moment became a ubiquitous meme template.
The Anatomy of the Legendary 2021 'Trying Not To Laugh' Viral Clip
The phrase "i show speed trying not to laugh" is a direct reference to a specific, legendary clip from a December 2021 livestream that has since become a cornerstone of internet meme culture. The moment itself is a masterclass in suppressed hysteria and physical comedy.
The clip shows Speed in a state of intense internal conflict. He is clearly watching something hysterically funny, yet he is determined not to give in to the laughter. The tension builds as he contorts his face, his eyes bulging, his mouth pulled into a strained, unnatural smile—the very definition of a forced poker face.
This particular moment was instantly clipped, shared, and transformed into a universally recognizable meme template. The image of Speed's strained smile is used to depict any situation where a person is desperately trying to maintain composure while on the verge of bursting into laughter.
The meme's staying power lies in its relatability and the sheer absurdity of Speed's expression. It's a raw, unscripted moment that perfectly encapsulates his energetic and volatile streaming persona. The clip is so iconic that Speed himself recently recreated it during a late 2025 livestream, acknowledging its legendary status and proving that the original clip still holds significant cultural weight.
Iconic Moments Where Speed Lost the Battle Against Laughter
While the 2021 clip is the most famous, IShowSpeed has repeatedly engaged in the "Try Not To Laugh Challenge" format, both intentionally and unintentionally, leading to a compilation of hilarious fails. His reactions are always extreme, ranging from ear-splitting screams to the signature, explosive laugh that he tries so hard to contain.
1. The 'Homeless Kid' Incident (The Meme Origin)
The original, most-cited moment that created the meme template actually stemmed from a bizarre and awkward interaction. During a stream, a young fan approached Speed and began crying, claiming his mother was "kinda homeless." Speed's reaction—the strained, internal struggle to not burst out laughing at the fan's delivery and the sheer awkwardness of the situation—is what created the viral image. It’s a moment of dark, unscripted comedy that perfectly captured the chaos of his early streams.
2. The KSI Collaboration 'Try Not To Laugh' Challenge
Collaborations with fellow creators often amplify the comedic results, and Speed's challenges with KSI are no exception. When the two megastars got together for a formal "Try Not To Laugh" challenge, the results were predictably chaotic. The dynamic between KSI's deadpan humor and Speed's explosive reactions made for an impossible task. The challenge inevitably went "wrong," with both creators devolving into fits of laughter and rage, solidifying their chemistry as a comedic duo.
3. The 'Getting Over It' Rage Fails
While not a traditional "Try Not To Laugh Challenge," Speed's infamous playthroughs of the notoriously frustrating game *Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy* are a goldmine of suppressed and then exploded emotions. His "rage moments" often start with him trying to hold back his frustration, which quickly flips into hysterical laughter at his own misfortune or the absurd physics of the game. These fails are frequently compiled into "Try Not To Laugh" editions because his extreme reactions are inherently funny.
4. The Unexpected Jump Scare Laugh
Speed is known for his loud, often over-the-top reactions to jump scares in horror games or reaction videos. One viral moment involves him watching a clip that starts tense but ends with a silly, unexpected punchline. His initial attempt to maintain a serious, focused demeanor is shattered by a sudden, high-pitched, almost dog-like bark of laughter, a sound that has become a recognizable signature of his content. These clips are a staple in "Best Of IShowSpeed Funny Moment" compilations.
5. The 2025 Recreation of the Classic Clip
In a recent stream (late 2025), Speed revisited the famous 2021 moment. He acknowledged the clip's legacy and attempted to perfectly recreate the iconic facial contortion. While the recreation was a deliberate, self-aware piece of content, it was hilarious in its own right, reminding viewers of the original's power and showing how much his own content has become a source of nostalgia and comedy. This continuous cycling of the "Trying Not To Laugh" format keeps the trend fresh and relevant.
The Topical Authority of Speed's Comedic Genius
The enduring popularity of the "i show speed trying not to laugh" format is a testament to IShowSpeed's unique ability to generate viral content. His streams are a blend of high-energy gaming, chaotic reactions, and genuine, unscripted moments that resonate deeply with his audience. The key entities and LSI keywords that surround this topic—*IShowSpeed rage*, *Speed funny moments*, *KSI*, *meme template*, and *viral clip*—all point to a creator whose influence extends far beyond simple gaming content.
His willingness to be completely uninhibited, whether he is screaming at a game or desperately trying to suppress a laugh, is what makes his content so compelling. The "Trying Not To Laugh" moments, in particular, capture the human element of comedy—the struggle to maintain composure in the face of overwhelming absurdity. This is why compilations of his funniest moments, often titled "Try Not To Laugh Challenge" or "IShowSpeed Funniest Fails," continue to rack up millions of views, with new editions being released well into 2025.
From a single, strained smile in 2021, IShowSpeed has created a legacy that defines a generation of internet humor. The next time you see that iconic, contorted face, you'll know you're looking at one of the most legendary, unscripted moments in streaming history.
Detail Author:
- Name : Fleta Runolfsson
- Username : zromaguera
- Email : shaylee39@gmail.com
- Birthdate : 1981-08-21
- Address : 16490 Carroll Branch Arjunshire, DE 62124
- Phone : 1-925-865-2301
- Company : Little, Feeney and McClure
- Job : Scanner Operator
- Bio : Eveniet officiis non quia consequatur reprehenderit quisquam quis. Qui et ex molestiae quisquam dignissimos. Deleniti officiis atque quisquam et quia nemo et.
Socials
twitter:
- url : https://twitter.com/heloisewehner
- username : heloisewehner
- bio : Est quia provident esse assumenda pariatur vero. Quibusdam alias repellat incidunt aliquid inventore. Fugiat consequatur quisquam optio facilis.
- followers : 5319
- following : 1649
instagram:
- url : https://instagram.com/wehnerh
- username : wehnerh
- bio : Excepturi omnis nemo et. Consequuntur debitis tenetur sequi nulla quisquam.
- followers : 4598
- following : 944
