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Is The 'Bust Down Keanu' Photo Real Or AI? The Viral 'Keanu Reeves' Flexing Meme Explained
Keanu Reeves is one of the most beloved actors on earth, but a recent viral image suggests there might be more to the John Wick actor than meets the eye.
The image is known as the "Bust Down Keanu" photo, and it's been going viral all over social media recently. It's now even being sold on a shirt.
But is the Bust Down Keanu picture real, or is it AI-generated? Here's what you need to know.
What Is The 'Bust Down Keanu' Photo?
The Bust Down Keanu photo was first posted online by X user @TAKEOVERWW at the end of June 2025.
The photo appears to be a candid, blurry shot of actor Keanu Reeves flexing a diamond watch, grillz and a ring with a big smile on his face. The lighting of the photo makes it look like it was taken at a club or event.
The post gained over 290,000 likes in just a few days and quickly started getting reposted by people across the web, going viral on sites like Instagram and Facebook.
While some people seem to think the image is real, it is actually AI-generated. The blurring and the lighting of the image help make it look like an authentic photograph, but in reality, this is not an image of Keanu Reeves — at least not a real one.
How Is 'Bust Down Keanu' Used In Memes?
Since going viral, Bust Down Keanu has inspired a meme trend in which users use AI to generate similar "bust down" versions of characters and celebrities.
Some examples include actor Morgan Freeman, Link from The Legend of Zelda and Chucky from the Child's Play movies. People have also used AI to make more images of Bust Down Keanu, including images of him driving.
The creator of the image is capitalizing on its virality by selling T-shirts with Bust Down Keanu on them. Some people are reacting negatively to the shirts, suggesting it's a bad or embarrassing design to wear or that the creator is too desperate to cash in on their virality, resulting in some funny memes and posts.
What Are Some More 'Bust Down Keanu' Memes?
For the full history of Bust Down Keanu, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.
