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Where Are They Now? Here's What 'CopperCab,' The 'Gingers Do Have Souls!' Kid, Has Been Up To Since His Anti-Ginger-Hate Rant
Michael Kittrell, known to the internet as "CopperCab" or the "Gingers Do Have Souls Kid," became one of the first viral sensations of the 2010s with his passionate defense of redheads everywhere.
In the viral video that has gathered over 48 million views on YouTube in 15 years, Kittrell's baby-faced, teenage recording of himself in his driveway to tell the world that "Gingers Do Have Souls" has made him a classic piece of early internet culture.
But Kittrell's history of disingenuous trolling over the next decade has made it apparent that his rage-baity, dramatic-style of comedy is entirely self-deprecating and that CopperCab is more of a character he created for the internet than a truth he really lives by.
In the years following his initial rise to fame, Kittrell's journey from an angry teenager to an internet personality has taken some unexpected turns, from taking his whole family to Hollywood to star in a reality show and claiming to have taken estrogen in a failed attempt to transition into a woman to stating that the red-headed girl he's marrying is actually his half-sister, Kittrell's antics always leave his audience guessing about what's next.
Here's a recap of everything you need to know about Michael Kittrell or CopperCab, best known as the Gingers Do Have Souls Kid.
Who is CopperCab and Why Did He First Go Viral?
CopperCab, real name Michael Kittrell, burst onto the internet scene on January 14th, 2010, with what would become the very first viral video of the decade: "GINGERS DO HAVE SOULS."
The video saw Kittrell delivering an impassioned, albeit awkward rant defending redheads against the mockery inspired by the infamous South Park "Ginger Kids" episode from 2005.
Standing in his driveway to make his single-take masterpiece with a camera he told us his "meemaw" got him, Kittrell's video featured him delivering lines like, "I go to church, I'm a Christian. You don't know me, you're not God!"
The uncomfortable close-up angle of his video never changes frames, and his voice is sometimes drowned out by cars speeding by on the road behind him.
The video reeks of teen awkwardness, despite the fire in Kittrell's heart occasionally igniting long enough for his voice to rise several octaves in defense of his "people" against Eric Cartman's claims.
The South Park creators themselves later immortalized Kittrell by having Cartman parody him in a promotional clip for their 14th season, showing the tubby character copy Kittrell's speech word-for-word.
It was a distinction Kittrell discovered while on Skype, causing him to "launch his headset across the room" in shock. Though many would consider this a badge of honor, Kittrell never broke character, maintaining it was "disrespectful" to mock a 17-year-old without permission.
How Did CopperCab Capitalize On His Fame?
CopperCab's videos may have gone viral for a few weeks before being forgotten forever if it weren't for his family joining in on his antics to make it appear as though he came from a family of backroads ginger-headed crazies.
In a video titled, "Apology for our 'ginger' son, Michael (Copper Cab)," Kittrell's "mom and dad" took on the role of two embarrassed but defensive parents who began by explaining their son's hardships before devolving into the same rage-filled rhetoric their son was not infamous for.
As his internet stardom grew, Kittrell expanded his online presence in May 2011 by launching "CopperVision," a YouTube channel featuring daily vlogs with his grandmother "Mema," who would soon become a fan favorite.
But the real breakthrough in Kittrell's quest to capitalize on his fame came when he leveraged his YouTube earnings to finance a move to Los Angeles with his family for the reality show Hollywood Hillbillies on Reelz TV.
"I made a lot of money on my YouTube channel, and I saved it all from the past four years," Kittrell explained during a press junket for the show, "I got my family with me to support me and help me while we all look for our place out here."
The show, which ran for three seasons, focused on the fish-out-of-water antics of Kittrell's rural Georgia family navigating the glitz and glamour of Hollywood.
While Michael was technically the star, his grandmother Mema quickly became the show's standout personality with her no-nonsense Southern charm and unexpected wisdom about fame and success.
Between carefully orchestrated culture clashes, including memorable discussions about septic tanks and fire ants, the show offered a glimpse into Kittrell's attempt to translate internet fame into mainstream success.
What Did CopperCab Do After His Reality Show Ended?
After Hollywood Hillbillies ended, Kittrell sought to maintain relevance through increasingly provocative stunts.
In July 2016, he tweeted that his five-month YouTube hiatus was due to undergoing hormone replacement therapy. Days later, on August 2nd, he uploaded a video announcing his transition to female, introducing himself as "Claire."
The announcement gained traction when LadBible picked up the story, applauding his supposed bravery in the site's coverage.
However, this was actually a disingenuous publicity stunt, as Kittrell had not actually started hormones or begun transitioning. Kittrell eventually returned to identifying as male, later confirming the stunt was merely "trolling."
In January 2020, exactly a decade after his original viral moment, Kittrell attempted to recapture lightning in a bottle with "GINGERS STILL HAVE SOULS!!"
The follow-up video showed him continuing his trademark rant style about redheads having souls, accumulating about 850,000 views — respectable, but nowhere near his previous heights of internet fame.
Did CopperCab Seriously Marry His Half-Sister?
Kittrell's notorious trolling did not stop him from turning his own wedding into a meme. In the years leading up to 2020, Kittrell made numerous posts and dropped a bunch of hints about how he has a "half-sister" named Aubrey, who was raised by her mother and stepfather in Kansas while he was raised in Georgia.
CopperCab's fans were shocked and appalled to learn that he actually married Aubrey in 2020, even though many people had come to expect his insincere trolling by now.
When the dust settled and people realized that Michael Kittrell married one of his oldest friends, who also happened to be ginger, they showered the couple with well-wishes.
Where Can You Find CopperCab Online Today?
Despite his attention-seeking tactics, Kittrell has maintained a dedicated core fanbase who appreciate both his early authenticity and his willingness to play into his own internet persona.
As one of the internet's earliest viral stars, CopperCab's legacy remains that of a teenager who, for better or worse, turned a moment of genuine frustration into a career. Despite it all, and to his credit, CopperCab has vehemently refused to make a meme coin, no matter how punny the offers are.
CopperCab is sporadically active on his YouTube these days, but he's almost always on Twitter / X, where he routinely keeps up with his ginger-centric propaganda.
For the full history of Gingers Do Have Souls, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information. To see the rest of our "Where Are They Now" series, you can find them all here. Stay tuned for next week's editorial!
