Grant Walther, the Texas football fan who went viral during the Longhorns’ loss to Georgia, wants to raise money for cancer research by having Matthew McConaughey shave the hair that turned him into a meme.
The 20-year-old, who is studying government in Austin, opened up on his remarkable rise to internet fame which has seen him compared to ‘Hawk Tuah’ girl and likened to Butthead and country legend Conway Twitty.
Television cameras caught Walther’s frown – and iconic haircut – late on in Texas’ 30-15 loss to the Bulldogs on Saturday.
He has since been stopped by professors, nurses and fellow students. He has been offered sunflower seeds and he is reveling in the spotlight. He would love to host a podcast and appear on the Talk Tuah show, too. ‘It’s surreal,’ he told DailyMail.com. But Walther also hopes to cash in on his fame by raising money for good causes.
‘I love the idea of turning this into some sort of charity opportunity…giving has always been a pretty essential part of who I am,’ said the student, whose father builds affordable housing. ‘When you’re given an opportunity like this, the best thing you can do is pass that forward to others.’
Texas fan Grant Walther went viral for his appearance during the team’s loss against Georgia
The 20-year-old, who is studying government, opened up on his remarkable rise to fame
So Walther, wearing his Texas polo, revealed he would welcome the chance to work with the Longhorns and their most famous fan.
‘I know Matthew McConaughey was cutting players’ hair. Maybe he can cut mine on the field and raise some money for cancer awareness. My grandmother just recently got diagnosed with breast cancer and then beat it,’ he said. His great grandfather has bladder cancer, too. ‘This is the perfect platform for me to advocate for the things I care most about.’
He added: ‘I want to be a lawyer – that’s my goal. I never had “internet meme” as something that I wished to achieve. But I guess it’s here…it has been the most out-of-this-world experience.’
Walther knew life had changed when his image appeared in a conversation involving classmates from high school Spanish. ‘I had not been active in that group chat since freshman year,’ he said.
Immediately after the game in Austin, he turned around to see his friends staring at their phone in shock. ‘You’re a meme, Walter,’ they told him.
‘I know Matthew McConaughey was cutting players’ hair. Maybe he can cut mine,’ Walther said
‘It started off with just a few Twitter posts (and) they’re all telling me: “It’ll probably be dead in a day. I wouldn’t worry about it…” and then I just see it getting posted over and over and over again.’
Ironically, Walther doesn’t use social media much. But his friends ensure he sees all the memes and all the comparisons. ‘Conway Twitty, Syndrome from the Incredibles, Butthead… it’s hilarious,’ he said.
‘There was one comment on Twitter that was: this looks like a business bro, circa 1983, leaving the racquetball court at the local Y(MCA). That is such an oddly specific insult that you just have to appreciate it.’
There are some memes that have particularly tickled the Texas fan. ‘I gotta be honest. All the ones that are guessing that I’m some Southern backwater Texan a with an Evangelical dad, or something like that. Those are the ones that get me the most, because in reality I’m from Los Angeles.’
Walther only became a Texas fan in his freshman year. Now it’s ‘an obsession’. He has only missed one home game. He and his friends waited for hours to grab good seats for the game against Georgia.
Walther would love to appear on ‘Talk Tuah’, the show hosted by ‘Hawk Tuah girl’ Haliey Welch
‘What I appreciate most about Texas football has to be the community and how welcoming they are,’ he said. ‘When 95 percent of the comments are just tearing into me, there’s still those 5 percent of people out there saying: “Don’t worry, man. I was right there with you, or we’ll get them next time.” And I really appreciate those ones.’
There have been hateful messages but he doesn’t let them affect him ‘at all’. Instead his inbox is full of support and his days are full of the same questions.
‘I was walking on campus on Monday, and I get stopped dead in my tracks by these people just taking graduation photos, Walther explained. ‘They’re like: “Wait, you’re the Texas fan… can we get a picture?”
He is happy to oblige – and pull that iconic frown. ‘I went to the doctor just earlier today and I had a few nurses walk by and ask: “Were you at the Texas football game by any chance?”
His professors have called him out in class and new fans have offered him odd gifts.
‘I had this guy reach out to me on Instagram and just tell me: ‘Hey, I’m really, really excited for you. I’m working on a video for you. I’m gonna send you four boxes of sunflower seeds – just post them on your story when you get them.” And I’m like: “Okay, sure thing, man, I love sunflower seeds. Send them over.”’
He continued: ‘There’s a screenshot of (comedian) Shane Gillis (sending) a text message saying: “Who is this man? Bring him to me… Shane, if you’re watching, I’d love to meet you.’
When not studying, Walther does a lot of volunteering – as part of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity, he fundraises through food drives and clothes drives. He takes part in mock trials and the model United Nations. He pursues his love of philosophy with the Jefferson Scholars.
‘My goal’s always been law school,’ he said. ‘Maybe this can help me get there, and if it can, I’m more than happy to use it to do it… this is a huge opportunity for me.’
Walther would love to appear on ‘Talk Tuah’, the show hosted by Haliey Welch, who recently went viral over her graphic description of sex acts.
‘That would be a life goal I could check off my bucket list frankly,’ he joked. ‘I’m more than happy to embrace it as long as people care to hear from me.’
The 20-year-old is single and is ‘waiting’ for offers to roll in. But Walther is also ready to shed the look that turned him into a meme.
‘I have just naturally thick hair, I use 2-in-1 hair wash (and) I do absolutely nothing to my hair. I wake up every morning and take my shower, wash my hair, and by midday, when it dries it just takes a mind of its own, and decides to look like this. There’s absolutely nothing I can do about it.’
He used to comb it over into a side-part. ‘It’s honestly gotten way too long, I need a haircut. But… I don’t think I can get it cut now – much to my dad’s chagrin.’ He likes to refer to it as a ‘rat’s nest’.
Walther goes to the salon with a simple request: ‘”Let me part my hair when I need to go out, and when I wake up don’t let me look like this”. But then I get lazy. I don’t go to the barber, for 3 or 4 months now. And you reap what you sow.’
His next haircut could raise money for a great cause, however. Walther regularly sees his grandmother and great grandfather as they battle health problems.
‘They’re fighting strong… but you see somebody go through something so terrible, and you realize how strong they are as a person. And it puts life in perspective, right?’ he said.
‘Because people might be trashing me on the Internet. But that is by no means the worst thing that can be happening to you in the world. There’s always somebody else out there going through something worse.’
