You Are My Sunshine Meme: The LeBron James TikTok Trend Explained
The You Are My Sunshine meme isn’t just a sweet serenade—it’s a full-blown TikTok phenomenon, and at the center of it all is NBA superstar LeBron James. But rather than being a straightforward tribute, this viral trend takes a satirical jab at the intensity of LeBron’s fanbase. It’s ironic, exaggerated, and hilariously heartfelt.
In this article, Grumpy Sharks will share with you what LeBron James You Are My Sunshine means, where it originated, and how it went viral.
What Is the You Are My Sunshine Meme?
The You Are My Sunshine meme refers to TikTok videos where the song You Are My Sunshine, particularly the melancholic cover by Christina Perri, plays over images or clips of LeBron James.
These videos, though seemingly emotional or romantic, are meant to mock the over-the-top passion some fans show toward the Lakers legend. The captions often begin with lines like “Boy oh boy, LeBron, where do I even begin“, parodying emotional fan monologues.
Where did the LeBron You Are My Sunshine meme come from?
The earliest known version of this meme was posted to TikTok on January 15, 2023, by user @hoopmemehub, featuring LeBron walking onto the court while the You Are My Sunshine track played in the background.
The video, captioned “Boy oh boy, LeBron”, received over 720,000 views and 84,000 likes within three weeks.
How did the meme go viral?
After that, many TikTok users posted videos of LeBron with the song “You Are My Sunshine”. On January 20, 2024, @lebrigga posted a video of him playing basketball. The video gained 1.1M views, 184,000 hearts and about 300 comments. Bakedpotato345 left a comment and it had 12k hearts. It said:
“Boy oh boy lebron, where do I even start, ever since you joined the league I knew you were something special, something amazing. I knew you would inspire so many people to be great. I knew you would”
On March 5, 2024, the Brooklyn Nets’ official TikTok account (@brooklynnets) joined the trend by posting a video of LeBron warming up at Barclays Center. The caption read, “Why is everyone singing this song”, while the crowd noise played over Perri’s version of You Are My Sunshine. At the end, the video joked, “Obviously for Cam Thomas”—a nod to one of their own players.
The video went viral, racking up over 3.2 million views and 412,000 likes in under a week. That official stamp helped legitimize and further boost the meme.
Variations and Offshoots of you are my sunshine meme
After the meme gained mainstream traction, new spinoffs emerged. One of the most recognizable is “LeEvil James“—a satirical version of LeBron that imagines him as a dramatic antihero. These edits often include black-and-white filters, villainous captions, or slow zoom-ins as the music plays.
The first known video that featured the “LeEvil James” nickname was posted by TikTok user @gabraldy on March 22nd, 2024. The video also features a slowed version of Cristina Perri’s “You Are My Sunshine” song. Within only 4 days, the video received over 2 million plays and 474,000 likes.
Regarding “LeBonBon’s” origin, since July 2023, the nickname has appeared in LeBron-related jokes. On July 8th, 2023, TikTok user @meowmeowkittensparkle shared a fan edit of the basketball player with the caption, “Lebonbon I love you,” making it one of the first known videos referencing “LeBonBon.” In nearly a year, the post received over 296,000 plays and 16,900 likes.
Why Does This Meme Work?
It blends contrast and emotional whiplash. The soft, nostalgic melody of You Are My Sunshine—especially Perri’s haunting vocals—paired with a towering basketball figure like LeBron, creates an amusing disconnect. It’s absurd yet oddly touching.
By walking the line between mockery and reverence, the meme manages to be funny without feeling mean-spirited. Some actual fans now use the meme format genuinely, showcasing admiration while participating in the joke.
What Song Is Used in the Meme?
The meme typically uses Christina Perri’s cover of You Are My Sunshine. Though the original song was released in 1940 by Jimmie Davis, Perri’s version features somber piano and slowed-down vocals that enhance the parody’s emotional tone.
You are my sunshine lebron James Lyrics
You are my sunshine
My only sunshine
You make me happy
When skies are gray
You’ll never know, dear
How much I love you
Please don’t take
My sunshine away
The other night, dear
As I lay sleeping
I dreamed I held you
In my arms
When I awoke, dear
I was mistaken
So I hung my head and cried
You are my sunshine
My only sunshine
You make me happy
When skies are gray
You’ll never know, dear
How much I love you
Please don’t take
My sunshine away
Final Thoughts
The You Are My Sunshine meme showcases the wild creativity of internet culture. It’s ironic, nostalgic, and often downright hilarious. In making fun of LeBron’s most dramatic fans, TikTok users found a new way to celebrate him. Whether you’re in on the joke or simply tapping your foot to the song, one thing’s clear: memes have a strange way of making even basketball legends feel oddly personal.
