IShowSpeed "my mom is kinda homeless": Origins explored

A significant driver behind IShowSpeed's rise to worldwide fame was viral clips that made him an online sensation and also created timeless memes now used in a variety of contexts. A prime example is the "my mom is kinda homeless" incident, which took place in a late December 2021 stream titled "EARLY STREAM!" on YouTube.

In the stream, Speed hopped on Fortnite and came across a younger player whose gamer tag was "Acey Daddy." This particular Fortnite game was a series of 1v1 matchups against his viewers who joined his in-game party. As Speed was at the precipice of a victory, Acey Daddy emotionally said:

"Please, Speed. I need this… My mom is kinda homeless. I live with my dad. I want to help her out."

[Timestamp - 2:08:00]

As IShowSpeed heard this through the voice chat, he puckered his lips, desperately trying to stifle a laugh. He succeeded and started smiling with his eyes closed:

Noticing Speed's reaction, another member in the voice chat said:

"Speed, I’m watching your stream, why are you trying not to laugh, bruh? That’s disrespectful as sh*t, bruh."

Speed puckering his lips during this interaction quickly went viral. Today, the reaction is a popular meme used across the internet and even as an emote in Twitch streams.

---

IShowSpeed reunites with Acey Daddy after the "my mom is kinda homeless" goes viral

In October 2025, nearly five years after the meme first went viral, Speed decided to revisit Acey and recreate the clip. In their interaction, the streamer asked Acey if his mom was still homeless:

"Is she still homeless? ('Nah, nah, she kinda financially stable now,' said Acey) I'm happy, bro."

IShowSpeed even wore the same Adidas hoodie with the ski mask around his head as he did in 2021. The two, along with more fans, played Fortnite 1v1s with money on the line and caught up. Then, Speed, Acey, and the third-party member recreated the viral meme.

---

In other news, IShowSpeed was left shocked after learning that he had spent over one million dollars on his "24/7 America Tour," following a livestream breakdown of the expenses.

Edited by Vishnu Menon