10 Years Later: The Unbelievable True Story Of The 'Had To Do It To Em' Meme Guy And His 2024 Comeback

The "You Know I Had to Do It to Em" meme is one of the internet's most enduring and recognizable images, a true pillar of digital culture. It features a young man in a white polo shirt standing on a sidewalk, hands clasped, with an expression that perfectly captures a moment of self-satisfied, low-stakes triumph.

As of today, December 16, 2025, the meme has officially surpassed its 10-year anniversary, and the man behind the image, Lachborne "Lucky" Bachkhaz, has recently re-emerged to tell his side of the story. This deep dive reveals the full biography of the internet's accidental icon, the surprising backstory of the photo, and its lasting cultural legacy, complete with a 2024 recreation that proves some legends never fade.

The Accidental Icon: Lachborne "Lucky" Bachkhaz Complete Biography

The man who inadvertently launched a global phenomenon from a simple sidewalk photo is Lachborne Bachkhaz. While the internet knows him best by his social media handle, LuckyLuciano17k, his life post-virality has been anything but ordinary. Here is a detailed profile of the meme's creator:

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• Full Name: Lachborne Bachkhaz
• Online Alias: LuckyLuciano17k (original Twitter handle) and LuckyLucianoOG
• Birth Date: December 1996
• Age (as of late 2024): 28 years old
• Hometown: Tampa, Florida
• Meme Creation Date: September 2, 2014 (at age 17)
• Meme Location: A specific sidewalk on Capitol Street in Tampa, Florida, which has become a pilgrimage site for meme enthusiasts.
• Viral Explosion: The photo was largely unknown until July 1, 2016, when it was reposted on X (then Twitter) and quickly became a global sensation.
• Notable Post-Meme Event: Bachkhaz was the subject of a "Free Lucky Campaign" GoFundMe after an arrest, a situation he described as "BS," though details remain vague.
• 2024 Activity: In December 2024, he participated in a major interview and posed for a photo recreation on the exact same Tampa sidewalk, marking the 10-year anniversary of the original post.

Despite the immense fame and the constant association with the image, Bachkhaz has remained a private figure, only occasionally engaging with the meme culture he created.

From Casual Tweet to Global Phenomenon: The Meme's True Origin Story

The origin of the "Had to Do It to Em" meme is a perfect storm of casual teenage confidence and internet randomness. It all started in Tampa, Florida, on September 2, 2014.

The Humble Beginnings on Twitter

Lachborne Bachkhaz, then a 17-year-old using the Twitter handle @LuckyLuciano17k, posted a photo of himself. He was standing on a nondescript sidewalk, wearing a light-colored polo shirt and dark pants, with his hands clasped together in a peculiar, almost formal "power stance."

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The original caption was the simple, cryptic phrase that would become his legacy: "You know I had to do it to em." The tweet initially received minimal attention, fading into the background of the internet.

The 2016 Viral Explosion

The photo’s true destiny was fulfilled nearly two years later. On July 1, 2016, a different X user, @ExhelonWinter, reposted the image. The repost is what truly ignited the spark, transforming a random photo into a viral template.

The image quickly gained traction on platforms like Tumblr, Instagram, and Reddit. The "had to do it to em" phrase was interpreted as a catch-all expression for committing a minor, self-satisfying act of mischief or a moment of undeniable confidence. It was the perfect visual punchline for any situation where a person felt they had no choice but to execute a flawless, low-key flex.

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The Lasting Cultural Impact: 5 Reasons the Meme Endures and Its Modern Variations

The longevity of the "You Know I Had to Do It to Em" meme, even a decade later, is a testament to its cultural versatility. It has transcended its origins to become a recognized piece of modern folklore. The image is a classic example of a photoshop meme, where the subject is digitally inserted into various backgrounds and contexts.

1. The Universal "Power Stance"

The meme’s success lies in its pose. Bachkhaz’s stance—hands folded, slight lean, and unwavering gaze—is a non-verbal cue that signifies a quiet victory or a necessary action. It’s a power stance that can be applied to historical figures, fictional characters, and everyday scenarios, making it infinitely adaptable.

2. The Photoshop Template Phenomenon

The clean background and sharp focus of the original photo made it an ideal template for digital manipulation. This led to countless Photoshop edits that placed "Lucky" into absurd and hilarious situations. Some of the most famous variations include:

• Historical Context Edits: Placing Bachkhaz at the signing of the Declaration of Independence or on the moon.
• Pop Culture Mashups: Inserting him into scenes from *The Office*, or as one of the creepy twins from Stanley Kubrick's horror film *The Shining*.
• Meta-Memes: Versions where the meme is inserted into itself, or where the background is replaced with a collage of other classic internet memes.

3. The 10-Year Anniversary Resurgence (2024 Update)

The meme experienced a significant resurgence in late 2024, coinciding with its 10-year anniversary. Lachborne Bachkhaz, now 27, returned to the Tampa sidewalk to recreate the iconic photo for a local news feature. This act of acknowledging the meme's legacy brought it back into the mainstream conversation on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Know Your Meme, and Reddit, introducing it to a new generation of users.

4. Topical Authority and LSI Keywords

The meme’s broad appeal has cemented several related entities and phrases into the internet lexicon, including: sidewalk photo, viral photo, meme history, digital culture, Lucky Luciano meme, You Know I Had to Do It to Em, and the location itself, Capitol Street. The continuous discussion on sites like The Daily Dot and Cheezburger ensures its ongoing relevance.

5. The Legacy of the Accidental Celebrity

Lachborne Bachkhaz is a prime example of an accidental internet celebrity, a person who achieved fame for a single, spontaneous act rather than a deliberate career choice. His story, including the challenges like the GoFundMe campaign, adds a layer of human reality to the otherwise surreal world of internet virality. This narrative of a regular person suddenly becoming a global icon is a phenomenon that continues to fascinate and drive engagement.

In the end, the "Had to Do It to Em" meme is more than just a funny picture; it’s a cultural shorthand for confidence, a timeless template for digital creativity, and a reminder that true internet immortality can be achieved with nothing more than a simple pose on a sunny day in Tampa, Florida.