{{Short description|Instagram account}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}} {{Infobox social media personality | name = Dude With Sign | image = Dude With Sign by Gage Skidmore.jpg | caption = Phillips in 2023 | other_names = | occupation = | instagram_handle = dudewithsign | instagram_display_name = | instagram_years_active = 2019–present | instagram_genre = | instagram_followers = 8 million (October 30, 2023)}} '''Dude With Sign''' is an Instagram account that features '''Seth Phillips''' holding protest signs about everyday issues. It is produced by Jerry Media.
==History==
The New York–based company Jerry Media (formerly Fuck Jerry) is known for producing viral marketing material.<ref name="MH2020"/> Jerry Media founder Elliot Tebele came up with the idea of writing whimsical messages on protest signs, posting a few on Instagram, and employee Seth Phillips later picked up the idea.<ref name="BF2023">{{cite news|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/katienotopoulos/fjerry-lawsuit-dude-with-sign-stolen-memes|title=The 'Dude With Sign' Instagram Account Sure Does Sue A Lot Of Brands|last=Notopoulos|first=Katie|date=2023-04-07|website=BuzzFeed News|access-date=2023-10-30}}</ref>
Dude With Sign posts generally show an expressionless Phillips in sunglasses holding a cardboard sign on a busy SoHo street corner.<ref name="BF2023"/><ref name="F2020"/><ref name="SF2020"/> The signs communicate trivial grievances and observations about modern life.<ref name="BF2023"/><ref name="F2020"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/it-s-viral/dude-with-sign-is-all-about-a-man-protesting-about-random-things-and-it-s-absolutely-relatable/story-J4bf8F3aJ6UHhPmYgPCcrM.html|title='Dude With Sign' is all about a man protesting about random things and they're absolutely relatable|first=Trisha|last=Sengupta|date=2019-12-10|newspaper=Hindustan Times|access-date=2023-10-30}}</ref> Phillips's first post, featuring a sign reading "Stop 'replying all' to company wide emails", went viral in October 2019.<ref name="MH2020">{{cite news|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nfl/super-bowl/article239844298.html|title=This is Miami's first Instagram Super Bowl. One sign: the Dude with Sign is here.|last=Hanks|first=Douglas|url-access=subscription|date=2020-02-01|newspaper=Miami Herald|access-date=2023-10-30}}</ref><ref name="SF2020"/> His next, saying "''Seinfeld'' is way better than ''Friends''", also went viral.<ref name="DT2020">{{cite news|url=https://dailytargum.com/article/2020/02/dude-with-sign-goes-commercial|title=Instagram sensation @dude<!--fixed typo-->withsign becomes commercial figure|last=Mun|first=Lauren|date=2020-02-21|newspaper=The Daily Targum|type=student newspaper|access-date=2023-10-30}}</ref> Dude With Sign had 1.4 million followers by December 2019 and four million by the end of January 2020.<ref name="F2020">{{cite news|url=https://flair-magazine.com/dude-with-sign-speaks-on-behalf-of-all-millennials/|title=Dude With Sign Speaks On Behalf Of All Millennials|magazine=Flair|date=2019-12-19|access-date=2023-10-30|first=Sarah|last=Guirguis}}</ref><ref name="SF2020">{{cite news|url=https://stepfeed.com/stop-whatever-you-re-doing-egypt-has-its-own-dude-with-sign-5247|title=Stop whatever you're doing, Egypt has its own 'Dude with Sign'|first=Razan|last=Mneimneh|date=2020-01-31|website=Step Feed|access-date=2023-10-30}}</ref>
Sponsored content appeared on the account by early 2020, including advertisements for Old Spice, Sprint, and Justin Bieber's album ''Changes''.<ref name="MH2020"/><ref name="DT2020"/> Later partnerships have included ads for multiple underwear brands,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/product-recommendations/lifestyle/dude-with-sign-instagram-saxx-underwear-1113592/|title=The 'Dude With Sign' Launching an Underwear Campaign Is Peak 2021 (and It's Only January)|last=Chan|first=Tim|date=2021-01-14|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=2023-10-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.marca.com/en/nfl/tampa-bay-buccaneers/2022/06/21/62b0f92ce2704e81748b45cc.html|title=Tom Brady is a marketing genius, hires 'Dude With Sign' to promote underwear|date=2022-06-20|newspaper=Marca|access-date=2023-10-30}}</ref> a Super Bowl ad for Bud Light Seltzer Lemonade,<ref name="TB">{{cite news|url=https://thinkbastien.com/brand-strategy-blog/best-super-bowl-ad|title=Why My Favorite Super Bowl 2021 Ad Is Not A TV Ad|date=2021-03-23|last=Frediani|first=Bastien|publisher=Think Bastien|access-date=2023-10-30}}</ref> and informative COVID-19 pandemic posts partnering with both the World Health Organization and President Joe Biden.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://graziamagazine.com/me/articles/how-dude-with-sign-became-the-world-health-organisations-secret-weapon-against-coronavirus/|title=How Dude With Sign Became the World Health Organisation's Secret Weapon Against Coronavirus |last=Tay|first=Alison|magazine=Grazia|date=<!--not stated-->|access-date=2023-10-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-holds-sign-with-dude-with-sign-influencer-vaccine-photo-2021-8|title=Biden holds sign with 'Dude with Sign' at White House to promote vaccines for young people|last=Lahut|first=Jake|date=2021-08-13|website=Insider|access-date=2023-10-30}}</ref> ''BuzzFeed News'' reported in 2023 that at least seven lawsuits had been filed against companies that had created their own Dude With Sign ads without permission.<ref name="BF2023"/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dude With Sign}} Category:Instagram accounts Category:Internet properties established in 2019