Amidst Fourth of July celebrations nationwide, Mark Zuckerberg made a splash on Instagram with a viral video that grabbed the attention of hundreds of thousands of viewers. The clip showcased Zuckerberg wakeboarding behind a speeding boat in a tuxedo and sunglasses, casually sipping from a tall boy, all set to Bruce Springsteen’s iconic anthem “Born in the U.S.A.” The video, lasting just half a minute, revealed Meta’s CEO flaunting his surfing skills in style.
The reaction poured in from various personalities, with Lauren Sánchez, Jeff Bezos’ fiancée, commenting, “Amazing!” A gaming influencer, @StoneMountain64, chimed in with, “Now that’s content.” To which Zuckerberg responded, “Just doing my part.”
This video was a deliberate move by Zuckerberg to reshape his public image. Over the years, he has transitioned from a laid-back tech entrepreneur in flip-flops and hoodies to a more sophisticated and stylish persona, embracing luxury brands, a silver chain, and even diving into mixed martial arts.
The recent video was a continuation of a trend started last year on July 4, where Zuckerberg shared a video of himself on a hydrofoil with an American flag, accompanied by John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” Subsequent posts featured him in an American flag cowboy hat grilling sausages and candid family moments.
Despite speculation about image consultants, Meta representatives have denied Zuckerberg’s reliance on them. The patriotic posts aim to make him more relatable to the public, a strategy that seems to resonate positively online, notably contrasting with the humorously critical response to his previous hydrofoil post.
However, some critics noted a discordance in the latest video’s choice of music, Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.,” often misinterpreted as a patriotic anthem but telling a more nuanced story of a war veteran’s struggles.
Dana White, CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, reacted positively, expressing his patriotic fervor with “‘MERICA!!!!!” Elon Musk, Zuckerberg’s tech rival, had a different take, commenting on Zuckerberg’s leisurely pursuits versus his own work-focused approach.
