"Corn Kid: It's Corn!"

How a Young Boy’s Pure Love for Corn Became the Joy the Internet Needed

In a world that sometimes feels heavy, chaotic, and overly filtered, a little boy with a missing front tooth, a sunny smile, and an overflowing love for corn unexpectedly reminded everyone what pure joy looks like.

His name is Tariq, though the internet quickly dubbed him something else entirely—“Corn Kid.”

It all began with a casual summer day in Brooklyn, New York, when a web series called Recess Therapy—known for interviewing children about life’s big and small questions—decided to set up a camera in the park. Their mission was simple: ask kids fun, honest questions and record the results. No scripts, no rehearsals—just kids being kids.

Tariq, then just 7 years old, wandered up wearing a cap, a toothy grin, and holding half of a buttered corn cob like it was a golden treasure. What followed was a now-legendary interview that lasted barely a minute but captured hearts around the world.

When asked how he felt about corn, Tariq didn’t hesitate.

“I mean, look at this thing. It’s corn!” he said, proudly holding the cob up to the camera. “A big lump with knobs! It has the juice! I can’t imagine a more beautiful thing!”

The way he said it—so full of awe, like he was holding the crown jewels—immediately went viral.

But it wasn’t just the words. It was how he said them. Tariq spoke with the kind of unfiltered wonder most adults forget how to access. He was gleeful, sincere, and clearly, madly in love with corn.

When the interviewer chuckled and asked if he always liked corn, Tariq replied with a thoughtful nod.

“Ever since I was told that corn was real,” he said, “it tasted good.”

The video was uploaded to TikTok and YouTube by Recess Therapy. At first, it got the typical few thousand views—adorable, heart warming content. But within days, it exploded.

Edits were made. Memes were shared. And then, something magical happened.

A musical group called The Gregory Brothers, famous for turning viral moments into catchy songs, saw the video and got to work. They remixed Tariq’s words into an auto-tuned track titled “It’s Corn”—a funky, bouncy anthem that hit just the right note between hilarious and wholesome.

🎵 “It’s corn! A big lump with knobs! It has the juice! I can’t imagine a more beautiful thing!” 🎵

It became the sound of the summer. Within a week, “It’s Corn” had tens of millions of plays across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Celebrities danced to it. Teachers played it during recess. Parents sang it in the kitchen while making dinner.

Even big brands joined in. Chipotle posted a corn-themed dance. Netflix added the audio to scenes from its shows. Corn growers in Iowa thanked Tariq for “single-handedly revitalizing interest in sweet corn.”

He was invited to appear on news shows, talk shows, and even received a letter from the governor of South Dakota proclaiming “Corn Kid Day” in his honor.

A Kid Who Stayed Grounded

Despite the sudden fame, Tariq remained the same corn-loving kid.

His mom, a quiet and supportive presence in the background, was careful to shield him from the overwhelming parts of internet stardom. “We want him to enjoy this moment, but still be a kid,” she told local reporters. “He’s just happy to talk about something he really loves.”

And talk he did.

In interviews, Tariq continued to evangelize for corn like a little golden preacher.

“I even tried corn ice cream once!” he said in one follow-up video. “It was… okay. But I still like regular corn the best.”

When asked what he’d say to someone who didn’t like corn, he paused thoughtfully.

“That’s okay,” he said. “Not everyone has to like it. But if you try it with butter? You might change your mind.”

Why It Mattered

What was it about this moment that made it spread so far?

In a world of cynicism, Tariq was refreshingly genuine. He wasn’t trying to go viral. He wasn’t rehearsing a script. He wasn’t marketing anything.

He was simply a child, thrilled to talk about a food he genuinely loved, and in doing so, reminded millions of people that joy can come from the simplest things.

“It wasn’t just about corn,” one viral tweet read. “It was about loving something so much that it makes you glow.”

Corn Kid became a symbol—of joy, of authenticity, of childhood wonder. And that’s something the internet, and the world, seemed to desperately need.

Where Is He Now?

Tariq’s family has continued to embrace the experience while protecting his privacy. He’s made a few more appearances, worked on some partnerships (like a campaign with Green Giant), and returned to Recess Therapy for a few follow-up videos.

But for the most part, he’s back to being a regular kid—going to school, playing outside, and yes, still eating corn.

“I still love corn,” he confirmed recently. “But I also like mac and cheese now. Just not as much.”

So the next time you’re overwhelmed by the news, or the pressure of online life, or you forget to find the joy in everyday things, just think of Tariq, smiling wide and holding a half-eaten cob of corn.

“It’s corn!” he’d remind you.

“It has the juice!”

And maybe, just maybe, you’ll smile too.