With 2.8 million views and counting, "Worst Wedding DJ EVER!" (A bit hyperbolic, but that's beside the point) continues to make the rounds of meme sites and inboxes around the world (even inspiring its own Funny or Die parody video with Jerry O'Connell and Rebecca Romijn). But questions remain: Who is this magical DJ? Why was this filmed? Is this common at weddings and we were just too drunk to notice? And was this another example, as some have suspected, of viral marketing disguised as reality? Or, was it just a fortuitous case of being in the right place at the right time? Urlesque tracked down Bob (not his real name), the wedding videographer and "Fast Eddie," the DJ himself, to find out more about this surreal video.
To get the obvious question out of the way, this was not a viral marketing stunt arranged by some corporation to bring eyeballs to their site. According to Bob, "Nothing was faked about it and nothing was staged. It was 100% a moment captured in reality that was bizarre and unexpected... This was an one-time fluke."
The incident took place Saturday, May 8 at a wedding in Daytona Beach, FL. Fast Eddie (he declined to disclose his last name) runs an upholstery business in Daytona Beach and has been an independent DJ and singer in the Florida area since 1993. We'll let him describe the circumstances leading up to The Slap Heard 'Round the Net.
What inspired Bob to keep the camera on in the first place?I tease and joke around a lot. I always have something silly to say. I wasn't aware of me being taped and the wedding was actually over at the time this had happened. The bride and groom had left--there were just a bunch of drunks hanging around--and we were wrapping things up. I didn't mean any disrespect to the young lady. She's a friend of mine. We're not a couple, but we've been friends for years. She helps me out a bit when I do weddings. To be honest, when someone told me what I did at that wedding, I didn't even remember it. It wasn't rehearsed or planned. I've always been that way.
"When the conga line started, I wasn't shooting, but I felt that that was something I should capture," says the videographer. "I followed the line as they went around to the front of the room and as I looked past the line, I saw [Eddie] get to the microphone and start singing and slurring all of his words. So I left the camera on him because I thought that he would probably be doing something crazy. When he walked over to his assistant, I was getting ready to hit the Off button on my camera and then he started to play the bongos on her. As far as I know, I think I am the only person who saw it. Possibly the little girl in the foreground too, but she'll likely need therapy now."
After filming the incident and overdubbing Phil Collins' "In The Air Tonight" over the original sound, Bob uploaded the tape to YouTube for the sole purpose of showing the bride and groom--friends of his--what he felt was inappropriate behavior. The couple promptly stopped payment on Eddie's check. "I told them I'd upload the footage and if they canceled the check, they could send him this clip to tell him why," says Bob. "That was the whole motivation. It was only by people finding out on their own and passing it around that it blew up so big." Bob insists he only sent the video to Break.com and even that submission was rejected numerous times until it had already become a viral sensation.
As for the Stardust Entertainment banner seen in the video, Eddie claims that was just "a name somebody had stuck up there on the board for me." (Though it hasn't stopped a different Stardust Entertainment in Fort Wayne, IN from posting a disclaimer distancing themselves from the video on their site.)
Since its upload on May 10, the video has been featured on truTV, Web Soup and The Tonight Show With Jay Leno. And while Fast Eddie is enjoying his moment--"I'm not the least bit embarrassed or ashamed of what I did cause that's just my personality"--he's not exactly pleased with Bob, accusing the videographer of profiting off his likeness and going so far as to contemplate legal action against the cameraman.
"I believe I've got a legal issue with the gentleman that took my video," says Eddie. "I was paid for one show and not the others and somebody has to get paid and it wasn't me. In the long run, he's going to be in a lot of deep s**t over it."
Legal action aside, Fast Eddie hasn't decided whether to capitalize on the viral video or let it fade off into the sunset. He remains bemused by the whole thing.
One guy called me in Minnesota and said he'd fly me out from Daytona Beach. I just can't imagine someone wanting to pay for all that. Would I do it? If the guy paid me enough money, sure. But will it really happen? Hell, I don't know. A lot of local people want me to come to their karaoke show and sing a song with their band. They'll say, 'Bring that girl with you and do it for us.' But that's not what it was. It wasn't a routine or anything.





















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Comments
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5.27.10
By Shea
I don't think he has a legal leg to stand on. If you don't want something on the web, don't do something like that, especially when you're being paid to act like a professional. Duhhh.
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5.27.10
By Jeff
Fast Eddie has no legal recourse against the videographer. He as a DJ is standing up in front of a room of people playing music and entertaining the guests. The videoagrapher was there to record the event. Eddie knew there was a videoagrapher. Besides that, he has to know that at any moment of an event that someone in the room is watching you. Now almost 3 million people are watching you. You are a disgrace to the DJ industry and should stop being a DJ/Karaoke/singer now! You had to know what you were doing was disrespectful to woman and embarrassing to your clients. A professional DJ would never drink, use profane language, chew gum, smoke or sexually assault a person while on the job. Just think how this young woman must feel knowing almost three million people in the world has seen this video. You are responsible for your actions, take that responsibility and quit the entertainment business now... and if you don't like it, "Have a slice of wine"
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9.19.10
By brian
Eddie may have a lawsuit. You have to understand that just because an event is shot buy a videographer don't mean that he owns the right to that footage! The bride & groom does. They are the ones who hired him as a videographer.therfore they gave the videographer PERMISSION TO FILM THERE EVENT. The key word here is permission. He filmed the dj,which is fine & he caught some footage that may damage the man's business. weather it was right or wrong he should have gotten PERMISSION from the dj to post that video anywhere.
5.27.10
By john.g
The point isn't whether someone was allowed to take a video of the event for personal use, but whether they were allowed to publicly distribute a video with the performer, and/or reap any profits. Obviously, the videographer was allowed to tape the event, but probably wasn't granted permission to distribute the video beyond attendees.
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5.27.10
By DJ Alan (A Real DJ)
The key is, don't be an inappropriate a**hole and tarnish the reputation of QUALITY DJ/Entertainers around the world! Fast Eddie you are a JERK. You should be banned from ever working at a wedding again. If you want to sue the videographer, why not do it on Judge Judy, let's see what she has to say about you.
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5.27.10
By Lane Photography | Nashville Wedding Photography
Actually he does have a legal stance. He did his job as the DJ, the wedding was aparently over. The bride and groom will most likely be sued for breach of contract for cancelling his check for payment. No matter how unprofessional he was, he still did his job, and that requires payment.
How would you all feel if after working all week long your boss comes to you and says he isn't going to pay you for the week because you showed up late for work one day! Showing up late for work is unprofessional, yet we all still get a check at the end of the week.
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5.28.10
By DJ Alan
My contract states a 100% satisfaction guarantee for my clients. If they are unhappy with ANY part of my performance they are entitled to a refund, (they choose the amount) up to 100% of my fee. A true professional is concerned about the couples wedding and the guests enjoyment of the party. With me, it is ALL about them! He should expect not to be paid for such a stupid and juvenile action. Also think of it from a photographers point of view, just because you showed up and took photos, if they all sucked and were out of focus, should you still get paid?
5.28.10
By BillDritz
This interview smells 100% fake.
Reply
5.30.10
By mole
You are the bomb Fast Eddie! Great rhythm!
Reply
9.14.10
By dj 8up
some of the people that commented need to just calm the eff down! Gosh! after i saw this video i asked my friend that showed this piece of cinema magic to me to re-enact the infamous titty bongo on me and the only way i can describe the feeling is exhilarating! i highly recommend it! ;)
Reply
9.30.10
By brian
Good point. A good videographer/editor would have cut this out in post & be a true professional & not try to ruin a man's reputation & business. Granted he made an awful mistake by doing what he did. But case in point the dj did his job.
Reply
12.10.12
By Karaokebuzz.com
I am a Dj. As a professional my opinion is that when you are paid to do a wedding or any event, you should act in the best interest of the event. You are not getting paid to just play music. You are getting paid to provide a good atmosphere appropriate to the event you are working. It is assumed at a wedding that certain codes of conduct will be upheld by those working. This may have been ok in a strip club, but certainly not a wedding.
The bride and groom are paying for a service and have a right to expect professional behavior. Yes they can stop the check and fear no legal recourse. No judge would side with the Dj in this situation.
Also as a performer you must know your actions will be known to the public. What bride doesn't post pictures or videos of there wedding on Facebook or youtube? You cant ask them not to because you were not on your game. Any bad press is the fault of the Dj alone. If you we're a band and performed a great set but had one bad song where the singer choked up you could not tell your fans to erase or not show videos of that performance to friends.
A performer should be aware that eyes are always on him or her. It IS your business so act accordingly.
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