Jacob Batalon has spoken on one of the internet’s most persistent inside jokes. The actor, who plays Peter Parker’s best friend Ned Leeds, addressed the long-running “CEO of Sex” meme during the Los Angeles premiere of Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Jacob Batalon says ‘CEO of Sex’ meme fame is ‘flattering’

The meme, which features Batalon in a grey suit smiling broadly, first appeared in early August 2019 after fans paired a photo from the Spider-Man: Homecoming premiere with ironic captions. Known across social media as “You Seem Chill” or “Jacob Batalon Saying Things,” the format exploded within ironic meme communities and has stubbornly refused to fade away.

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight on the red carpet, Batalon admitted the entire phenomenon left him bewildered. “It was actually so embarrassing; I really don’t even know what it’s about,” he said. “I honestly don’t know what it’s about. It’s flattering? It’s flattering, yeah.”

The actor laughed through his response, seemingly caught between amusement and genuine confusion over why a single photograph from years ago continues to circulate online. His reaction only adds to the meme’s legend among fans who have kept it alive across Reddit and other platforms.

Moreover, the red carpet moment came as Jacob Batalon joined co-stars Tom Holland and Zendaya for the final stretch of promotion ahead of Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s July 31 U.S. release. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, the Marvel movie also features Jon Bernthal, Michael Mando, Liza Colón-Zayas, and Mark Ruffalo.

The fourth instalment in the MCU Spider-Man series follows Peter Parker as he fights crime anonymously in a world that has forgotten him. According to the official logline, Peter faces pressure watching his old friends move on without him, sparking a transformation he may struggle to control — one that might prove essential against a new invisible threat to New York City.