‘Plant Guy’ becomes an overnight sensation for Toronto sports fans
A fan carrying a large plant identified it as a “Kawhi cactus,” or a “Kawh-actus.”
Move over, Dart Guy, there’s a new “guy” in town — “Plant Guy.”
The city’s latest sports meme was born when Global News reporter Mark Carcasole spoke with a man who was wearing a Raptors jersey and carrying a large plant during the celebration in downtown Toronto following the Raptors’ playoff victory.
The leafy, palmlike plant was a housewarming gift for Raptors star Kawhi Leonard, the man told Carcasole, “a thank you for the shot” — presumably referring to Leonard’s four-bounce buzzer-beater against the Philadelphia 76’s in Game 7 of the quarter finals.
When Carcasole asked what kind of plant it was, the man identified it as a “Kawhi cactus,” or a “Kawh-actus.”
“When you do see him, tell him I’ve got a housewarming gift for him. Tell him I love him,” he instructed Carcasole before barking “We the Forest!” a few times and walking away. The interview propelled “Plant Guy,” whose identity was not immediately known, to internet fame as Raptors fans hailed the new-found meme on social media.
“This is how I’m tryna be tonight … it’s a Kawactus,” wrote Drake on his Instagram Page.
“We’ve been told a new plant species called the “Kawh-actus” has been spotted in #Toronto with #PlantGuy,” the Canadian Food Inspection Agency chimed in. “Make sure your house warming gifts aren’t invasive!”
The rise of Plant Guy evokes the viral sensation that was Dart Guy, a diehard Leafs fan with blue and white face paint and an unlit cigarette dangling from his mouth, who came to fame after a playoff game against the Washington Capitals in 2017.
Pictures of Dart Guy, who was later identified as Jason Maskalow, started appearing on social media following the game. They were used for Twitter avatars and photoshopped into pictures of Coach’s Corner and the five-dollar bill.
Toronto police social media officer Scott Mills said he hadn’t heard any complaints about Plant Guy, and that, technically, there isn’t anything wrong with wielding a plant in public.