How 'four lads in jeans' faced vicious trolling after snap of pals enjoying a night out in Birmingham went viral in 2019... before being immortalised in statue outside All Bar One and starring in McDonald's advert - as '2024 upgrade' sparks hilarious memes

In 2019, a group of friends unwittingly took the interview by storm when they posed for a photo while all wearing tight skinny jeans.

Jamie Philips, Connor Humpage, Kevin Rooney and Alex Lacey rose to internet fame when their group shot became a immortalised in the meme hall of fame as the  'four lads in jeans'.

Four years on, the friends decided to show their updated look, this time with baggier jeans and cargo pants.

But despite fans going wild for their new '2024 upgrade', things haven't always been plain sailing for the quartet.

When the original picture was posted, Mr Humpage faced relentless online bullying, prompting them to remind people: 'We actually are real people and it does affect you'.

But their popularity soared when they decided to own their 'four lads in jeans' personas, with multiple parodies and a TikTok video of the men appearing to sing the sea shanty Wellerman.

They have since even featured on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge and appeared in ad campaigns for McDonald's and Sony noise-cancelling headphones.

For a year and a half after the 2019 photo was taken outside Birmingham's New Street station, online trolling outweighed the commercial benefits of being famous. 

Mr Lacey, a plumbing and heating engineer, said he received abusive phone calls and texts after his work number was leaked and his mother was targeted on Instagram.

He said: 'She got trolled saying 'your son's this, your son's that' – that was a low point.

'You don't see the good in it for a long time. It did massively knock me on my head. It changed me a lot. 

'I don't understand why the Government isn't looking more into social media and online bullying.

'If I physically bully someone it's illegal, but online it's not. I don't understand the justice in that.'

Mr Humpage, a tattoo artist, was also impacted by how the group's image has been used to convey opinions or beliefs not aligned with their own.

He explained: 'As a tattoo artist, I was drawing a portrait of George Floyd out of respect and in tribute, then I think it was that day someone was making these memes slandering Black Lives Matter above our picture.

'Certain people are thinking they're our words and we've said it and stereotyping us just for being us… I hope people realise we aren't those types of lads.'

After the abuse, the group faced a positive turning point when their picture was combined with a viral sea shanty by Scottish singer Nathan Evans.

Mr Phillips, 28, who works in manufacturing, explained: 'Before the sea shanty song, I would have taken the photo back very quickly… in a heartbeat.

'It was very boring, very annoying every day… but the good that has come from it now, I wouldn't take it back.

'I can look back in 20 years' time and say I've worked with Sony, McDonald's, say I've been on Radio 1 with Scott Mills – no one can take that away from me. I've spoken to Piers Morgan, that's huge.'

In August 2022, the lads were honoured with a statue in the spot where the famous photo was taken.

It was created by the artist William Douglas, also known as Tat Vision, who unveiled it outside All Bar One in Grand Central, Birmingham.

The sculptor said they made it from women mannequins in tight-clothing, with added papier-mâché and PVA glue, covered in bronze paint.

Before the great unveiling, the artist wrote on his Instagram page: 'Come down and see my four lads in jeans bronze statue [on] Saturday outside All Bar One Grand Central.

'A tribute to these lads inspired by them old Greek statues.

'These four men ready for an adventure like the first bit in Homer's Odyssey, before the adventure.'

Turning to 2024, the reception has been more positive as they recreated the snap with a modern twist.

Posing outside Birmingham's Bull Ring shopping centre, the group shared the image to Instagram, captioned: 'Wide-Leg >>> Skinny. Are you team Wide-Leg or are you team Skinny?'

The group of friends posed in the same order they had been standing in the picture from five years ago.

The men had undergone a major transformation, ditching tight clothes for items including a North Face gilet, beanie, and trench coat. 

It quickly racked up hundreds of likes and many took to the comment section to share their thoughts. One joked on X/Twitter: 'They were no longer four lads in jeans they were four men.'

A second added: 'Excellent barometer of how the fashion has moved on. Mid 1990s Bill Gates chic now.' 

A third wrote: 'Ah, the evolution from Topshop and BooHoo Man to Palm Angels and North Face. A classic timeline, typically executed.'

'They have beaten then skinny jean wearing allegations', said a fourth.

A fifth added: 'Ah, the evolution from Topshop and BooHoo Man to Palm Angels and North Face. A classic timeline typically executed.'

One person pointed out: 'All single in the first picture, all in long term relationships in the second.' Another said: 'The four horsemen of UK fashion TikTok.' 

The four'lads in jeans' have a verified Instagram profile, which has accumulated over 22,000 followers, where the group repost memes created by people online.