From Apple Specialist to Internet Meme: The Man Who Changed His Name to Escape Puns

The Unfortunate Echo: When a Name Becomes a Meme

In the ever-evolving digital landscape, even the most ordinary names can, with a twist of fate and the internet's insatiable appetite for humor, become extraordinary and, at times, deeply uncomfortable. Such was the curious case of Sam Sung, a former Apple employee whose surname inadvertently positioned him as the unwitting punchline to a global joke. The irony, of course, was potent: a specialist for the tech giant Apple found himself perpetually associated with its most iconic product, an association born not of his own doing, but of a simple, albeit resonant, surname.

From Specialist to Internet Sensation

The digital storm brewed in 2012 when a photograph of Sam Sung's business card, proudly displaying "Sam Sung — Apple Specialist," surfaced on Reddit. What followed was an explosion of viral attention. The simple act of a man working for Apple having the surname "Sung" was a goldmine for wordplay and puns, a phenomenon that quickly spiraled out of his control. "The wheel of puns," as he described it, began to turn relentlessly. He wasn't initially aware of the online uproar; the reality of his situation dawned on him through a barrage of missed calls to the Apple store. "It went on for a few months, and then it died down, but I was really scared. I just wanted to be unnoticed and keep my job," he recalled in a poignant conversation with Business Insider. The pressure was immense, an invisible weight threatening his livelihood and peace of mind.

Apple's Swift, Yet Insufficient, Intervention

Apple, ever keen on brand control and employee well-being, quickly intervened to quell the escalating situation. The company prohibited employees from distributing business cards bearing Sam's name, confiscated remaining stock, and instructed colleagues to refrain from mentioning his name in the presence of customers. Despite these measures, the allure of a real-life "Sam Sung" working at Apple was too strong for some. Journalists began to descend upon the store, eager to confirm the existence of the man at the heart of the digital storm. The relentless attention and the sheer absurdity of the circumstances eventually led Sam to leave the company just a year later, exiting the world of retail that had become so complicated.

Finding Solace and a New Identity

The internet's memory, however, is long, and the jokes, though fading, periodically resurfaced, preventing Sam from truly moving on. The emotional toll of being an ongoing internet joke proved too much. In 2014, seeking to put the episode behind him and perhaps find some closure, Sam decided to take a definitive step. He officially changed his name to Sam Struan. He didn't want to be "known as an internet joke." The choice of "Struan" was deeply personal; it's the name of a village on the picturesque Scottish island of Skye, a place holding significant sentimental value for him. Now, at 36, Sam Struan resides in Glasgow, Scotland, thriving as a consultant and resume writer. He has stated that he doesn't regret the name change. Reflecting on his ordeal, he offered a touching piece of advice to his younger self: embrace humor. "I wish I could tell my younger self to take it as something funny… and not worry about the job," he now summarizes, a testament to personal growth and the enduring power of a good laugh, even if it took years to find.