Tech#TRENDING

Willem Dafoe explains why he changed his name pronunciation

Conan O'Brien featured an old clip of a young Dafoe saying it differently, and the CrispyTheory video sits second on YouTube's U.S. trending chart in comedy.

On air: Lola Cruz and Gloria Vance on #Trending
Published 5:25 PM ET, Saturday, October 17, 2026

Photo: Kalai Ramu · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0

▶ As it aired · Tech

Watch it as it aired: Lola Cruz and Gloria Vance on this story, from #Trending at 5:25 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are YouTube (CrispyTheory)'s, the jokes are ours.

Photo: Kalai Ramu · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Willem Dafoe — Photo: Kalai Ramu · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0

At a glance

First reported by YouTube (CrispyTheory): “Willem Dafoe explains why he changed his name pronunciation”.
Covered on BBN on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 5:25 PM ET on #Trending, by Lola Cruz and Gloria Vance.
Topics: Willem Dafoe.
BBN covered this story before: Willem Dafoe pronunciation video explains his name change in funny way (October 16).

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

YouTube (CrispyTheory)Willem Dafoe explains why he changed his name pronunciation

What BBN said about it

Lola Cruz · Senior Field CorrespondentA video called How To Pronounce Willem Dafoe is number two on YouTube's U.S. trending chart with seventeen million views, and Conan O'Brien dug up an old clip of young Dafoe saying it the other way.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorSo the evidence against him is himself, from earlier. I have covered tribunals with thinner files.
Lola Cruz · Senior Field CorrespondentSeventeen million people showed up to watch a man correct the record on his own last name. Nobody has ever been this thorough about being right.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorA late amendment.
Lola Cruz · Senior Field CorrespondentFiled decades late, and seventeen million people stamped it received.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorI have been Gloria Vance for decades, and as of tonight I am accepting amendments. Rex, any name changes on your side?

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