Juan Joya Borja, the comedian who brought laughter to millions worldwide as the iconic Spanish Laughing Guy, recently passed away at the age of 65. His laughter and distinctive expressions made him an internet sensation, immortalized in countless memes.
In this article, we reflect on Juan Joya Borja's life, his unexpected rise to meme stardom, and the impact he had on global internet culture.
Who was Juan Joya Borja?
Borja was born in Seville, Spain, on April 5, 1956. He worked a variety of odd jobs throughout his life, including cooking and unloading cement.
He made his debut television appearance in 2000 on the show ‘El Vagamundo,' where he discussed various life circumstances with his sidekick ‘El Peto' or ‘el Cuao.'
Borja got his moniker after appearing on the show ‘Ratones Coloraos in 2007. Borja was telling about a job he had as a young man where he had to clean moldy pans at sea while being interviewed by the host, Jesus Quintero.
According to legend, he tied the pans to a stick and left them there, only to learn the next day that the tide had washed away the majority of them. Borja found his own story so amusing when narrating it that he burst out laughing, leading the presenter to chuckle as well.
The clip was uploaded to YouTube by ‘Ratones Coloraos,' and it quickly garnered popularity among Spanish audiences.
In 2014, individuals began using the video but adding their own story or narrative to it, but the context remained the same: Borja was trying to get through a story while giggling the entire time. He was also the face of the ‘KEKW' emote on Twitch, a gaming broadcasting platform.
How did Juan Joya Borja Die?
Although the circumstances behind his death have not been disclosed, we do know that Juan was admitted to the Virgen del Roco Hospital in Seville, Spain, on April 28, 2021.
His hospitalization was deemed necessary when his health began to deteriorate considerably, and the only possible source of his medical problems that have been reported is that he had vascular abnormalities.
Juan's battle with an unnamed sickness came to a devastating conclusion on April 28, 2021, when he succumbed to his ailment. Although his death was unexpected, Juan had reportedly been suffering from many medical issues in the previous year or so, one of which resulted in his leg being amputated.
Condolences rushed in on Twitter, demonstrating how deeply the comedian's death was felt. “Rest in peace, KEKW guy (a.k.a. El Risitas).” Your distinctive chuckle made me and my pals laugh a lot. “5 April 1956–28 April 2021,” a user tweeted.
“What sad news… Juan Borja, also known as “El Risitas” and “KEKW” on Twitch, has died. Thank you for the years of laughing, and may you rest in peace,” said another.
“I just learned about El Risitas' death. Rest in peace; your legacy will live on for all of us. #RIP,” wrote one person on Twitter. “If I can be honest, I don’t use the “KEKW” emote too often on Twitch, but I know a majority of every Twitch streamer is honoring the lost Spanish comedian and, of course, the renowned emote Juan Joya “El Risitas” Borja, aka KEKW guy. “We'll miss you forever, #ripkekw,” added another.
“OK, I'm on the edge of tears after learning that El Risitas has died. I'll never forget his laughter, his wit, and the genuine delight he offered to everyone he told stories to. “May God bless this man,” remarked another.
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“Rest in peace, Juan Joya Borja, aka ‘El Risitas,' the man with the best laugh who gave us the wonderful KEKW emote and memes!” We'll keep your laugh going over chat!” said one person. “Yet another legend.” “Your laugh will live on,” one fan said.
