Party boy Corey Worthington's surprising admission 16 years after viral interview

While the UK had ‘Charlie Bit My Finger’ and the US had ‘Chocolate Rain’, Australia had a much more controversial star go viral in the early 2000s. Corey Worthington made headlines around the world in 2008 when he threw an out-of-control party at his parents’ house in Melbourne, which he had publicised on Myspace, followed by a shirtless interview with A Current Affair.

The then-16-year-old was instantly recognisable thanks to his bleached blonde hair and famous yellow sunglasses and went on to appear on Big Brother later that year. Corey has now reflected on his viral fame 16 years on and revealed the unique (and very questionable) way he managed to profit from his iconic look.

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The former party boy, who now looks barely recognisable with long brown hair, non-neon sunglasses and tattoos up to his neck, posted a video on TikTok on Thursday detailing how he “ripped off” the now-defunct Zoo Magazine for $2000.

“So guys, Zoo Magazine contacted me like everyone else did and wanted a piece of the party action, I guess mainly the sunglasses at the time,” he shared. “They wanted to buy my yellow sunglasses off me [for] two grand cash and I was like, ‘Yeah sweet’.”

Corey explained that before he met up with someone from the magazine at Fountain Gate Westfield, he ran into the shops to buy a second pair of the exact same yellow sunglasses.

“I think it was Dotti or something at the time. I went and bought the pair of sunglasses, they were $20,” he said. “I grabbed mine off because I was wearing them at the time, stuck them in my pocket, chucked those other ones on that I just paid $20 for, walked out the doors, met Zoo, did a little bit of an interview and gave them my sunnies, and they gave me two grand in cash.

“So that’s my story of how I ripped off Zoo Magazine with a ‘fake’ pair of yellow sunglasses.”

The publication ended up running a giveaway where the reader who uploaded the “wildest picture of their party” received the famous accessory - although they reportedly didn't have them for long.

“I’m pretty sure what [the winner] did was they got a steam roller and they just rolled over my sunnies,” Corey claimed. “I still was up two grand so happy days for me and suck it Zoo!”

Fans react to Corey's TikTok debut

Corey’s video has already racked up tens of thousands of views since he posted it, with users taking to the comments to call him a “legend”.

“Cool story bro. You’re obviously still winning at life,” one person shared, with someone else writing, “Business bruss. Respect”.

“The TikTok profile we didn’t know we needed,” a third replied, followed by a different user who said, “The man, the myth, the legend!”.

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“I feel a party coming,” another added, while others questioned whether he still owned the original pair of sunglasses.

“Leila would be rolling her eyes in disgust,” one user remarked, referencing his infamous interview with ACA journalist Leila McKinnon where he refused to take off his glasses.

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