Graham Potter issues official response to viral face-swap trend

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 26 Sep 2025 09:42 CDT
• 3 min read

News

West Ham United boss Graham Potter has issued a response to the ongoing viral face-swap trend that has catapulted him into one of the biggest memes of 2025.

Potter, 50, has been the subject of an unusual trend on social media platforms X and Facebook this week, with fans photoshopping his fans onto a number of famous celebrities, including United States of America president Donald Trump, actress Sydney Sweeney and Inbetweeners character Jay Cartwright.

The trend began with West Ham fans protesting against the ex-Chelsea boss by editing his face onto photographs of famous historical dictators to mock his reign in charge of the club.

However, this soon escalated into Potter’s face being superimposed onto a wide variety of footballers, athletes, politicians, models and singers, to name a few.

As a result, Potter has surprisingly taken social media by storm in recent days and he reacted to the trend during his pre-match press conference ahead of West Ham’s Premier League clash against Everton on Monday evening.

Graham Potter reacts to viral face-swap trend

When asked if he’s aware of the trend and his thoughts about becoming a meme, Potter told BBC Sport: “Yes, I am [aware]. It made my 15-year-old son laugh a lot, so as I said you have to accept what comes with it.

“Criticism, at times it’s ridicule, but that’s just the environment we’re in and it is what it is!”

Potter is currently the bookies favourite to become the second Premier League manager to be sacked this season, following Nuno Espirito Santo at Nottingham Forest, after an underwhelming spell in charge at the London Stadium.

The West Ham manager has only won six of 25 matches since being appointed as Julen Lopetegui’s replacement in January, and his side are currently languishing down in 19th place in the Premier League table, having only picked up three points from their opening five matches during the 2025-26 season.

The FootballTransfers app

Check out FootballTransfers' new app for all of football's big storylines, transfer rumours and exclusive news in one convenient place directly on your mobile device.

The FootballTransfers app is available in the Apple App Store. Download here:

•App Store