Channing Tatum’s “My Name Is Jeff” Meme Follows Him Everywhere – Even At Airport Security!
Channing Tatum has learned to laugh at how one of his iconic movie lines has taken on a life of its own, following him everywhere he goes — even through airport security. During an interview with CinemaBlend on August 21, the Blink Twice star opened up about the unexpected journey of his “My name is Jeff” line from the 2014 comedy 22 Jump Street.
“It’s weird what happens in pop culture like that, you know?” Channing, 44, said with a chuckle. “Same with ‘My name is Jeff.’ It’s such a small moment in the movie. I remember we did a table read, and it wasn’t even that funny at the table read. It was like whatever. And all of a sudden, man.”
His co-star, Naomi Ackie, chimed in with a smile, “It goes to show you can’t try and be a meme. You’ve just got to be, and then if the meme comes, the meme comes.”
Channing went on to share how the famous line has become a part of his travel routine, often popping up at the least expected moments. In his words: “I’ve never gone through TSA without somebody saying, ‘My name is Jeff. Almost every single time I go through TSA.”
But Channing’s travel stories don’t end with memes. Earlier in August, he shared another funny adventure, this time involving his 11-year-old daughter, Everly, who has a fascination with the paranormal.
During an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Channing recalled taking Everly — whom he shares with ex-wife Jenna Dewan — on a trip to Salem, Massachusetts, a town famous for its witch trials.
“She’s been wanting to go to Salem maybe for the last seven years of her life,” Channing explained. “And we get there, and I’m like, ‘Maybe this will be one of those moments where she’s like, ‘Oh, it’s not what I thought.’ You know? It’s like the idea of going to Egypt, and thinking that there’s just mummies walking around all the time. And I was like, ‘Maybe she will just be, like, kind of less mesmerized.’”
But Channing’s hopes were quickly dashed as Everly eagerly embraced the spooky atmosphere of Salem, particularly during their stay at the famously haunted Hawthorne Hotel. This historic landmark, established in 1925, is known for its paranormal activity, with guests reportedly witnessing furniture moving on its own and sightings of a mysterious female figure on the sixth floor.
“They were like, ‘Don’t go to the third floor or the sixth floor,’” Channing recalled, sharing the hotel staff’s eerie warning. While the actor was more than ready to follow their advice, his daughter had other plans. “My daughter was just like, ‘Let’s just go up there a little bit. Like, let’s just go up and walk up the stairs and, like, look for a second and then run back down,’” he said, shaking his head.
Channing, however, wasn’t about to join in on the ghost hunt. “No. I’m not about it. I’m like, ‘You go up there,’” he told Seth Meyers, clearly drawing the line at chasing ghosts.
