He has become an international phenomenon.
The link between a journalist’s name and the story he was covering had everyone in hysterics this Saturday and now the reporter himself has responded.
On Saturday morning, BBC journalist Phil McCann was reporting at a petrol station on the current fuel crisis in the UK.
When viewers realised his name sounded hilariously like ‘fill my can’, social media was set ablaze with comments and he has been trending throughout the day.
In response, McCann posted a number of Tweets, including one which read: “It’s like being back in year 9! #nominativedeterminism.”
It’s like being back in year 9! #nominativedeterminism https://t.co/nAPXDDj4Og
— Phil McCann (@phi1mccann) September 25, 2021
There are worse reasons to trend on Twitter… pic.twitter.com/573bJHAhU7
— Phil McCann (@phi1mccann) September 25, 2021
Nominative determinism refers to the theory that people gravitate to professions that their name relates to.
For instance, Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt’s name lends itself to the idea he is super fast – which he certainly is.
In another tweet, the journalist posted a photo of himself alongside the caption: “Today has been…”
Today has been… pic.twitter.com/wHT4WZUHdK
— Phil McCann (@phi1mccann) September 25, 2021
People applauded McCann on social media for being a good sport.
“Did the words “Are you sure there’s no one else who can cover this, you just know what those p****s on Twitter will do with this” or a variant thereof pass your lips when the job landed on your desk?” a fan asked.
When another user said it looked like he was wearing a boiler suit, McCann replied: “Take the mickey out of my name as much as you like but leave my coat out of it!”
“You’ve become an international phenomenon, Phil,” tweeted fellow journalist Katie.
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