Nocturnal 
Former MP Rory Stewart has become the internet’s latest accidental meme, after a clip of him staring intensely at a fellow guest on BBC Newsnight spread rapidly online this week.
Footage from the programme showed Stewart repeatedly turning his head back and forth during the segment, before fixing journalist Ailbhe Rea with a long, unexplained stare. The moment, which appeared to come from nowhere, was quickly clipped up and shared across social media, racking up huge attention within hours.
The clip was picked up by outlets including LADbible, UNILAD and Sick Chirpse, with viewers baffled as to what exactly prompted the reaction. Nobody involved in the segment has offered an explanation for why Stewart turned to look at Rea in the way he did.
How Rory Stewart responded
Rather than ignore the sudden wave of attention, Stewart addressed the viral moment himself. In a short video posted online, apparently filmed from inside a taxi on his way home from the airport, he said: “Thank you and I guess all I can do is this…” before repeating a version of the now-infamous look for the camera.
The clip, shared with the hashtag #Newsnight, was widely seen as Stewart taking the meme in good humour rather than trying to shut it down. He did not offer any actual explanation for what had caused the original stare, leaving fans none the wiser as to what was going through his head at the time.
Why people are talking about it
Panel discussions on shows like Newsnight rarely go viral for anything other than the actual political content being discussed, which is part of why this clip caught so many people off guard. Stewart is a familiar face on political panel shows, and awkward moments of guests unsure where to look or how to react to fellow panellists aren’t unusual, but the intensity of this particular stare struck a chord with viewers scrolling through their timelines.
The reaction has largely been light-hearted, with people sharing the clip alongside jokes rather than criticism, and Stewart leaning into the joke himself rather than distancing himself from it.
Where things stand now
As it stands, the exact reason behind the stare remains unconfirmed, and Stewart hasn’t gone into further detail beyond his tongue-in-cheek video response. The clip continues to circulate online, with his good-humoured reaction to it now forming part of the same viral moment. Newsnight has not issued any separate comment on the segment.
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A still from the Newsnight broadcast showing Rory Stewart turning to look at fellow panellist Ailbhe Rea during the segment.
Rory Stewart has finally responded after that intense stare at fellow Newsnight guest Ailbhe Rea sent the internet into meltdown 👀
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Light entertainment story, low sensitivity, but ensure the embedded clip framing doesn’t mock either individual – keep tone playful not derogatory.
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