Reddit crowns top 5 Aussie cultural icons, featuring Corey Worthington and Mr ‘Democracy Manifest’

The internet’s most trusted source of truth — Reddit — has tried its hand at crowning Australia’s most significant cultural icons.

Users of the social platform banded together to compile an all-time list of standout social media legends, TV larrikins, memeable characters, and fair dinkum Aussie heroes who have left their indelible imprint on this nation’s cultural fabric.

In no particular order, here are Reddit’s top five Aussie cultural icons.

1. Mr “Democracy Manifest”

Possibly the most quoted and fabled character of this list by sheer longevity, a man apprehended outside a Chinese restaurant in 1991 was made famous when a video depicting his arrest blew up in 2009.

The colourful character exclaimed various remarks — which viewers ate up — including, “This is Democracy Manifest!”, “Get your hand off my penis!” and his most famous, “What is the charge? Eating a meal? A succulent Chinese meal?”

The man — who still remains largely unidentified due to his many aliases — ended the verbal barrage with a few more choice words, complimenting one officer for his robust headlock.

“I see that you know your judo well,” the man said.

2. Party Boy Corey Worthington

An ill-fated interview with the nation’s most famous party boy on A Current Affair in 2008 captured the nation’s attention due to the interviewee’s “no f*cks given” attitude.

A 16-year-old Corey Worthington burst into our cultural sphere donning those legendary yellow sunnies, peroxide blonde hair, and a camo jacket draped over his largely bare torso as he detailed an out-of-control party he’d hosted in his parent’s home.

Despite reporter Leila McKinnon’s best efforts, she wasn’t able to convince the brat to remove the sunnies or apologise to neighbours he may have disturbed.

Why didn’t he take off the sunnies? “Because they’re famous,” he remarked.

3. “VB Longneck for breakfast” tradie

A yellow high vis-sporting tradie went viral a few years back when he proudly recited what some have jokingly called the “national anthem”.

With one hand out the passenger window of his vehicle and the other welded to a classic Aussie beer, the parochial larrikin implored “full grown Aussies” to get around a “f*ckin’ VB Longneck at twenty to eight in the f*ckin’ morning” for breakfast.

A few f-bombs and swigs later, a national hero was born.

4. “Waiting for a mate” drunk driver

A police officer interrogated a less-than-sober driver on the TV show Highway Patrol — where he gave a hilarious explanation for his car being totalled as it rested halfway between a suburban road and a front lawn.

“Just waiting for a mate,” the glassy-eyed driver replied, brushing off the officer’s questioning.

Caught between a cop and a hard place, the man continued to dodge the predicament he had found himself in, which has since become etched in Aussie folklore.

5. Barking dog man

Yet another A Current Affair icon was born when a viral clip revealed a man’s transformation into a rabid dog.

Interviewed in a dog siege investigation story more than a decade ago, an over-exuberant resident explained how dogs in his area had caught his eye and had proceeded to beeline for him.

What came next can only be described as a barking fit of a man possessed.

Like the dogs in question, his wife couldn’t muzzle the man, who seemed to have a larger-than-life personality and was barking mad himself.

Honourable mentions to “busted plugga man”, Trent from Punchy and the Hon. Bob Katter.

Has Reddit missed anything? Let us know in the comments.