Dalila Benmakhlouf 
Steve Lacy selfie/Photo credit: Steve Lacy's social media
Steve Lacy woke up and chose chaos when he posted a full length mirror selfie that left very little to the imagination on his Instagram page.
The Grammy winning artist stood almost completely naked in what looks like a luxury hotel bathroom, holding in his hands a pair or crocodile designed loafers with the caption: “nice shoes out on streaming.”
The post immediately got his fans’ attention. Within hours, the comments were turning into a mix of thirst, surprise, and meme energy. They posted comments from “man, I just opened Instagram” to “remove the shoes.” And X’s reaction to the artist isn’t any different either.
Even the comment section on X is being spammed with the same gifs, some waving to him and others pretending to take a peek.
Using this surprising photo as a way to become a meme, no wonder, right?
Now, while Instagram is famously strict about having nudity rules, they seem to have kept this one up even now. Lacy’s shoes in the way were the only way it wasn’t going to show full-frontal territory.
The stunt is, without a doubt, perfectly timed. Lacy’s latest single, “Nice Shoes,” was just released, and the photo serves as the ultimate viral marketing.
Who needs billboards when an artist turns themselves into one, online? It’s the internet native promo move that makes Lacy the Gen Z original icon. Knowing how to be unapologetic, weirdly charming, and meme-ready in only a short amount of time.
Still, the internet is split. Some do applaud the boldness, calling it a modern pop art performance. Others believe it’s a marketing stunt for shock value, banking on Instagram’s strict policy enforcement.
Either way, Lacy succeeded in getting the Internet’s attention. The post has racked up hundreds of likes, thousands of shares, and a permanent spot in the 2025 Internet Highlights.
Whether someone is here for the shoes, the music of the chaos, there is one thing that is certain: Steve Lacy knows exactly how to keep us looking.
It’s safe to say that the shoes are out, the music is out, and Steve… also happens to be out.
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Alex Tisdale 
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