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Rory Stewart’s Viral Four-Second Stare Becomes Newsnight Meme

By Drooid · Sep 25, 2026, 4:47 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Rory Stewart Stares

Rory Stewart stared at journalist Ailbhe Rea on BBC Newsnight, creating a viral moment.
The four-second gaze was described as television’s longest continuous stare.
It aired on 18 September 2026, the first Newsnight broadcast in a new 7 p.m. slot.
The clip became an online meme, and Mark Wallace likened the stare to Kevin Eldon’s surreal comedy.

Summary

Stewart Warns AI

Stewart warned that China and the United States are rapidly monopolising AI, creating security threats.
He emphasized AI security as his specialist area during the Newsnight discussion.
Before the broadcast, Stewart returned from an overseas army base and disabled his phone’s social media.
In a follow-up video, Stewart re-enacted the swivel for the Newsnight team.
Social media users turned the stare into a reaction GIF that spread across platforms.

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Rory Stewart Stares

Rory Stewart stared at journalist Ailbhe Rea on BBC Newsnight, creating a viral moment.
The four-second gaze was described as television’s longest continuous stare.
It aired on 18 September 2026, the first Newsnight broadcast in a new 7 p.m. slot.
The clip became an online meme, and Mark Wallace likened the stare to Kevin Eldon’s surreal comedy.

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