“Wat Hafen Vella?” Video Causes Netizen to Miss Out on Client
WAT HAFEN VELLA? – A netizen lost a potential client after laughing during an online job interview due to a viral video.
In a Reddit post on May 27, the netizen shared that while waiting for the interviewer to arrive, the netizen spent time browsing Facebook. While scrolling, the netizen came across the trending video featuring the line “Wat hafen Vella?” and decided to watch it again. The video made the netizen laugh out loud — just as the interviewer joined the video call.
The netizen admitted that one of the netizen’s biggest weaknesses is controlling laughter. Trying to stay composed during the interview, the netizen couldn’t help but chuckle. The client noticed and asked, “What’s funny?” The moment quickly became awkward, and the netizen was reminded to take work more seriously in the future.
Unfortunately, the incident cost the netizen the opportunity, as the client did not take it lightly. To add to the embarrassment (but still in good humor), the netizen’s family later teased the netizen, jokingly asking, “Wat hafen to interview?”
The post gained attention online, with many relating to the challenge of staying professional in remote work setups—especially when entertaining content is just one click away.
Meanwhile, the viral phrase “What hafen, Vella? Why you crying again?” originated from Cristopher Diwata, an internet sensation who first gained attention in 2013 on the show It’s Showtime. He joined the “Kalokalike” contest, impersonating Jacob Black from Twilight, and delivered a self-written emotional skit in broken English.
Although he didn’t win, one line—“What hafen, Vella?”—stood out and resurfaced years later online. The clip went viral, turning him into a meme star. On May 20, 2025, Cristopher returned to It’s Showtime, recreating the skit for fans. His unexpected rise from a fish vendor to a meme icon and brand endorser shows how humor, even unintentionally, can lead to surprising success.