Sam Sung went viral at Apple, then he had to change his name to escape the spotlight

In 2012, a business card belonging to an Apple employee named Sam Sung became a viral sensation due to its resemblance to Apple’s competitor, Samsung. At the time, Sung worked at an Apple retail store in Vancouver, Canada, after having previously been employed at a Glasgow, Scotland location.

During an interview, Sung, who has since changed his name to Sam Straun, recounted the moment his business card was shared online. While working a part-time job, he received numerous calls from friends informing him of the viral post on Reddit, an app he had not heard of before. As the story spread, he experienced anxiety over potential repercussions at work.

Although Apple did not terminate his employment, he was pulled off the store floor, and his colleagues were advised to avoid identifying him. Straun described the experience as panicking, stating that his primary concern was job security in a new country. He later reflected that, ironically, the coverage might have secured his position further.

A year after the incident, Straun left Apple and changed his name to distance himself from what he deemed an “internet joke.” He indicated that the name Straun is derived from a Scottish village. He auctioned off his old business cards, raising $2,500 for charity.

Despite the shift to his new name, some friends and family still refer to him as Sam Sung.