If you’re searching “what happened to the honey badger,” you’re probably thinking of one of a few things: the viral YouTube video that made the phrase “honey badger don’t care” part of internet culture, the Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo, or the NFL safety Tyrann Mathieu. All three have had significant developments in recent years, and the actual animal is doing just fine in the wild too.
The Viral Video and Randall’s Career
“The Crazy Nastyass Honey Badger” video, narrated by a comedian known as Randall, became one of the defining viral moments of the early 2010s internet. The video’s success launched Randall into commercial work, including voiceovers for pistachio ads and virtual phone systems. In 2012, he announced plans to develop a television show called “Honey Badger U” with Six Eleven Media, though that project never gained major traction.
Randall resurfaced in October 2020 when The Lincoln Project released an online political ad called “Covey Spreader” featuring his signature narration style. His legacy also played out in the courts: after the video went viral, greeting card companies Drape Creative and Papyrus-Recycled Greetings started printing cards using catchphrases from the video without a licensing deal. Randall sued for trademark infringement, and the case (Gordon v. Drape Creative, Inc.) became a notable legal dispute over First Amendment protections in trademark law.
Daniel Ricciardo Left Formula 1
Daniel Ricciardo, the Australian F1 driver who earned the “Honey Badger” nickname for his aggressive racing style and relentless grin, is no longer competing in the sport. His last race was the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, after which he was replaced at the RB team by Liam Lawson for the rest of the season. Ricciardo had struggled to recapture the form that once made him a race winner and podium regular.
Now 36, Ricciardo has described his situation with characteristic good humor. “I’m just enjoying some life in the slow lane,” he said. “It sounds weird saying like retirement when I’m 35 years old, but retirement from at least the world I was living in.” He’s stayed connected to motorsport through the Daniel Ricciardo Series, a program where young drivers compete in Ricciardo-branded karts across events in the United Kingdom.
Tyrann Mathieu in the NFL
Tyrann Mathieu, the NFL defensive back who picked up the “Honey Badger” nickname at LSU for his tenacious playing style, was still active through the 2024 season. His game logs show he played into January 2025, recording tackles in a Week 18 matchup against the Buccaneers. While no longer the electrifying playmaker who helped the Kansas City Chiefs win Super Bowl LIV, Mathieu has remained a steady veteran presence in the league.
The Actual Animal Is Thriving
The real honey badger (Mellivora capensis) is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, meaning the species is not facing any immediate threat of decline. These animals range across Africa, the Middle East, and into parts of India, and they remain one of the most resilient predators on the planet.
Their diet in the wild is broader than the viral video suggested. Studies of honey badgers in the Kalahari found they eat mostly rodents, followed by lizards and scorpions, all caught by digging. They also take down larger prey like bat-eared foxes, springhares, and large snakes, including cobras and vipers. Honey and bee larvae round out the menu and give the animal its name, though these aren’t actually the main course.
Their ability to eat venomous snakes comes down to a specific genetic adaptation. Honey badgers, along with hedgehogs and pigs, have independently evolved changes in a key receptor that snake neurotoxins normally target. The receptor’s binding site has swapped in a positively charged amino acid where an uncharged one used to be, which blocks the toxin from latching on. Mongooses developed a different workaround at the exact same spot on the same receptor. In total, this type of venom resistance has evolved at least four times across mammals through two distinct biochemical strategies, a striking example of convergent evolution.
The Famous Partnership With Honeyguide Birds
One of the most enduring stories about honey badgers is that they cooperate with honeyguide birds, which supposedly lead them to bee nests. The scientific picture is more nuanced than the folklore. Interviews with 57 people across multiple African communities, including Hadzabe, Maasai, Malawian, and Yao groups, confirmed that they had seen honey badgers and honeyguides present together at bee nests. Some described the badger breaking nests open, and in a few cases, badgers removed stones that human honey-hunters had placed over nest entrances after harvesting.
Whether this qualifies as true cooperation or simply two species exploiting the same resource remains an open question. Researchers note that if the relationship does involve learned behavior passed between species, conserving it would require protecting not just the animals but the shared environment and cultural knowledge that supports the interaction.