It’s no secret that memes have taken over the internet and become a form of communication in their own right. From political commentary to relatable everyday situations, memes have the power to make us laugh, cry, and everything in between. But what about those memes that have become so famous that they are instantly recognizable? Here are some of the funniest famous memes that will never get old:
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1. “Distracted Boyfriend”
This meme features a stock photo of a man turning his head to stare at another woman while his girlfriend looks on in disgust. It’s been used to represent everything from infidelity to the distraction of social media. According to the photographer, Antonio Guillem, the photo was originally intended to be a part of a series about “all kinds of problems, such as love, infidelity, jealousy, etc.”
“I never imagined that one day this picture would be so popular,” Guillem said in an interview with Wired. “Sometimes you just take a picture and it becomes famous, it’s very funny.”
2. “This Is Fine”
This meme features a dog sitting in a room on fire, with a calm expression on his face. It’s been used to represent situations where everything is falling apart, but you’re trying to remain calm and collected. The creator of the comic, K.C. Green, has said that the inspiration for the meme came from his own experiences with anxiety and depression.
“I like the idea of having a character that’s not necessarily freaking out because everything around them is on fire,” Green said in an interview with The Verge. “It’s more like, ‘Well, this is fine. This is what’s happening now.'”
3. “Arthur Fist”
This meme features an image of Arthur, the beloved aardvark from the children’s show “Arthur,” clenching his fist. It’s been used to represent everything from frustration to excitement. The image itself comes from an episode of the show where Arthur is angry at his little sister for breaking his model airplane.
“I’m just happy that people are enjoying it and using it in creative ways,” said Marc Brown, the creator of “Arthur,” in an interview with The New York Times. “It’s kind of been like this secret handshake for people.”
4. “Mocking SpongeBob”
This meme features an image of SpongeBob SquarePants mocking someone by alternating capital and lowercase letters. It’s been used to represent everything from teasing to sarcasm. The image itself comes from an episode of the show where SpongeBob and Patrick are pretending to be ghosts to scare Squidward.
“I think it’s hilarious,” said Tom Kenny, the voice of SpongeBob, in an interview with BuzzFeed News. “It’s such a weird thing, because it’s not even really SpongeBob, it’s just a screenshot of SpongeBob. But it’s so funny how people take these things and run with them.”
5. “Pepe the Frog”
This meme features a cartoon frog with a variety of facial expressions. It’s been used to represent everything from sadness to anger to joy. However, the meme became controversial when it was adopted by the alt-right and white nationalist movements, leading to its classification as a hate symbol by the Anti-Defamation League.
“It’s really disheartening to see something that I created be used in such a negative way,” said Matt Furie, the creator of Pepe the Frog, in an interview with NPR. “But at the same time, it’s out of my control.”
Conclusion
These are just a few of the many famous memes that have taken over the internet in recent years. While some may fade away over time, others will continue to make us laugh and provide commentary on the world around us. As for the creators of these memes, they are often surprised and humbled by their sudden fame.
“It’s amazing to see how something that started out as just a silly little comic can become such a big part of internet culture,” said K.C. Green, the creator of “This Is Fine,” in an interview with The Verge.
What are some of your favorite famous memes? Let us know in the comments!
