Back in 2009, a movie called “Paul Blart: Mall Cop” was released, starring Kevin James as the titular character. While the movie didn’t receive much critical acclaim, it did manage to become a cult classic in its own right. However, it wasn’t until a few years later that a particular scene from the movie would go on to become one of the most popular memes on the internet.
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The Birth of the Meme
In 2014, a user on 4chan’s /tv/ board posted a still from the movie featuring Paul Blart standing next to a poster of his own face. The image was captioned “When you see it…”, implying that there was something hidden in the image that was not immediately apparent. This started a trend of people posting their own versions of the image with various hidden messages.
The meme quickly spread to other online communities and became known as the “Paul Blart Poster Meme”. It was featured on various websites and social media platforms, and even spawned its own subreddit dedicated to sharing and discussing different variations of the meme.
The Height of the Meme’s Popularity
For a while, the Paul Blart Poster Meme was everywhere. It seemed like every day there was a new version of the image circulating on the internet. It was used to make funny observations, express political opinions, and just generally as a way to make people laugh.
One of the most popular iterations of the meme was the “When you’re scrolling through Facebook and see a post from someone you haven’t spoken to in years” variation. This version of the meme featured Paul Blart looking surprised and was used to express the feeling of seeing a post from someone you had long forgotten about.
The Decline of the Meme
Like all internet memes, the Paul Blart Poster Meme eventually began to lose its popularity. As with any meme that becomes oversaturated, people began to grow tired of it and started to move on to the next big thing.
By 2017, the meme had all but disappeared from the internet. However, there are still some die-hard fans who continue to create and share their own versions of the image. Some even argue that the meme is due for a comeback.
Responses from Fans
“I loved the Paul Blart Poster Meme when it was at its peak. It was funny and always made me laugh. I still think it’s a classic meme and I’ll always have a soft spot for it.” – Sarah, 27
“I never really got the appeal of the Paul Blart Poster Meme. I thought it was kind of dumb and overused. But then again, I’m not really a fan of memes in general.” – John, 32
“I think the Paul Blart Poster Meme was hilarious. It was one of the first memes I really got into and I still think it’s funny to this day.” – Emily, 23
Conclusion
The Paul Blart Poster Meme may have had its moment in the sun, but it will always hold a special place in the hearts of those who loved it. While it may never regain its former popularity, it will always be remembered as one of the most iconic memes of the early 2010s.
