Since internet time feels like dog years at times, it's wild to think about how some memes start spreading. While most of our timelines seem to have been inundated with memes showing the above picture with a particularly petty phrase or sentiment attached to it, its origin story actually dates back to the summer of 2016. Here's the brief tale of how Roll Safe became the latest meme everyone is hopping on.
On June 1, 2016, BBC Three posted a clip online about a guy named Reece Simpson, a.k.a. Roll Safe (played by actor Kayode Ewumi), as a part of their Hood Documentary web series. It's typical mockumentary style following an absent-minded figure who's bigger in his own mind than he is in the actual world. In the clip, he makes a crude reference to his girl's oral skills, and does the now-infamous point to his head.
The clip didn't become a meme right away, though. According to Know Your Meme, @FootyHumor was the first to flip the image into a tweet.
When you piss her off on purpose, so she can say goodnight at 6pm and you can just play FIFA for the rest of the day in peace. pic.twitter.com/UrM5QvrV5A
— Footy Humour (@FootyHumour) November 15, 2016
A dickhead thing to do, but the tweet took off, although it wasn't until late January where the meme showed up again with an image that you no doubt have seen on your Twitter and Instagram timelines.
You can't be broke if you don't check your bank account pic.twitter.com/brpgiWflym
— Ryan (@RyanWindoww) January 23, 2017
![Taylor, sad](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 203 115"%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Since that tweet hit, it's been a wrap, even hitting the Reddit circuit. And like that, Roll Safe went from a cheeky bastard in a BBC Three comedy web series into a certified meme, with scores of individuals throwing out their pettiest innermost thoughts for the world to see.
You can't get cheated on if you don't get into a relationship pic.twitter.com/T4dCqm58D4
— Common White Girl (@girlposts) January 29, 2017
If you're already late.. Take your time.. You can't be late twice. pic.twitter.com/j46qvY5d0U
— M. (@Trillxdadian) January 30, 2017
Lauryn Hill: They can't say you fell off if you don't show up to perform. pic.twitter.com/fJUqkY4DCU
— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) February 1, 2017
you can't be sad if you have no emotions pic.twitter.com/i45chllJvd
— kay (@therapygoat) February 1, 2017
u can't disappoint ur family if you've never made them proud in the first place pic.twitter.com/Ui8vRct0oC
— • dyl • (@DylanM_97) February 1, 2017
They can't accuse you of embezzlement if you publicly admit to having an affair pic.twitter.com/FFzdVYc8l4
— Hamilton's Squad (@hamiltonssquad) February 1, 2017
Some folks are already remixing it as well.
Can't violate the Constitution if you never read it pic.twitter.com/A1KaOY1Rtk
— Tristan (@AyoTristan) February 1, 2017
Can't get killed by Vegeta if you trick him into letting you absorb 18 and become perfect pic.twitter.com/WdkJ3xM287
— Goku Black (@RoseBIack) February 1, 2017
Yeah, we might be here for a while... or at least until the next hilarious meme finds its way onto our timelines.