Roll Safe Is the New Petty Meme for 2017

A quick explainer on where the Roll Safe meme came from and how people are using it.

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

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.

You can't be broke if you don't check your bank account pic.twitter.com/brpgiWflym

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 get cheated on if you don't get into a relationship pic.twitter.com/T4dCqm58D4

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.

If you're already late.. Take your time.. You can't be late twice. pic.twitter.com/j46qvY5d0U
Lauryn Hill: They can't say you fell off if you don't show up to perform. pic.twitter.com/fJUqkY4DCU
you can't be sad if you have no emotions pic.twitter.com/i45chllJvd
u can't disappoint ur family if you've never made them proud in the first place pic.twitter.com/Ui8vRct0oC
They can't accuse you of embezzlement if you publicly admit to having an affair pic.twitter.com/FFzdVYc8l4
Can't violate the Constitution if you never read it pic.twitter.com/A1KaOY1Rtk

Some folks are already remixing it as well.

Can't get killed by Vegeta if you trick him into letting you absorb 18 and become perfect pic.twitter.com/WdkJ3xM287

Yeah, we might be here for a while... or at least until the next hilarious meme finds its way onto our timelines.

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