The Shaq timeout meme is a popular internet trend featuring the former basketball star, Shaquille O'Neal. It shows Shaq making a timeout sign (T) with his hands and often includes chuckle-worthy quotes and captions.
The meme originated from a picture of Shaquille O'Neal that was taken as part of the #Timeout Against Hate campaign. The campaign began in early October and was created in partnership between Robert Kraft, founder of the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism (FCA), and major sports leagues.
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The campaign's primary goal was to encourage sports fans across the country to stand against all kinds of hate. It was spearheaded by major sports figures, who used well-recognized sports gestures to make a nationwide call against hate.
Shaq timeout meme: Origin, Meaning, and more
The early versions of the Shaq timeout meme began to appear after Robert Kraft tweeted pictures of Shaquille making the 'T' sign on October 10, 2024. The memes leveraged the popularity of the former basketballer and were loved by his fandom and sports fans alike.
Like the timeout sign in basketball which represents a break, Shaquille's timeout photo was meant to represent an end to hate in the sports world and society as a whole.
Briefing fans about the meaning of the picture and its significance in the October 10 tweet, Robert Kraft said:
“In sports, we call a ‘timeout’ when things are heading in the wrong direction and right now, in our country, hate is winning, and we need to change the momentum.
The Shaq timeout memes did not have a specific meaning but were mostly used to show something that needed to be stopped at a crucial time. The meme community cemented the speculated meaning as they continued to create jokes where Shaq told viewers to 'hold up' for specific situations and scenarios.
The first timeout meme was reportedly posted on October 11, 2024, by the X user, @DaveMcNamee3000.
Dave's meme secured over 1.3 million views and featured a satirical commentary on prejudice and discrimination based on social class. It seemingly hinted at Shaquille wanting the viewers to put a stop to the discriminatory scenario and the attached hate.
Another popular take on the timeout meme came forward on October 12, through an X post by @pennyarcadegang. The humorous piece joked about helping a friend cheat on a simple alphabetical test. It gained popularity among young netizens and secured over 91K views on X.
The Shaq timeout has secured unprecedented popularity among internet groups and subcultures. It continues to dominate the list of the latest meme trends and can be found on all major social media platforms such as Reddit, X, Instagram, and Facebook.
The timeout meme may not be the most loved meme featuring the face of the ex-basketballer, but it has gained a somewhat equal presence in the meme community. Some of the most popular versions of the meme feature contrasting captions about movie characters, games, and much more.
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