The death of an internet meme usually happens slowly. A joke gets old, people stop making it and it eventually fades away from public consciousness until years later when it inexplicably shows up on your aunt’s Facebook page. Tonight, we all got to witness a meme die quickly and suddenly on national television. After years of fruitless nominations, Leonardo DiCaprio finally took home the Oscar for Best Actor.
http://vanessajeandang.Tumblr.com/post/140195799024/he-did-it
This was in no way a guarantee. Sure, he won the Golden Globe and there was a lot of buzz leading up to the night’s festivities about his performance in The Revenant. We’d been here before. We’d see him give a spectacular performance and head into the night as a clear front-runner only to see the golden statue slip away. In an otherwise boring night, the Best Actor category had everyone on edge.
https://Twitter.com/paigeareta/status/704151794541146112
Some remained hopeful.
Come on Leo, we believe in you #Oscars pic.twitter.com/EnUgTxX7Me
— Deathly (@Deathly) February 29, 2016
Maybe we really could finally put this meme to bed for good.
http://a-dolphin-cubed.tumblr.com/post/140185674312/dosaster-this-might-be-our-last-chance-to
Others were sure it would never happen.
https://twitter.com/NasibAtta/status/704167636599513088
Like the Academy would go to extreme lengths to prevent DiCaprio from taking the stage.
https://twitter.com/Ch4BrickTamland/status/704135704398397441
Or the award would be snatched away at the last possible second.
Mostly, we just waited. For a long, long time.
Some speculated the waiting was wearing on DiCaprio himself. While he may have looked like this on the outside.
http://justalittletumblweed.tumblr.com/post/140191446404
We’re pretty sure something else was going on beneath the surface.
https://twitter.com/RealAdamRose/status/704154727924142080
Deep down, everyone wanted to see him win.
I'm not that into the #Oscars but please answer the phone
LEO IS CALLING pic.twitter.com/3KMUwMuUCt— puppits™ (@BunchOfPuppits) February 29, 2016
It would just feel right.
https://twitter.com/LifeWithErick/status/704152700372570112
Well, it happened.
Leonardo DiCaprio updating his Facebook Status like… #Oscars pic.twitter.com/HnCBITkv01
— tenorbuds (@tenorbuds) February 29, 2016
DiCaprio won and the internet erupted in celebration.
Congratulations @LeoDiCaprio‼️ ❤️🏆#Oscars pic.twitter.com/VwrmhEbxqu
— Katie Jacobs Stanton (@KatieS) February 29, 2016
How I imagine/hope Leo feels right now. #OSCARS pic.twitter.com/EK56UIQxew
— Katie Krause Mork (@Katie_Krause) February 29, 2016
Some people are still wondering if this is even real. It has been a long night, after all.”
That cruel moment when Leonardo DiCaprio wakes up and realized he got incepted #Oscars pic.twitter.com/p6RWnFVY1X
— Not Bill Walton (@NotBillWalton) February 29, 2016
Even DeCaprio might need a little reassurance.
https://twitter.com/KISSINGJAl/status/704173680432177152
But it’s real. He took the stage like
LEO FINALLY WON!!!!!!!! #Oscars #TeamLeo @LeoDiCaprio pic.twitter.com/0x0D6qSMiu
— 5sos Daily (@5SOS_Daily) February 29, 2016
And we finally got to hear a Leonardo DiCaprio Oscar acceptance speech.
Leo is preparing a short but powerful acceptance speech. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/Q77E8Kl7Wy
— Jeff Barrett (@BarrettAll) February 29, 2016
All in all, though a beloved joke has been taken from us, the moment made the internet feel like…
So this is how a meme dies… with thunderous applause.
http://alice-on-gallifrey.tumblr.com/post/140194336843/leo-won
Though who knows? We may not have seen the last of this meme. I couldn’t help but notice another nominee that consistently lost in every category tonight.
Title idea for Episode VIII: A New Leo.
But we’ll have to wait for the 2018 Oscars to see if that catches on. For now, we have a new reason to celebrate February 29. It’s no longer Leap Day…
Happy Leo Day, everyone.
