![babadook gay pride memes babadook gay pride memes](https://i.pinimg.com/236x/01/6a/4e/016a4e672d1f03979658ad5c0eb4f4d0.jpg)
![babadook gay pride memes babadook gay pride memes](https://static0.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/The-Babadook.jpg)
It's moved from the more niche ecosystem of Tumblr onto Twitter and Instagram other publications spotted the trend and once even larger entities pick up on it (for instance, a corporate sponsor in a Pride parade using it as the company mascot), there's no telling how long the joke will last.īut does the Babadook have what it takes to transcend its own joke and become an actual symbol of LGBT rights? While this adorable gay icon from hell is still around, let's see if we can expand on why it has grown so popular. ( Reddit's /r/MemeEconomy is based around this idea.) The Babadook-as-queer-icon meme certainly has followed this trajectory. It's almost as if there's a meme bubble that's sure to burst if it gets too large. As this helpful chart notes, memes tend to die off once they're picked up by larger and larger audiences the idea is that such audiences won't be able to sustain the quirky or sardonic humor carried by the original meme and will keep making iterations of it without fully getting the punchline. Unfortunately, with the way internet memes work, the Babadook's days as a queer icon are numbered. Retweet this if you're proud of The Babadook's personal journey /t36SM3RU3w- Ryan Broderick June 7, 2017
![babadook gay pride memes babadook gay pride memes](https://ih1.redbubble.net/image.380468004.0411/ssrco,classic_tee,mens,denim_heather,front_alt,square_product,600x600.u5.jpg)
From then on, the meme expanded, and by the time June rolled around, the Babadook had taken on a whole new life on Twitter. It's a funny idea, a horror monster being praised as the next Lady Gaga, and because of how difficult it is to detect sarcasm on internet text posts, it's impossible to tell who earnestly believes the Babadook is a great gay icon and who's just trolling.īut in December, another Tumblr user noted that The Babadook had been brought to Netflix and categorized in the "LGBT Movies" section of the streaming site. In this stage of the Babadook-as-gay-icon life span, it could easily be written off as just another example of Tumblr kids making a quip in a text post-something that looks like a serious plea to treat the Babadook as gay-and building upon it as a community until it becomes something of an inside joke. Put simply, the Babadook is a monster from a children's book that comes to life-not exactly the next Glee character. The film is a chilling depiction of a mother's grief and how it lingers long after the death of a loved one, but the Babadook itself does not possess a same-sex partner (or even have a clear gender) or go through the traditional motions of an LGBT plot, such as coming out or exploring gender expression. The creature comes from the 2014 Australian horror film of the same name, in which the Babadook terrorizes a widow, Amelia, and her young son Sam. It should be said right now that the Babadook, in its original source material, is not an overtly queer character. Commenting on the meme, the actor who portrayed the creature, Tim Purcell reflected on wearing the costume and make-up, saying: “I didn’t feel like a gay icon at the time, I can tell you that much.My new favorite Tumblr meme is insisting that The Babadook is gay /Id1PJpkkgX- Ryan Broderick February 15, 2017 Sadly, Kent did not provide an insight onto whether the Babadook and Pennywise are actually dating or not.Īnd Kent isn’t the only person to have their say on the Babadook’s identity. He doesn’t want to die so he’s finding ways to become relevant.” “I think it’s crazy and just kept him alive. When asked by Bloody Disgusting at the premiere of her new film, Nightingale, about the meme, Kent commented: “Of course, I love that story. However, the creature’s creator, Jennifer Kent, has remained silent on her creation’s path in life, until now.
![babadook gay pride memes babadook gay pride memes](https://media.wnyc.org/i/1200/900/c/80/1/babadookparade.jpg)
The Babadook was regularly seen at Pride celebrations across the world, and the meme took on a new life after it was decided that Pennywise, the clown IT, was his boyfriend. The Babadook became an icon after Netflix accidentally categorized it as an LGBTQ film.įollowing the mistake, the LGBTQ community seized upon it, and the Babadook became an instant icon, with his tale of being repressed by a small family, and his savvy sense of fashion.