Where Did The GIF Of IShowSpeed Smiling With His Eyes Closed Come From? The Meme Of Streamer Speed Trying Not To Laugh Explained

IShowSpeed is one of the most well-known streamers out there today, spawning new memes from his streams and appearances every few weeks.

The soccer-obsessed YouTube star blew up in the early 2020s, with his newfound fame propelling him to places no one thought an internet star would ever get access to.

In 2024, a clip from an older Speed stream, now famously known as his "Early Stream," began making the rounds as a reaction image, most likely because it showed Speed in a seldom-seen peaceful smile.

The GIF switches from Speed briefly frowning to his expression settling into one that can only be described as utterly serene, but the origin of the video is anything but.

Here's a recap of the time Speed couldn't help but giggle at a crying fan while playing Fortnite, and how the resulting clip came to be known as the "IShowSpeed Meme Face" and used in countless memes online.

Where Does The Clip Of IShowSpeed Trying Not To Laugh Come From?

Back in December 2021, iShowSpeed hosted a YouTube livestream where he played Fortnite with some fans. At roughly the two-hour, eight-minute timestamp in the stream, Speed was confronted by a distraught fan who said, "Speed, I really need this. My mom is kinda homeless. I live with my dad. I want to help her out."

The kid's quivering voice and sudden outburst caused IShowSpeed, known for his inappropriate outbursts, to hold back a laugh that eventually turned into a peaceful, restrained smile.

But Speed wasn't in the clear just yet; another player confronted him for his inappropriate reaction soon after his blunder, calling him "disrespectful" and asking him if he really loves his fans.

How Did The Clip Of IShowSpeed Trying Not To Laugh Become A Meme?

The clip of Speed holding back his laughter came to be used as a reaction meme in 2023, with an early example being a post by X user @VenomDbd, who gathered over 23,000 likes on a post where he says, "Peter when he saw the 'Miles Morales Original' Suit."

The meme spread to TikTok in 2023 as well, with TikToker @tlmmy_burch gathering over 70,000 likes on a clip posted in October.

What Is The Baby Monkey IShowSpeed Video?

In February 2024, a video of a baby monkey closing his eyes in quiet resignation after being tossed around by a Big Cat made the rounds on X, and many people thought his reaction looked an awful lot like the IShowSpeed meme.

People began splicing Speed's video into the baby monkey video, as seen in a post by @DEAADSEAA.

For the full history of IShowSpeed smiling and trying not to laugh, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.

Read the original article on Know Your Meme.