John is Kill

John is Kill

Part of a series on Greentext Stories. [View Related Entries]
[View Related Sub-entries]

Updated Aug 24, 2020 at 08:02AM EDT by Y F.

Added Apr 05, 2014 at 06:48AM EDT by ­­­Alex Mercer.

PROTIP: Press 'i' to view the image gallery, 'v' to view the video gallery, or 'r' to view a random entry.

About

"John is Kill" refers to a copypasta story that is meant to survey what people were doing at the time of the Beatles John Lennon's death on December 8th, 1980. The story, which is marked by improper English grammar and spelling errors, has inspired a number of variations featuring other deceased celebrities and musicians in substitute for the English rock star. In December 2019, "Club Penguin is Kil" version of the copypasta gained popularity.

Origin

On January 10th, 2012, an Anonymous 4chan [14] user posted a thread on /tv/ – Television & Film board, apologizing for his "poor English" and asking other users "when were you when heat legend dies", a misspelling of deceased actor Heath Ledger.


4chan posted apologizing for bad english and asking where they were when heat legend dies, referring to Heath Ledger

On the same day, Body Building Forums [12] member HITSTICK53 posted a thread titled "when were you when heat legend dies?". On August 22nd, 2012, a version of the copypasta featuring the deceased Beatles musician John Lennon was posted to 4chan.[15]


evolution of the copypasta from heat legend to where were you when John is Kill - spawning the meme

apology for poor english

when were you when john lenin dies?

i was sat at home eating smegma butter when pjotr ring

‘john is kill’

‘no’

Spread

On the same day, Redditor [7] Petryz submitted a screenshot of the original 4chan thread to the /r/4chan subreddit, where it gained over 3,000 points and 50 comments prior to being archived. On August 28th, 2012, the screenshot was reposted on FunnyJunk,[1] accumulating upwards of 127,000 views and 1,500 comments in the following two years. On September 17th, a thread was created on 4chan urging users to post comments on Skrillex YouTube videos suggesting that the electronic music producer had died. Two days later, a compilation of hoax YouTube comments titled "When was you when Skrillex die?" was highlighted on FunnyJunk.[9]


File: 1347896589092.jpg-(37 KB, 625x417, Skrillex.jpg) ile Anonymous (ID: G/KbjMTd) 09/17/12(Mon)11:43:09 No.425674540 Replies: 425679476 2425683721 425684538 425685827 425686163425691370 425691926 ITT: We go to Skrillex videos and comment R.I.P I >>1□ Anonymous (ID: 3PiFY075) 09/17/12(Mon)11:44:53 No.425674741 HA File: 1347896693212.jpg-(32 KB, 553x484, 1345260203804.jpg) Let's do it!!! IMMIES H R.I.P Skralix u made good noises Bamytroll for 8 minutter siden 14 Sorry 4 bad anglish When was you when skrillex die? I was home eat cereal when deadmau5 call skrillex is kill" no" yes" womaamloos for 32 minuter siden 6 R.I.P Skrillex, you will be missed SuperGaffateip for 1 time siden 36 he died? Alya E.R.H.A som svar til SuperGaffateip for 1 time siden He died in a car crash ( He drove a friends car while he was drunk SuperGaffateip som svar til Alya E.R.HA for ett sekund siden R.I.P LORD OF THE DUB </3 KinseyVlog for 1 time siden

On October 23rd, Newgrounds Forums user Slint posted the "John is kill" copypasta in a thread titled "when were you when".[6] On November 22nd, the copypasta was reposted to the /sp/ (sports) board on 4chan.[4] On April 2nd, 2013, YouTuber TheStolken uploaded a dramatic reading of the original copypasta (shown below).



On November 30th, a variation of the copypasta with the deceased actor Paul Walker substituted for John Lennon was posted on 4chan. On December 1st, Redditor KINGcjb55 submitted a screenshot of the Paul Walker thread to the /r/4chan subreddit, where it gathered more than 2,100 upvotes and 45 comments in four months.[8] On January 8th, 2014, Urban Dictionary user OLPZach submitted an entry for "john is kill," citing 4chan as the origin of the copypasta.[5]


File: 1385868689392.ipg-(18 KB, 265x400, MV5BMjlwODcOOTk2NI5BMI5Ba(...).jpg) Anonymous 11/30/13(Sat)22:31:29 No.518886096 Replies: 518886237518886384 apology for poor english when were you when paul walker died? i was at home watching new fast and furious movie when phone ring paul is kill" "no" Anonymous 11/30/13(Sat)22:32:21 No.518886237 >>518886096 (OP) I lol'd so f------ hard Anonymous 11/30/13(Sat)22:32:21 No.518886238 watch how this gets posted 5000 times over the next three days Anonymous 11/30/13(Sat)22:33:17 No.518886384 how original Anonymous 11/30/13(Sat)22:33:18 No.518886387 File: 1385868798603.ipg-(128 KB, 389x399, IMG_0413.jpg) i was at home sleep when woke up phone ring paul is kill"

Club Penguin Is Kil

On April 22nd, 2019, Redditor[16] WeNeedFlopper published a screenshot of a YouTube comment by YouTuber Sergeant Arch Dornan, using the copypasta to discuss Club Penguin. It reads, "apolgy for bad english where were u wen club penguin die I was at house eating dorito when phone ring 'Club penguin is kil' 'no.'" The post received more than 1,700 points (96% upvoted) and 50 comments in less than one year (shown below, left).

About two weeks later, Twitter [17] @_stickfab_ tweeted the copypasta. The post received more than 880 likes in less than one year (shown below, center).

On December 17th, Redditor[18] Doctor5mooth posted an image that featured a silhouette of a child and a penguin looking at sunset underneath the text of the copypasta. The post received more than 68,000 points (90% upvoted) and 900 comments (shown below, right).


SERGEANT ARCH DORNAN apolgy for bad english where were u wen club penguin die i was at house eating dorito when phone ring "club penguin is kil" "no" fab @_stickfab_ apolgy for bad english where were u wen club penguin die i was at house eating dorito when phone ring "Club penguin is kil" "no" 11:05 AM · May 2, 2019 · Twitter Web Client WHERE WERE U WEN CLUB PENGUIN DIE I WAS AT HOUSE EATING DORITO WHEN PHONE RING "CLUB PENGUIN IS KIL" "NO"

apolgy for bad english

where were u wen club penguin die

i was at house eating dorito when phone ring

"Club penguin is kil"

"no"

Search Interest

External References

[1] FunnyJunk – John Is Kill

[4] 4plebs – /sp/ , /tv/

[5] Urban Dictionary – john is kill

[6] Newgrounds – when were you when

[7] Reddit – john is kil

[8] Reddit – paul is kill

[9] FunnyJunk – When was you when Skrillex die?

[12] Bodybuilding – when were you when heat legend dies?

[13] Funnyjunk – Heat Legend

[14] 4chan – heat is die

[15] 4chan – john is kill

[15] 4chan – paul is die

[16] Reddit – /r/comedyheaven

[17] Twitter – @_stickfab_'s Tweet

[18] Reddit – /r/dankmemes

Recent Videos 3 total

Recent Images 27 total


Top Comments


+ Add a Comment

Comments (72)


Display Comments

Add a Comment


Word Up! You must login or signup first!