What Is 'Pepe Silvia'? The Iconic 'Always Sunny' And Charlie Day Conspiracy Meme Explained

Suppose you've ever scrolled on your X timeline. In that case, you've probably been exposed to this classic reaction image, usually in response to anyone discussing bizarre conspiracy theories, or going on insane rabbit holes.

Pepe Silvia might be one of the most recognizable exploitable meme templates out there, and it's a reference to one of the most famous scenes in the hit sitcom It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. But where does the image originate from? And how did it become so viral over the years? Here's everything you need to know.

What Is It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia?

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia is an American TV sitcom that premiered on FX on August 4th, 2005. Since its premiere, the show has garnered a cult following for its iconic characters and open exploration of various culturally inappropriate themes and issues. The show itself follows a group of five young adults who run an Irish bar in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and its cast includes very notable names like Danny Devito and Charlie Day.

Given its popularity, the show has been a source of plenty of memes online. Notable examples include Danny Devito's Trash Man character, which was featured in Season 5, Episode 7 of Always Sunny, titled "The Gang Wrestles for the Troops" (shown below). Another incredibly popular example is, obviously, Pepe Silvia.

What Is Pepe Silvia?

Pepe Silvia refers to a scene in the episode of Always Sunny titled "Sweet Dee Has a Heart Attack," where characters Mac and Charlie get jobs in an office building, and Mac walks in on Charlie incredibly agitated, and trying to connect the dots about a supposed conspiracy regarding a person named "Pepe Silvia," who he believes does not exist (scene shown below).

Over time, the scene became a cult classic in the Always Sunny fandom, with many fans declaring it to be one of the best scenes in the whole show. Charlie's tangent grew so popular that it became subject to merchandise specifically referencing the scene.

How Is The Exploitable Image Used In Memes?

Pepe Silvia has been the centerfold of a variety of different memes but has mainly been used as a reaction image when referencing conspiracy theories online. One meme references Nicki Minaj's rhyming scheme, which is very similar to that of Dr. Seuss's children's books (shown below, left). Another has Charlie wearing an eyepatch and with a metal arm, which is a reference to Big Boss from Metal Gear Solid V, pointing at writing on the wall saying 'Kaz Is Ocelot' (shown below, right).

The image has also been used in meme templates, such as Pepe Silvia Charlie explaining to a seal, where Charlie appears to be explaining something to a rotund seal. This template blew up on Reddit, with the earliest known example being shared to the /r/memes subreddit on October 15th, 2020 (shown below).

For the full history of Pepe Silvia, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.