The death of four notable celebrities in rapid succession has rattled the internet this past week. On July 20th, 2025, actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner drowned while vacationing in Costa Rica. Two days later, metal icon Ozzy Osbourne passed at 76 after complications from Parkinson’s disease.

Then, on July 24th, pro wrestler Hulk Hogan died of cardiac arrest at age 71. Later that day, American flugelhorn player, trumpeter and composer Chuck Mangione passed away.

Alongside condolences and tributes, one particular meme returned to circulation: Death at the Claw Machine, a meme showing a cloaked figure meant to represent the grim reaper trying and failing to grab the person everyone wants him to.

This exploitable image macro format has been prominent online for many years now, but most probably don't know the true origins behind it. Here's a quick recap of the Death at the Claw Machine meme if you're curious as to why it pops up anytime a high-profile individual kicks the bucket.

What's the Death at the Claw Machine Meme, and Where Did the Image Come From?

Death at the Claw Machine shows the grim reaper hunched over an arcade claw machine labeled "Celebrities," selecting souls for tarnation.

The joke hinges on the idea that death is haphazardly choosing its next celebrity victim, sometimes to both his and the internet's frustration.

The original illustration and webcomic was created by Spanish cartoonist Nacho Diaz and first appeared on his now-defunct website, Naolito Art. Its earliest known online appearance was in a Twisted Sifter blog post dated September 18th, 2011, which included a gallery of Diaz's work.

The image reemerged as a meme years later when, on January 13th, 2017, Imgur user BruisedBananas used it to take out his apparent grudge against a late pop star, writing, "Oh sweet I got George Michael." The post was one of the earliest known instances of the illustration being adapted into a celebrity-death meme.

How Did the Death at the Claw Machine Meme Spread?

As the format circulated, it evolved into something more specific. The grim reaper began to be portrayed as being disappointed when he accidentally grabbed a beloved celebrity when he'd clearly been aiming for someone else.

For instance, on August 25th, 2018, following the death of U.S. Senator John McCain, Imgflip user Some_Internet_Man uploaded a version showing death, hoping for "JAKE PAUL JAKE PAUL…" before ending up with McCain. The meme received over 14,000 views in five years.

Reddit user /u/woakula echoed the sentiment on September 18th, 2020, after the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. For reasons unknown, death sighs in frustration that he got Ginsburg instead of beloved actor Betty White. That post only gathered about 40 upvotes when it was first shared to the /r/memes subreddit, likely due to White's widespread adoration.

What's With All the Henry Kissinger Jokes About Death at the Claw Machine?

The meme eventually found a recurring target: former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. Criticized across the political spectrum for his role in Cold War foreign policy and the Vietnam War, Kissinger became the subject of a popular meme punchline — "Is Henry Kissinger even in this thing?"

The joke took off on December 31st, 2022, when Redditor /u/kolibrifityma used it to react to the death of Pope Benedict in a post to the subreddit /r/behindthebastards that earned over 1,800 upvotes.

Another variation appeared on June 8th, 2023, when Twitter user @Gritty20202 posted the line after televangelist Pat Robertson's death. That tweet received more than 70 retweets and 500 likes in just a few months.

For years, the meme served as a kind of internet scoreboard, measuring public outrage against perceived historical impunity.

When Kissinger finally died on November 29th, 2023, some celebrated the end of an era. Others mourned the passing of the meme with yet another meme featuring death. The image reads, "Was I a good meme?" "I'm told you were the best."

What's With All The Death at the Claw Machine Memes about Ozzy and Hulk Hogan?

The Death at the Claw Machine meme resurfaced in late July 2025 following the deaths of Ozzy Osbourne and Hulk Hogan, among others, which is why you've probably seen it again lately.

On July 22nd, Imgflip user gandiagaf shared a version captioned, "Ozzy?! Is Keith Richards even in this thing?" a nod to the Rolling Stones guitarist’s long-standing reputation for outliving his peers.

Two days later, Redditor /u/RuderAwakening reacted to Hogan's passing with, "Oops wrong orange racist, but getting closer," referencing the wrestler's past controversies. The post quickly gained over 2,500 upvotes, proving that the meme continues to persevere, despite the passing of its primary target.

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For the full history of Death at the Claw Machine, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.