The Boys character Homelander has returned to the viral meme landscape this month, all because of a new AI rehashing of the old 2022 "Homelander Blow" meme, which shows the villain exhaling with his cheeks puffed out.

The meme has been around for a few years, but the modern twist has propelled it and changed its original meaning. The meme seems far removed from its initial use in image macros and GIF captions, all because of the absurd AI images that have Homelander looking like a pufferfish.

For those out of the loop, what is the "Homelander Blow" meme? Where did it come from, and why has it returned this month on TikTok? Let's explain.

What Episode Of 'The Boys' Is The 'Homelander Blow' Meme From?

The scene when Homelander comically exhales is from season three, episode seven of The Boys, titled, "Here Comes a Candle to Light You to Bed." It was released on Amazon Prime Video on July 1st, 2022.

For context (without giving too much in the way of spoilers), Homelander, portrayed by actor Anthony Starr, is seen exhaling and hyperventilating because he gave a speech that didn't go as planned. He wanted to quell allegations brought against him and Vought International, the company he works for.

However, he briefly mistook a stranger for another superhero who had recently attempted to kill him. After giving the speech, Homelander went backstage, where the scene of him exhaling and acting stressed takes place.

Where Did The 'Homelander Blow' Meme Come From?

A day after the episode aired in 2022, the Twitter / X account @GenZlaughs shared a video caption meme that used the "Homelander Blow" scene.

The given caption followed the "When the Hoes Arrive" catchphrase, likening Homelander's reaction to a stressed dude who doesn't know how to talk to ladies when they arrive at a party.

The post resonated with viewers, amassing over 71,000 likes in a week. The tweet has since been deleted, but its impact is still felt. It laid out the framework for how meme creators would utilize the "Homelander Blow" scene in the years to come.

Where Did The 'Homelander Blow' AI Edits Come From?

After 2023, use of the "Homelander Blow" scene as a "stressed" reaction largely faded. In its place, a series of AI-generated edits of the Homelander screencap surfaced, in which creators hyperbolically ballooned Homelander's cheeks.

The trend started at some point on TikTok in the last two weeks. The origin is difficult to pinpoint, as many of the original iterations were shared in comment sections.

However, clues point to a TikToker named @cookiefan9000, who shared a photo slideshow last Tuesday, September 9th, 2025, which is the earliest discovered "Homelander Blow" meme from this month.

In the user's comment section, others shared further distorted versions of the screenshot. In subsequent videos from @cookiefan9000, more viral comments were shared, some amassing over 10,000 likes. Each made Homelander more unrecognizable.

The images spread on the app, seemingly cementing the format's current use. Among them were references to other memes, like "Patrick Bateman's Ooh Face" and, by virtue of proximity, the numbers six and seven.

What Are Some More 'Homelander Blow' Memes?

@skylark.central #funny #sigma #viral #fyp #relatable #real #based #meme #sigmagrindset #homelander #theboys #tvshow #girls #relationship ♬ agony – -

@xssume homelander blow || practice i suppose second attempt || #fyp #fypシ #foryou #xssume #edit #trend ♬ original sound – xssume

Homelander Blow Meme Template

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For the full history of Homelander Blow, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's entry for even more information.