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Lonely Theresa May is a series of image macros featuring British Prime Minister Theresa May sitting alone a conference table with her head down. Many online, have captioned the image, mocking her apparent loneliness and sadness.

Origin

On October 20th, 2017, Getty Images^[1] published a photograph of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Theresa May awaiting European Council President Donald Tusk at the European Leaders Summit. Taken by Geert Vanden Wijngaert, the photograph (shown below) features May sitting at a long conference table with her head down.

Spread

Shortly after the picture was used in news sources, such as the Associated Press and The Independent,^[2] people online began captioning the photograph. That day, Twitter ^[3] user @OwenJones84 captioned the photo "Hello darkness my old friend." The post (shown below, left) received more than 1,400 retweets and 4,800 likes in less than 12 hours.

Following this tweet, more users continued captioning the photograph, commenting on the sad appearance of May alone with her head down (examples below, center and right). Additionally, Twitter^[4] published a Moments page to archive some of the most popular tweets.

Lonely Theresa May meme of Hello Darkness My Old Friend

Lonely Theresa May meme of record scratch, yup thats me

Lonely Theresa May meme about how it feels when mom yells that dinner is ready and you are at the table but dinner was not really ready

Several photoshops also appeared online. That day, Redditor ^[5] deceive_defy posted the picture in /r/photoshopbattles. In these examples (shown below), May is seen looking at items on her table.

Lonely Theresa May playing with model trains on her table

By October 22nd 2017, news of the meme had spread to international and mainstream media. Junkee^[6] called it the saddest political meme while TIME magazine^[7] pointed out how the internet just couldn't resist making a meme from such a photo. SBS News in Australia^[8] and the South China Morning Post^[10] both reported just on the fact that it had gone 'viral', while the Irish Examiner^[9] called it the 'meme of the moment'.

Various Examples

Lonely Theresa May eating Brussel sprouts

Lonely Theresa May meme as if she is in trouble with school and waiting for the head mistress

Lonely Theresa May meme as if she is being punished while the rest of the world leaders are out playing

Lonely Theresa May meme as if she is about to get fired on The Apprentice boardroom

Lonely Theresa May meme as if it is Boris Johnson's funeral

Lonely Theresa May meme joking that the table is a giant coffin of Boris Johnson

Search Interest

External References

^[1] Getty – Geert Vanden Wijngaert's Photography

^[2] The Independent – Stick, Twist or Bust – what are May's Brexit options now?

^[3] Twitter – @OwenJones84's Tweet

^[4] Twitter – Lonely Theresa May is Brexit's saddest meme

^[5] Reddit – PsBattle: UK PM Theresa May sitting alone in Brussels

^[6] Junkee – Lonely Theresa May Has Become The World’s Saddest Political Meme

^[7] TIME – A Photo of Lone Theresa May Arrived. The Internet Could Not Ignore the Meme Opportunities

^[8] SBS News – 'Lonely' Brexit photo of Britain's PM Theresa May goes viral

^[9] Irish Examiner – Forget fields of wheat, Theresa May sitting alone at a table is the meme of the moment

^[10] South China Morning Post – British PM Theresa May’s ‘lonely’ Brexit photo goes viral

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Lonely Theresa May