About

Robert Downey Jr. Comments refer to humorous posts containing a panel featuring actor Robert Downey Jr. paired with a made-up comment, usually added for humorous effect. Initially circulated unironically, starting in late 2018 posts in which the actor was attributed with offbeat, non-sensical or offensive comments gained popularity on Reddit. The format is closely connected with I'm Stuff meme and There Are Federal Agents Outside My House snowclone.

Origin

On January 9th, 2013, Getty Images^[1] photographer Christopher Polk took a portrait photo of actor Robert Downey Jr. at the 39th Annual People's Choice Awards at Nokia Theatre.

Spread

Starting in 2016, the black-and-white, cropped edit of the photograph has been used as an additional panel in various memes, usually added with an attempt to reemphasize the joke in the image. The earliest examples^[2] of these memes can be traced to at least September 2016, with various versions posted to Memedroid, Facebook and other websites. Multiple examples of these memes would later resurge on /r/ComedyCemetery^[3] subreddit (examples below).

On November 10th, 2018, Redditor^[4] TheJZKguy posted one version of the meme originating from Malaysian Facebook^[5] group Tintu-Mon to /r/ComedyCemetary subreddit. The post gained over 23,200 upvotes in three months. On the same day, Redditor^[6] chuckymeow reposted the image to /r/okbuddyretard subreddit.

On December 22nd, Redditor^[7] awesomegamer445 posted an edited version of a meme originally posted by an unknown user comparing two servings of food with the caption "R.I.P Logic" replaced with "R.I.P Tupac". The post gained over 1,200 upvotes in two months, marking the first know ironic example of the meme. On January 15th, Redditor^[8] Lord_Bobbathan posted another popular version of the meme to the subreddit, which gained over 3,500 upvotes in one month.

Following the initial edits, more ironic examples of the meme appeared in /r/okbuddyretard subreddit, with Robert Downey Jr. usually referred to as Tony Stark by the name of his character from the Marvel Cinematic Universe films.

On February 12th, 2019, the format was temporarily banned by /r/okbuddyretard moderators.^[9]

Related Memes

I'm Stuff

I'm Stuff refers to an exploitable four-panel image depicting a fan-written exchange between Spider-Man: Homecoming characters Peter Parker, Michelle Jones and Tony Stark. Initially spread as a cringeworthy image in /r/4PanelCringe and other respective communities in December 2018, the image has since been used for ironic edits, including multi-panel edits featuring characters from other fandoms.

There Are Federal Agents Outside My House

There Are Federal Agents Outside My House, also know as There Are Black People Outside My House, is a series of snowclone image macro memes based on a viral version of Robert Downey Jr.'s Comments meme. In the memes and redraws, Robert Downey Jr. or another character announces a certain menacing presence outside their place of residence or work, with the memes relying primarily on referencing various media. Originating from a viral post in /r/ComedyNecrophilia and gaining popularity on iFunny in late 2019, the format found mainstream popularity in early 2021.

Various Examples

Search Interest

Not available.

External References