Twitter users are debating whether memes made from images of LeBron James crying at a tribute for the late Kobe Bryant are fair game or beyond the bounds of good taste.

The internet has long had a habit of twisting serious topics into comedy, and this practice has at times brushed against pushback from the general populace. Vice infamously pleaded with the internet to not meme Childish Gamino's hyper-politically charged "This Is America", which naturally helped propel the song even further into memedom. More recently, the Coronavirus has led to memes which some have argued were inappropriate considering the seriousness of the situation.

Following NBA Legend's Kobe Bryant's untimely passing, Lakers star LeBron James was filmed crying ahead of the team's January 31st game during the national anthem and a tribute to Bryant.

NBA fans have long loved memeing crying superstars, but unlike Crying LeBron or Crying Jordan, James' tears here obviously have a deep connection to a tragedy that's still too recent for much of the internet to joke about. Nevertheless, after Bleacher Report tweeted stills of James' emotional moment, some users attempted to twist the pictures into comedy.

LeBron moved by the Lakers tribute to Kobe Bryant. pic.twitter.com/1kQwIMqfWW

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 1, 2020

LeBron moved by the Lakers tribute to Kobe Bryant. pic.twitter.com/1kQwIMqfWW

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 1, 2020

Others were quick to try and stem the tide of memes by declaring that the pictures were off-limits.

Can we make a pact as a family to NEVER allow these pics to become memes? https://t.co/GVlu5Ay128

— Empress LoRen Palpatine 🇳🇬 (@RatchetNerd_) February 1, 2020

We, Twitter, made an agreement that we will not use LeBron as a meme from Kobe’s Tribute https://t.co/gTpfS52Utw

— Mike Porter (@Mp3times) February 4, 2020

Some have even gone so far as to report memes using the pics to Twitter.

I will report y’all using that photo of Lebron as a meme. Idcidcidc

— She’s a Trip (@stcyannee) February 5, 2020

instead of quote tweeting that meme pic of Lebron at Kobe’s tribute, just report it ….

— KILO (@badgalkilo_) February 6, 2020

The reports are unlikely to result in action being taken by Twitter, but they're nevertheless a fascinating byproduct of the way the internet shapes grief, tragedy, and comedy.