Sleeping Shaq
Use Sleeping Shaq to show escalating levels of concern or what does/doesn't wake you up. Each panel represents something more important or alarming.
Dimensions: 640 × 631px
Format: Multi-panel progression showing Shaq sleeping, slightly awake, more awake, and fully alert
📖 Origin Story
Source: Stock photo of Shaquille O'Neal sleeping
Creator: Photo published by AdWeek in 2009, evolved into exploitable meme in 2017
First appeared: AdWeek article - April 2, 2009 / Meme format - February 9, 2017
Sleeping Shaq is a multi-panel exploitable showing Shaquille O'Neal in various states of wakefulness, from sleeping peacefully to increasingly alert and concerned. The format gained popularity in February 2017 as a variation of the Expanding Brain meme, illustrating escalating levels of concern or importance. It's used to show what will and won't wake you up, with the final panel often featuring something absurd or specific that triggers full alert mode.
🎯 How to Use This Template
Use Sleeping Shaq to show escalating levels of concern or what does/doesn't wake you up. Each panel represents something more important or alarming.
Pro Tips:
- 💡Usually 3-4 panels showing progression from sleep to wakefulness
- 💡Final panel should be the most important/alarming thing
- 💡Can be ironic (trivial thing wakes you) or sincere
- 💡Similar to Expanding Brain but focused on concern/alertness levels
😂 Example Ideas
Gaming priorities - what really matters to gamers
What actually motivates people to wake up
Personal priorities vs global issues
💡 Did You Know?
- •The format became popular on r/dankmemes and r/memeeconomy in February 2017
- •A Tumblr post reimagined it as "Slothful Jeremiah" for an Amish meme context
- •Often used for gaming memes about what triggers players most
