# 30 Times The Glass Was Not Strong Enough > 30 Times The Glass Was Not Strong Enough is a 2021 fan art redraw meme originating from a viral Tumblr photoshopped YouTube thumbnail depicting a woman walking through shattering glass, spawning countless fictional character redraws. "30 Times the Glass Was Not Strong Enough" is a fan art redraw meme based on a photoshopped YouTube thumbnail showing a woman walking through a shattering glass door. The image first went viral on Tumblr in October 2021 after a user posted the thumbnail alongside the video's title, and it quickly spawned a wave of redraws featuring fictional characters in place of the original woman[2]. ## Origin On March 30, 2021, the YouTube channel MAD LAB fan uploaded a compilation video titled "30 Times The Glass Was Not Strong Enough," featuring 30 clips of glass objects being broken by people, animals, and weather[2]. The video used a photoshopped thumbnail depicting a woman walking through a glass door as it shattered into pieces behind her. The video has since been removed from YouTube[2]. The thumbnail sat largely unnoticed until October 21, 2021, when Tumblr user empezardexerox posted a screenshot of it alongside the title. That post picked up over 86,500 likes and reblogs over the following three years[2]. Shortly after, Tumblr user polargeist found two more entertainment videos using slightly altered versions of the same thumbnail and added the comment, "she cant keep getting away with this"[2]. - **Platform:** YouTube (thumbnail source), Tumblr (viral spread) - **Creator:** MAD LAB fan (original YouTube thumbnail), empezardexerox (Tumblr viral post) - **Date:** 2021 ## Overview The meme centers on a single image: a woman striding confidently away from a glass door or window that's exploding into shards behind her. The original was a photoshopped thumbnail, not an actual photograph, but its dramatic composition made it perfect for redraws[2]. Artists replace the woman with fictional characters, typically ones known for being powerful, dramatic, or unstoppable. The title phrase "30 Times the Glass Was Not Strong Enough" doubles as a standalone catchphrase people drop on videos of glass breaking[2]. ## How It Spread The first known redraw appeared on November 1, 2021, when Tumblr user howdyboh posted a fan art version featuring Grell Sutcliff from *Black Butler*. The post earned over 250 reblogs and 1,100 likes in three years[2]. From there, redraws spread across Tumblr, X (formerly Twitter), and other platforms throughout 2022 and beyond. On September 12, 2022, X user @KILLCH0PDELUXE posted an *ULTRAKILL*-themed version that pulled in over 400 reposts and 2,300 likes in two years[2]. The format attracted artists from various fandoms, each swapping in their favorite character walking dramatically through shattering glass. Beyond the redraws, the phrase itself took on a life of its own. People started using "30 times the glass was not strong enough" as a caption or comment on unrelated videos showing glass objects being smashed or broken[2]. As one Tumblr user put it: "What are you going to do about it?? Put glass in her way?? They tried that like 80 times"[1]. ## How to Use The format is straightforward: 1. Take the composition of the original thumbnail: a figure walking forward while glass shatters dramatically behind them 2. Replace the woman with a character of your choice, typically someone known for being powerful, dramatic, or effortlessly cool 3. Match the pose and framing of the original as closely as possible while adapting it to the character's design 4. Post it with the title "30 Times the Glass Was Not Strong Enough" or a variation of it ## Fun Facts - The original YouTube video was a standard compilation of glass-breaking clips. The meme is entirely about the thumbnail, not the video content itself[2]. - The video has been removed from YouTube, but the thumbnail lives on through screenshots and redraws[2]. - Tumblr user polargeist discovered that multiple YouTube channels reused the same thumbnail concept, suggesting it was a popular clickbait template[2]. - The Tumblr post by empezardexerox sat for years steadily accumulating engagement, hitting 86,500 notes over three years rather than spiking and dying[2]. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is 30 Times the Glass Was Not Strong Enough? It's a fan art redraw meme based on a photoshopped YouTube thumbnail showing a woman walking through shattering glass. Artists replace the woman with fictional characters[2]. ### Where did 30 Times the Glass Was Not Strong Enough come from? The original thumbnail was from a March 2021 YouTube video by MAD LAB fan. It went viral on Tumblr in October 2021 when user empezardexerox posted a screenshot[2]. ### What does 30 Times the Glass Was Not Strong Enough mean? The phrase was originally just a YouTube video title about glass breaking, but it became a meme caption suggesting someone (or something) is so powerful that glass can't stop them[2]. ### How do you use 30 Times the Glass Was Not Strong Enough? Either redraw the thumbnail with a character replacing the woman, or use the phrase as a caption on glass-breaking videos[2]. ### Is 30 Times the Glass Was Not Strong Enough still popular? The meme saw steady engagement through 2024, with the original Tumblr post accumulating over 86,500 notes over three years. New redraws still appear, though less frequently than during its 2021-2022 peak[2]. ### What was the first redraw of the meme? Tumblr user howdyboh posted a *Black Butler* Grell Sutcliff version on November 1, 2021, the earliest known redraw[2]. ### Why did the meme go viral on Tumblr specifically? Tumblr's art community and fandom culture made it a natural home for the redraw format. The platform's reblog system helped the original screenshot post reach 86,500+ notes[2]. ### What happened to the original YouTube video? The video by MAD LAB fan has been removed from YouTube, though the thumbnail survives through Tumblr screenshots and fan redraws[2]. ## References 1. [Soupup]() 2. [30 Times the Glass Was Not Strong Enough - Know Your Meme]() 3. [SpongeBob SquarePants]() --- Source: https://meme.com/memes/30-times-the-glass-was-not-strong-enough Published by meme.com — The Internet Meme Library