# Okay This Is Epic > Okay This Is Epic is a December 2017 Ben Shapiro catchphrase that spread as both sincere and ironic mockery across Reddit's r/okbuddyretard and 4chan by 2018. "Okay, This Is Epic" is a catchphrase originating from a December 2017 tweet by conservative commentator Ben Shapiro. The phrase spread across Reddit and 4chan as both a sincere reaction and ironic mockery of Shapiro's commentary style, becoming a staple of the r/okbuddyretard and r/gamersriseup communities throughout 2018. A related variant, "Now, this is epic," gained its own momentum in late 2018 through a viral VoiceoverPete video on YouTube. ## Origin On December 20, 2017, Ben Shapiro posted a tweet reading "Okay, this is epic" in response to a Yahoo News tweet about President Donald Trump threatening to cut financial aid to countries that voted in favor of a UN resolution opposing the U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital[2]. The tweet was a straightforward endorsement of Trump's foreign policy stance, but its blunt phrasing caught the attention of meme communities[1]. The brevity and earnestness of the tweet made it ripe for ironic reuse. Screenshots of the tweet began circulating on Reddit, where users repurposed the phrase as a punchline detached from its original political context[2]. - **Platform:** Twitter (source tweet), Reddit (viral spread) - **Creator:** Ben Shapiro (original tweet), VoiceoverPete (video variant), MrPowerHD (YouTube upload) - **Date:** 2017 ## Overview "Okay, This Is Epic" is a short phrase pulled from a Ben Shapiro tweet that took on a life of its own as internet shorthand for exaggerated approval. In its original context, Shapiro was endorsing a political move by President Trump. Online communities stripped the phrase of its political meaning and repurposed it as a reaction to anything deemed impressive, absurd, or deliberately underwhelming. The humor comes from the deadpan simplicity of calling something "epic" with zero elaboration, making it perfect for ironic commentary[2]. The phrase is typically paired with images of Shapiro or presented as a screenshot of his original tweet. It found a natural home in irony-heavy subreddits where mocking political commentary and exaggerating "gamer" culture were already popular pastimes[2]. ## How It Spread After Shapiro's tweet, the phrase became a go-to way to mock his commentary style on Reddit. The subreddit r/okbuddyretard adopted it early, with a post pairing Shapiro with Nyan Cat earning over 900 upvotes[2]. A July 14, 2018 post on the same subreddit combined a Shapiro image with multiple other meme formats and pulled in over 300 points[2]. The catchphrase also broke free from Shapiro-specific usage. On April 16, 2018, a post to r/dankmemes using a "This Is So Sad" meme carried the title "Okay, this is epic" and earned over 3,200 upvotes[2]. A Retrowave Text Generator parody posted to r/gamersriseup on July 7, 2018 picked up over 2,700 points, tying the phrase to the ironic "Gamers Rise Up" movement[2]. On 4chan, the phrase circulated as a reaction to posts, used both sincerely and sarcastically depending on the board[2]. A second wave arrived in October 2018 when VoiceoverPete, a Fiverr personality known for comedic video commissions, recorded a skit urging "libtards" to share their credit card numbers to help Ben Shapiro. The video featured Kernkraft 400 (Sports Remix) playing over a Doge-patterned background, and ended with VoiceoverPete declaring "Now, this is epic"[1]. MrPowerHD uploaded the clip to YouTube on October 31, 2018, where it picked up rapid traction[1]. Isolated clips of the "Now, this is epic" line spread across YouTube as reaction clips, and GIFs and image macros appeared on Reddit and Twitter[1]. The VoiceoverPete variant's virality faded relatively quickly but saw a resurgence in June 2020, popping up again across multiple social media platforms[1]. ## How to Use The phrase works as a reaction caption or comment in a few common ways: - **Ironic approval:** Post "Okay, this is epic" in response to something mundane, cringe, or deliberately unimpressive. The humor comes from the mismatch between "epic" and the actual content. - **Screenshot format:** Pair a screenshot of Shapiro's original tweet with an unrelated image for comedic contrast. - **Sincere reaction:** Some users drop the irony and use it as genuine praise for something they find cool, especially in gaming or meme contexts. - **Video reaction:** Use the VoiceoverPete "Now, this is epic" clip or GIF as a response to any so-called "Epic Gamer Moment"[1]. The phrase is flexible enough to fit comment sections, image macros, or standalone text posts. It often appears in communities where ironic political humor and gaming culture overlap. ## Cultural Impact "Okay, This Is Epic" became one of several Ben Shapiro phrases absorbed into meme culture during 2017-2018, a period when online communities were heavily riffing on political commentary styles. The phrase's adoption by r/okbuddyretard and r/gamersriseup placed it at the center of two influential ironic meme movements[2]. The VoiceoverPete connection added a performative layer, turning a text catchphrase into a video format. VoiceoverPete's broader Fiverr career, which involved recording absurd messages for paying customers, was itself a meme phenomenon in late 2018, and the "Now, this is epic" clip became one of his most recognized outputs[1]. ## Fun Facts - Shapiro's original tweet was a political endorsement of Trump's UN stance on Jerusalem, a context almost entirely lost in the meme's spread[2]. - The VoiceoverPete video featured a Doge pattern in the background, layering multiple meme references into a single clip[1]. - The "Now, this is epic" variant experienced a delayed second life in June 2020 after its initial virality died down[1]. - The phrase overlapped with the broader "Ben Shapiro DESTROYS" meme ecosystem, where his debate style was both celebrated and parodied online[2]. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is "Okay, This Is Epic"? It's a catchphrase from a 2017 Ben Shapiro tweet that became an ironic reaction phrase used across Reddit, 4chan, and other platforms[2]. ### Where did "Okay, This Is Epic" come from? Ben Shapiro tweeted the phrase on December 20, 2017, in response to a news story about Trump threatening to cut aid to countries opposing the U.S. Jerusalem decision[2]. ### What does "Okay, This Is Epic" mean? In meme usage, it's typically ironic praise. Users deploy it to mock something underwhelming or to sarcastically comment on cringeworthy content, though it's sometimes used sincerely[2]. ### How do you use "Okay, This Is Epic"? Post the phrase or a screenshot of Shapiro's tweet as a reaction to content you find funny, absurd, or ironically impressive. The VoiceoverPete video clip also works as a reaction video[1]. ### Is "Okay, This Is Epic" still popular? The phrase peaked in 2018 and saw a smaller resurgence in 2020. It's still recognized in meme communities but used less frequently than during its peak[1]. ### Who is VoiceoverPete? A Fiverr personality who gained popularity in October 2018 by recording humorous commission videos. His "Now, this is epic" clip became one of the most shared variants of the Shapiro catchphrase[1]. ### What subreddits popularized the meme? r/okbuddyretard, r/dankmemes, and r/gamersriseup were the main hubs for the phrase's spread in 2018[2]. ### What's the difference between "Okay, This Is Epic" and "Now, This Is Epic"? "Okay, this is epic" comes from Shapiro's original tweet. "Now, this is epic" comes from VoiceoverPete's October 2018 video, which added a performative, comedic delivery to the phrase[1]. ### Why was "Okay, This Is Epic" associated with gamers? The phrase was adopted by ironic "Gamers Rise Up" communities on Reddit, which used it alongside other exaggerated gamer stereotypes as part of satirical meme culture[2]. ### Did Ben Shapiro respond to the meme? The available sources do not document a direct response from Shapiro to the meme's viral spread[2]. ## References 1. [Now, this is Epic – Meaning, Origin, Usage]() 2. [Okay, This Is Epic - Know Your Meme]() 3. [Gunshow (webcomic)]() --- Source: https://meme.com/memes/okay-this-is-epic Published by meme.com — The Internet Meme Library