# Sad Linus > Sad Linus is a 2020 reaction image of tech YouTuber Linus Sebastian wearing a headset with a somber expression from his January livestream discussing YouTube retirement. Sad Linus is a reaction image pulled from tech YouTuber Linus Sebastian's January 2020 livestream where he discussed potentially retiring from YouTube. The still frame, showing Linus wearing a headset and staring at the camera with a somber expression, blew up on Reddit and iFunny within 24 hours as a go-to image for expressing disappointment, sadness, or disbelief. One Reddit post using the image hit over 85,000 upvotes in a single day[1]. ## Origin On January 22, 2020, LinusTechTips went live on YouTube with a stream titled "I've been thinking of retiring"[4]. In the video, Linus announced hitting 10 million subscribers and then opened up about his thoughts on stepping away from YouTube. The stream pulled in over 2.3 million views and 234,000 likes within two days[4]. Fans immediately latched onto one particular frame where Linus looks especially glum. The next day, January 23, 2020, Reddit user chickenfart29 grabbed the still and posted it to r/memes with a caption framing the video as an example of "true sadness." That post picked up around 1,900 upvotes at 98% approval in its first day[4]. - **Platform:** YouTube (source video), Reddit (meme format) - **Creator:** chickenfart29 (first Reddit meme post), Linus Sebastian (video subject) - **Date:** 2020 ## Overview The image shows Linus Sebastian, host of the massively popular LinusTechTips YouTube channel, looking directly into the camera with a dejected expression while wearing a gaming headset. The lighting and framing give it a raw, almost confessional quality that made it perfect for reaction image use. People slap it onto situations involving letdowns, bad news, or that specific brand of internet sadness where you're bummed but not surprised[4]. ## How It Spread The meme took off fast. On January 23, 2020, the same day as the first post, Redditor PowerPond uploaded the image to r/dankmemes captioned "when you're browsing new and see the same shit 20 times in a row." It exploded, racking up over 85,500 points at 90% approval within 24 hours[1]. Another Redditor, SpanishGarbo, used the still in a four-panel image on r/linuslore, which pulled 1,400 points at 98% approval[4]. iFunny picked it up on the same day, with users creating video edits over the livestream footage[2]. One popular edit titled "Rest in Peace Linus Tech Tips" paired the footage with emotional music, with commenters noting they "put my phone down for like 5 minutes just listening to the sad music"[5]. The fan reactions ranged from genuine worry to comedic overreaction. One user described waking up at 4 AM, watching the video, "shed a single tear out of my right eye and passed out for another 2 hours"[3]. StayHipp published a roundup article collecting many of the initial memes and fan reactions that had appeared across Reddit and iFunny[1]. It's worth noting that this wasn't Linus's first brush with meme fame. Back on May 23, 2019, he had uploaded a close-up selfie to Twitter asking about camera distortion, which became its own exploitable template across Twitter, iFunny, Reddit, and Instagram[4]. The Sad Linus image built on an existing appetite for Linus Sebastian reaction content. ## How to Use The template is straightforward. Pair the Sad Linus still with a caption describing something disappointing, frustrating, or mildly tragic. Common approaches include: - **Relatable letdowns:** "When your favorite show gets cancelled after one season" + Sad Linus - **Internet frustrations:** "When you're browsing new and see the same post 20 times in a row" (the original viral use) - **Tech disappointments:** Given Linus's identity as a tech reviewer, the image works especially well for hardware failures, bad product launches, or tech-related bad news - **Multi-panel formats:** The image often appears as the final panel in a sequence, delivering the emotional punchline The headset and direct-to-camera stare give it a personal, intimate feel that works best for first-person disappointment rather than third-person commentary. ## Fun Facts - Linus wasn't actually retiring. In the full livestream, he clarified he was thinking about it and wanted to be open with fans, but had no immediate plans to quit[3]. - The r/dankmemes post using Sad Linus hit 85,500 upvotes in a single day, making it one of the faster-spreading reaction images of early 2020[4]. - The meme spread so quickly that StayHipp had a roundup article published the day after the original livestream aired[1]. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is Sad Linus? Sad Linus is a reaction image of YouTuber Linus Sebastian looking dejected during a January 2020 livestream about potentially retiring from YouTube[4]. ### Where did Sad Linus come from? It came from a January 22, 2020 LinusTechTips livestream titled "I've been thinking of retiring." Reddit user chickenfart29 posted the still frame to r/memes the next day[4]. ### What does Sad Linus mean? When used as a reaction image, it expresses disappointment, mild sadness, or resigned frustration. The context of the original video (a beloved creator discussing retirement) gives it an emotional weight[1]. ### How do you use Sad Linus? Pair the image with a caption describing a disappointing or sad situation. It works best for personal letdowns and relatable frustrations, especially tech-related ones[4]. ### Is Sad Linus still popular? The meme saw its biggest spike in January 2020, shortly after the livestream. While it's no longer a daily fixture on meme subreddits, it still circulates among LinusTechTips fans and in tech communities[1]. ### Did Linus actually retire? No. Despite the dramatic stream title, Linus clarified during the broadcast that he was only thinking about it and had no plans to quit immediately[3]. ### What was the most popular Sad Linus post? A post by Redditor PowerPond on r/dankmemes with the caption "when you're browsing new and see the same shit 20 times in a row" hit over 85,500 points in a day[4]. ### Was there a Linus meme before Sad Linus? Yes. In May 2019, Linus posted a close-up selfie to Twitter that became an exploitable meme template before Sad Linus appeared[4]. ## References 1. [Video memes JyYI2n1N7 by Tazmazy: 3 comments - iFunny]() 2. [I I've been thinking of retiring. Tech - NOOOOO - iFunny]() 3. [StayHipp: Culture, Internet Trends, Social Media & News - stayhipp.com]() 4. [Sad Linus - Know Your Meme]() 5. [Harris Yulin]() 6. [Rest in Peace Linus Tech Tips :'( - iFunny]() --- Source: https://meme.com/memes/sad-linus Published by meme.com — The Internet Meme Library