# Wait That's Illegal > Wait That's Illegal is a 2019 reaction image meme featuring Church from Rooster Teeth's Red vs. Blue, used to react to rule-breaking or absurd behavior. "Wait, That's Illegal" is a reaction image meme taken from the Rooster Teeth web series *Red vs. Blue*, featuring the character Church delivering the line. The source material dates back to 2004, but the screenshot didn't take off as a meme format until January 2019, when it blew up on Reddit's r/MemeEconomy and r/dankmemes. It's used to react to anything that seems like it shouldn't be allowed, whether genuinely rule-breaking or just absurd. ## Origin The original line comes from the *Red vs. Blue* episode titled "Real Life vs. Internet," which premiered on July 14, 2004, at the 11th annual New York Video Festival held at the Film Society of Lincoln Center's Walter Reade Theatre[4]. The festival that year focused on short-length videos and web-based works, and featured a "Wild Wild Web" program that screened internet content[4]. The *Red vs. Blue* episode fit right into that world of early web video. Over a decade later, on March 12, 2015, the episode was uploaded to YouTube, where it picked up more than 88,000 views[3]. - **Platform:** Reddit - **Creator:** Red vs. Blue (animated series) - **Date:** 2019 ## Overview The meme is a simple screencap from the machinima series *Red vs. Blue*, which uses *Halo* game assets for its animation. In the image, Church, a blue-armored character, is shown with the subtitle "Wait. That's illegal" on screen. The format is typically used by placing a description of something weird, unfair, or rule-breaking above the reaction image[3]. It works for both calling out actual violations and for ironic commentary on things that feel like they *should* be illegal but aren't[2]. ## How It Spread The jump from old web series clip to full-blown meme format happened on January 15, 2019. Reddit user FestiveNinja posted the Church screenshot to r/MemeEconomy, where it earned over 1,200 upvotes[3]. That same day, user dcxr used the format on r/dankmemes in a post referencing the latest *Spider-Man* film trailer, and that one took off with more than 13,000 points[5]. The format spread quickly across Reddit after that initial push. A post by dimstag on r/dankmemes pulled in over 11,000 points[6]. Another by user gucciyeet scored more than 3,900 points[7]. Within days, "Wait, That's Illegal" was a staple reaction image on Reddit, Twitter, Instagram, and meme aggregator sites. The meme's appeal is straightforward: it gives people a quick, punchy way to respond to anything that feels wrong or shouldn't be possible. Gaming screenshots, absurd news headlines, everyday rule-bending. The format fit all of them. Urban Dictionary entries describe it simply as a popular quote from *Red vs. Blue* that became a widely used meme template[2]. ## How to Use 1. Find a situation, screenshot, or statement that feels like it violates some kind of rule, whether a real rule, a social norm, or just common sense. 2. Place that content as the top image or text in a two-panel format. 3. Put the "Wait. That's illegal" Church screenshot below it as the punchline reaction. 4. Post it. The format works best when the "violation" is either hilariously mundane or genuinely surprising. ## Cultural Impact Wait That's Illegal became one of the defining reaction formats of the late 2010s. It demonstrated how simple, expressive images paired with clear captions could achieve lasting popularity. The meme's ability to work for both serious concerns and ironic commentary contributed to its broad appeal. ## Fun Facts - The original *Red vs. Blue* episode premiered at a New York film festival in 2004, a full 15 years before the meme took off[4]. - Both of the earliest known meme posts appeared on the same day, January 15, 2019, on two different subreddits[3]. - The YouTube upload of the source episode happened on March 12, 2015, exactly 21 years to the day before today[3]. - *Red vs. Blue* is a machinima series made using *Halo* game footage, making this one of the few memes to originate from machinima content. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is Wait That's Illegal? Wait That's Illegal a 2018 reaction meme image featuring a Black guy pointing at his head with a confused expression and the caption 'Wait, that's illegal. ### What does Wait That's Illegal mean? Wait That's Illegal is a 2018 reaction meme featuring a confused expression with the caption 'Wait, that's illegal.' The format became iconic for reacting with confusion or calling out illogical, rule-breaking, or absurd statements and situations. ### Where did Wait That's Illegal come from? Wait That's Illegal originated on Meme community around 2018. The image shows a confused or skeptical pointing gesture that was paired with the caption to create the meme format. ### How do you use Wait That's Illegal? The format is used to react with confusion or to point out that something shouldn't be allowed. Users can express genuine concern about something that violates rules or use it ironically to mock absurd situations. ### Is Wait That's Illegal still popular in 2026? Yes, Wait That's Illegal is still very popular in 2026. It is considered evergreen and gets regular use across social media platforms. ### Who created Wait That's Illegal? The exact creator of Wait That's Illegal is unknown. The image shows a confused or skeptical pointing gesture that was paired with the caption to create the meme format. The specific expression and gesture suggested confusion or realization of a problem. ### When did Wait That's Illegal start? Wait That's Illegal first appeared around 2018 on Meme community. The image shows a confused or skeptical pointing gesture that was paired with the caption to create the meme format. The specific expression and gesture suggested confusion or realization of a problem. ### What platform did Wait That's Illegal originate on? Wait That's Illegal originated on Meme community around 2018. Wait That's Illegal is a 2018 reaction meme featuring a confused expression with the caption 'Wait, that's illegal.' The format became iconic for reacting with confusion or calling out illogical, rule-breaking, or absurd statements and situations. ### What are the best examples of Wait That's Illegal? The best examples of Wait That's Illegal showcase its core format at its most effective. Notable variations include Variations with different confused expressions, Combinations with other reaction formats, Political and social commentary versions. ### What memes are similar to Wait That's Illegal? Memes similar to Wait That's Illegal include Kombucha Girl, Baby Yoda, Arthur Fist, Dicaprio Laughing. These share a similar format, humor style, or cultural context. ### Is Wait That's Illegal dead? Not at all. Wait That's Illegal is considered evergreen, meaning it keeps coming back and gets used regularly regardless of trends. ### Has Wait That's Illegal been used by celebrities or brands? Various brands and public figures have referenced Wait That's Illegal in their social media and marketing. Memes with broad recognition like this one often get picked up for commercial use. ### Can I buy Wait That's Illegal merchandise? Yes, Wait That's Illegal merchandise is available on platforms like Redbubble, Amazon, and Etsy. You can find t shirts, stickers, mugs, phone cases, and other items featuring the meme. ### Where can I find the Wait That's Illegal template? You can find the Wait That's Illegal template on meme generator sites like Imgflip, Kapwing, and Meme Generator. The template is widely available for free use. ### How do I make my own Wait That's Illegal? The format is used to react with confusion or to point out that something shouldn't be allowed. Users can express genuine concern about something that violates rules or use it ironically to mock absurd situations. ### Did Wait That's Illegal inspire any other memes? Yes, Wait That's Illegal inspired several variations and spinoffs, including Variations with different confused expressions, Combinations with other reaction formats, Political and social commentary versions. ### Is Wait That's Illegal copyrighted? Most memes exist in a legal gray area. The original image or video may have copyright protection, but meme formats are generally treated as fair use. That said, this is not legal advice. ## References 1. [$Trump]() 2. [Wait, That's Illegal - Urban Dictionary]() 3. [Wait, That's Illegal - Know Your Meme]() 4. [The 2004 New York Video Festival]() --- Source: https://meme.com/memes/wait-thats-illegal Published by meme.com — The Internet Meme Library