Y Tho

2014Image macro / reaction imagesemi-active

Published March 10, 2026 · Updated March 17, 2026

Also known as: Why Though · Baby Pope Meme

"Y Tho" is a reaction image macro featuring Fernando Botero's 1964 painting *Pope Leo X (after Raphael)*, a rotund, baby-faced depiction of the pope, captioned with the text "y tho." The phrase, an abbreviation of "why though?", first appeared on Urban Dictionary in 2007, but the iconic image macro version hit Imgur in December 2014 and quickly spread across Reddit and social media as a go-to response to anything baffling or pointless3.

image macro memesreaction memesfine art memesmid 2010s memesconfusion memes

Overview

The "Y Tho" meme pairs Botero's unmistakable painting of Pope Leo X with a simple two-word question. The painting itself is a reinterpretation of Raphael's Renaissance portrait, but Botero's version turns the pope into a squat, inflated figure with tiny facial features and a round, almost infantile face2. The comedic contrast between the solemn religious subject and the absurdly proportioned figure makes it a perfect visual for expressing bewilderment. People deploy it when confronted with decisions, statements, or situations that defy logic, essentially asking "why would anyone do this?"

The phrase "y tho" works on its own as internet shorthand, but the Botero painting gave it a face. The pope's blank, slightly confused expression mirrors the feeling of someone who just witnessed something inexplicable5.

Origin & Background

Platform
Urban Dictionary (phrase), Imgur (image macro), Reddit (viral spread)
Key People
Unknown, Fernando Botero
Date
2014 (image macro); 2007 (phrase)

The phrase "y tho" predates the image macro by several years. On February 19, 2007, a user named licia posted the earliest known definition to Urban Dictionary, describing it as an abbreviation of "why though?" commonly used in chat groups and by teenagers5. The phrase circulated in online conversations as casual shorthand, often delivered in a whiny or sarcastic tone6.

The visual component came from Colombian artist Fernando Botero's 1964 painting *Pope Leo X (after Raphael)*. Botero, born in Medellín in 1932, developed a signature style of depicting figures with exaggerated, voluminous proportions4. His version of Raphael's famous papal portrait transformed the dignified Renaissance subject into what many online have called "Baby Pope," a figure with short limbs, a massive round face, and microscopic features2.

On December 12, 2014, someone uploaded the image macro to Imgur, placing "Y Tho" in white text beneath Botero's painting. The post picked up over 38,000 views3. About a week later, Reddit user firstwarrior posted the image to r/funny, bringing it to a much wider audience3.

How It Spread

The image macro gained traction quickly through 2015. On May 12, 2015, Imgur user collius uploaded a high-resolution version of the macro that pulled in 1.2 million views, giving the meme a second wind and establishing it as a staple reaction image3.

By early 2016, "Y Tho" was showing up in relatable humor posts across Reddit, Tumblr, and Twitter. On March 6, 2016, Reddit user kvdence posted it to r/funny with the caption "When yr mom says you can't have a 3rd plate of food," earning 450 upvotes3. The meme's appeal lay in its versatility. Any situation where someone made an inexplicable choice could be answered with the baby pope's blank stare and two simple words.

The phrase itself kept spreading independently of the image, appearing in text-only reactions across platforms. Urban Dictionary accumulated multiple definitions over the years, with users describing it as everything from a trolling response to "a massive lacking of understanding or comprehension of what you are witnessing"5.

In 2022, the meme experienced a notable real-world crossover when TikTok user @swedishswan went viral for responding to a job rejection email with the "Y Tho" image. The company, apparently charmed or caught off guard, reversed course and offered her an interview1. The TikTok racked up over five million views, with commenters sharing their own stories of bold email responses. She was likely inspired by an earlier TikTok from March 2022 by Samantha Jane (@samantha_jane), who shared that her recruiter sister Hannah had received the same meme in response to a rejection email1.

When Botero passed away on September 15, 2023, at age 91, many online tributes acknowledged his unintentional contribution to internet culture. Twitter user @Steggy posted "RIP Fernando Botero – acclaimed artist in the Primitivism style and creator of 'Pope Leo X (after Raphael) – 1964' which happens to be the foundation of the 'y tho' meme"2.

How to Use This Meme

The "Y Tho" meme typically follows a simple formula:

1

Encounter or describe a situation, decision, or statement that makes no sense.

2

Post the Botero pope image with "Y Tho" text as a reaction, or simply reply with "y tho" in text.

Cultural Impact

The meme brought unexpected attention to Botero's work, particularly among younger internet users who might never have encountered his paintings otherwise. Art publication Artnet ran a feature in 2024 examining the painting behind the meme, noting how Botero's *Pope Leo X (after Raphael)* "became an instant meme when it was uploaded to a Reddit forum in 2014"2.

The 2022 TikTok job application story pushed the meme into mainstream lifestyle media. The Daily Mail covered the story, with recruiters in the comments endorsing the move. "As a recruiter, if someone sent that to me, I would ABSOLUTELY want an interview," one commenter wrote1.

Botero himself likely never commented publicly on his painting's internet afterlife. His artistic philosophy was rooted in something entirely separate from meme culture. "An artist is attracted to certain kinds of form without knowing why," he once said2. Art critics have interpreted his exaggerated style as a critique of the relationship between contemporary artists and the old masters who inspire them2, but online, the painting simply became shorthand for "why would you do that?"

Fun Facts

Botero discovered his signature style almost by accident while painting a mandolin. "I made the sound hole very small, which made the mandolin look gigantic," he explained in an interview2.

Before becoming an artist, Botero spent two years at a school for matadors in Medellín4.

Botero didn't just "botero-ize" Pope Leo X. He applied the same treatment to the Mona Lisa, works by Velázquez, Ingres, Frida Kahlo, and Edgar Degas2.

A bomb placed under one of Botero's bronze sculptures in Medellín in 1995 killed 23 people. Botero insisted the damaged sculpture stay in place as a monument and donated an intact replica to stand beside it4.

Frequently Asked Questions