# Y Tho > Y Tho is a 2014 image-macro meme featuring Fernando Botero's rotund Pope Leo X painting, captioned with 'y tho' (why though?) as a reaction to baffling or pointless content. "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 pointless[3]. ## Origin 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 teenagers[5]. The phrase circulated in online conversations as casual shorthand, often delivered in a whiny or sarcastic tone[6]. 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 proportions[4]. 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 features[2]. 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 views[3]. About a week later, Reddit user firstwarrior posted the image to r/funny, bringing it to a much wider audience[3]. - **Platform:** Urban Dictionary (phrase), Imgur (image macro), Reddit (viral spread) - **Creator:** Unknown (image macro creator), Fernando Botero (original painting) - **Date:** 2014 (image macro); 2007 (phrase) ## 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 face[2]. 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 inexplicable[5]. ## 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 image[3]. 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 upvotes[3]. 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 interview[1]. 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 email[1]. 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 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 wrote[1]. 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 said[2]. Art critics have interpreted his exaggerated style as a critique of the relationship between contemporary artists and the old masters who inspire them[2], 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 interview[2]. - Before becoming an artist, Botero spent two years at a school for matadors in Medellín[4]. - 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 Degas[2]. - 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 it[4]. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is Y Tho? "Y Tho" is a reaction meme combining Fernando Botero's 1964 painting *Pope Leo X (after Raphael)* with the caption "y tho," an abbreviation of "why though?" It's used to express confusion or disbelief at senseless actions[3]. ### Where did Y Tho come from? The phrase was first defined on Urban Dictionary in February 2007[5]. The image macro pairing it with Botero's painting was uploaded to Imgur on December 12, 2014, and spread to Reddit shortly after[3]. ### What does Y Tho mean? It's a casual, often sarcastic way of asking "why though?" in response to something that doesn't make sense. It can range from genuinely confused to playfully trolling[6]. ### How do you use Y Tho? Post the Botero pope image or type "y tho" as a reply when someone does or says something baffling. It works in group chats, comment sections, and as a reaction image on social media[5]. ### Is Y Tho still popular? The meme saw a major resurgence in 2022 through viral TikToks about using it in job rejection responses[1]. As of Botero's death in September 2023, it was still recognized enough to feature in widespread tributes to the artist[2]. ### Who painted the Y Tho pope? Colombian artist Fernando Botero painted *Pope Leo X (after Raphael)* in 1964. It's a reinterpretation of Raphael's Renaissance portrait, rendered in Botero's signature voluminous style[2]. ### What is the Y Tho painting called? The painting is *Pope Leo X (after Raphael)* by Fernando Botero, completed in 1964. Online it's often called the "Baby Pope" due to the figure's infantile proportions[2]. ### Did someone really get a job interview by sending the Y Tho meme? Yes. In 2022, TikTok user @swedishswan responded to a rejection email with the Y Tho image and received an interview invitation from the same company. The video got over five million views[1]. ### Who was Fernando Botero? Botero (1932-2023) was a Colombian figurative artist known for his exaggerated, voluminous depictions of people and objects, a style called "Boterismo." He was one of the most recognized Latin American artists of his lifetime[4]. ### Why is the pope in the meme so fat? That's Botero's artistic signature. He rendered all his subjects with inflated, rounded proportions. He described discovering the technique while painting a mandolin with a tiny sound hole, which made the instrument appear massive[2]. ## References 1. [Job applicant responds to rejection letter with a hilarious meme - and ends up scoring an INTERVIEW | Daily Mail Online]() 2. [Art Behind the Meme: Fernando Botero’s ‘Baby’ Pope]() 3. [Y Tho - Know Your Meme]() 4. [Fernando Botero]() 5. [Y Tho - Urban Dictionary]() 6. [Urban Dictionary: y tho]() --- Source: https://meme.com/memes/y-tho Published by meme.com — The Internet Meme Library