Twitter is widely recognized for its ability to create viral memes. It seems that every aspect of pop culture is immediately turned into a meme on this platform. From the Speaker Of The House voting memes to Rihanna’s Super Bowl halftime show, we can say that no one is safe from its meme-dom and Ariana DeBose’s performance at the 2023 BAFTAs was no exception.Ā
Ariana DeBose opened the BAFTAs 2023 this weekend (Feb. 19) with an original number and rap sequence honoring women in film, which led to a whirl of Twitter memes (and criticism) that led the Oscar-winning actress to delete her Twitter account. DeBose didnāt say anything offensive or derogatory in her openerā¦ so why all the internet commotion?
Letās just say that the performance rap sequence went viral for all the wrong reasons ā with number one being how cringe Gen Z found it. DeBoseās number was an original piece that combined āSisters Are Doinā It for Themselvesā and āWe Are Familyā, along with an original āVogueā-inspired rap that highlighted this yearās nominated actresses for their outstanding roles such as Dolly De Leon, Carey Mulligan, Michelle Yeoh, Viola Davis, Ana De Armas, Angela Bassett, Cate Blanchett, and Jamie Lee Curtis. DeBose was absolutely giving it her all, but when the rapping sequence began, however, she seemed to be out of breath. Mix that with some unironic girlboss-jargon and a lack of audience enthusiasm, and itās a recipe for awkward awkward reactions from the crowd, including some of the female nominees mentioned.Ā
The most āmemeableā part of the whole number, however, was DeBoseās calling on the female acting nominees by name, especially when she says, āAngela Bassett did the thing. Viola Davis, my woman king! Blanchett, Cate, youāre a genius. And Jamie Lee, you are all of us!ā NGL, it was giving Romanās Revenge era Nicki Minaj for a moment.Ā
Though, not everyone thinks that DeBoseās performance was cringe. While The Guardian describes the number as deeply and unsettlingly confusing, Nick Bellen, BEFTASās producer expressed how much he loved the performance and says that Twitter criticism of the opening number is “incredibly unfair.”Ā
DeBose hasnāt openly spoken about the criticism that followed her opening number nor about her deactivated Twitter account just yet. And although the criticisms she has received for her original piece are, IMHO, unnecessarily harsh, the Twitter memes are simply, hilarious.
First and foremost, Twitter can’t get over how Angela Basset really *did* do the thing.
Some users are poking fun at the nominees mentioned in the rap.
And, of course, Twitter has to tie in the meme with other viral pop culture moments and memes. Including that rendition of “Star Spangled Banner” Fergie sang in 2018. IYKYK.
Also, somehow, Twitter got the Royal Family involved.
After all the memes, I can’t get this out of my head. Twitter can’t either.