The Horrors Persist But So Do I meme features a guinea pig in a pink toy car, symbolizing resilience amid chaos. It evolved from similar phrases in early 2023 and exploded on social media.
This image macro catchphrase depicts a guinea pig wearing pink sunglasses while driving a pink toy car. It conveys triumphant endurance against life’s “horrors,” often used humorously in tough times. The meme type is an exploitable template with redraws and variations.
The Horrors Persist But So Do I Meme Origin
The root phrase “The Horrors Are Endless, But I Stay Silly” debuted on Tumblr by user junoinfernal on January 25, 2023. The exact “The Horrors Persist But So Do I” first appeared in a March 31, 2023, X post by @MajorasMouse, tied to Trans Day of Visibility. A cross-stitch version by Tumblr’s secretsfromwholecloth on April 5 gained over 37,000 notes.
Facebook user Aria Carter posted the iconic guinea pig image on May 24, 2023, earning 26,000 shares. X user @maskofbun’s May 26 post sparked redraws, like those by @gem1ny (40,000 likes). Instagram posts by snarkynurses (438,000 likes) and girlyzar (300,000 likes) in September fueled virality across TikTok, Reddit, and more. Peak hit in spring 2023, with resurgences noted into 2024.
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| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Phrase Origin | Tumblr, Jan 25, 2023 (“Horrors Endless, Stay Silly”); X March 31, 2023 |
| Iconic Image | Guinea pig in pink toy car, posted Facebook May 24, 2023 by Aria Carter |
| Peak Platforms | Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, Reddit |
| Notable Stats | 438k IG likes (snarkynurses), 40k X likes (redraw), 80k KYM views |
| Meaning | Resilience against dread; cultural tie to tough news |
Linked to real-world dread like news cycles and trans rights struggles, it affirms persistence. Variations replace the guinea pig with characters or adapt for contexts like work stress or elections.
Rooted in Tumblr’s “The Horrors Are Endless, But I Stay Silly” (Jan 25, 2023, user junoinfernal); exact phrase debuted on X by @MajorasMouse (Mar 31, 2023).
Facebook user Aria Carter on May 24, 2023, gaining 26,000 shares; photo from deleted account ThingsMyGuineaPigDoes.
