Introduction

The Tommy Shelby Holding a Gun to His Head meme originates from a dramatic scene in the series Peaky Blinders, where the character Thomas Shelby is in a life-threatening moment.

Background

This reaction image is derived from a cliffhanger scene in Season 5 of Peaky Blinders, where Thomas Shelby, portrayed by Cillian Murphy, holds a gun to his head in a moment of despair. The image quickly gained traction online as a way to express extreme reactions to unfortunate events, particularly in a humorous or exaggerated context.

How It Began

The meme first emerged on September 22, 2019, during the sixth episode titled 'Mr Jones' of Peaky Blinders' fifth season. In the climactic final scene, Thomas Shelby is depicted screaming and holding a gun to his head, leading to a suspenseful cliffhanger. The use of this image as a reaction meme began around October 2020, with an early viral tweet from the account @ShelbyProbably showcasing a 'How It Started vs. How It's Going' format, which received significant engagement.

Internet Reaction

The meme saw a notable increase in use on August 9, 2021, when the account @peaky_script posted the image, which garnered over 80 retweets and 470 likes. Until late 2022, it was mainly utilized by sports fans reacting to disappointing results. A turning point occurred on December 20, 2022, when @AetiusRF combined the image with the popular 'Cels When' caption format, leading to its viral spread on Twitter. This surge continued into late December with multiple tweets incorporating the meme format achieving thousands of retweets and likes, solidifying its place in internet culture.