Meaning
What does I’m Gonna Pretend I Didn’t See That mean?
I’m gonna pretend I didn’t see that refers to a popular series of reaction images, mostly seen paired with a photo of the blind musical sensation, Ray Charles.
The meme revolves around the humorous reaction of people, who willfully shut their eyes after seeing or hearing something disturbing.
An alternate, audial version of the phrase is “I’m gonna pretend I didn’t hear that”, more often encountered in real life contexts.
Origin
What's the origin of I’m Gonna Pretend I Didn’t See That?
The reaction image format first emerged in November, 2018, when Reddit user LeftyOnenut posted the first macro to the r/Memes subreddit.
The “I’m gonna pretend I didn’t see that” caption was written upon a photo of Ray Charles, sitting by a piano.
Spread & Usage
How did I’m Gonna Pretend I Didn’t See That spread?
In the following days, the format had spread onto various subreddits on the website, including r/MemeEconomy and r/dankmemes.
“I’m gonna pretend I didn’t see that” also became a popular phrase to say when someone shows or does something incredibly imbecilic.
External resources
- Know Your Meme – I’m Gonna Pretend I Didn’t See That