Meaning
What does Respect the Drip mean?
Respect the Drip, frequently accompanied by Karen, is a catchphrase, and meme that went viral on TikTok.
The origin of this phrase can be traced back to an amusing video where someone expresses their frustration over not being able to flaunt their new attire due to disapproval from their stepmother. Despite all odds, they eventually manage to showcase it and proclaim – “Respect the Drip Karen”.
This expression features two elements commonly found in internet culture: “Karen”, representing a stereotypical antagonist female character often used as meme material; and “Drip” which denotes fashion or style sense. In August 2019, this audio was picked up for other videos featuring bizarre outfits.
Origin
What's the origin of Respect the Drip?
On the 23rd of July in 2019, TikTok user @drewbreeeeze graced us with the first-ever “Respect the Drip” upload, where he is wearing an absurd outfit, while complaining about his stepmom, who won’t let him go out wearing it.
This video quickly caught fire and sparked a trend that birthed countless memes from other users on this platform.
Spread & Usage
How did Respect the Drip spread?
In the ensuing weeks, TikTok was inundated with a deluge of “Respect the Drip” videos, showcasing individuals flaunting their most intricate and inventive sartorial creations.
On August 14th, 2019 Urban Dictionary officially added this phrase to its lexicon of definitions.
Ever since then, an abundance of content dedicated to celebrating one’s fashion sense has flooded cyberspace. This includes compilations on YouTube and Instagram, as well as entries in sundry online dictionaries.
External resources
- Know Your Meme – Respect the Drip Karen