AboutWhat does the meme depict?
The 'Omar the Basketball Referee Catching Ball' meme features a viral video of a referee named Omar, who catches a basketball just before it goes out of bounds during a game. He dramatically pauses and looks directly into the camera, which sparked various reactions online. The meme is variously known as 'Ref Catches Basketball', 'Referee Catching Ball', 'Ref Catching Basketball', or 'You Alright Ladies?'. It showcases Omar saving the spectators, including the cameraman, from getting hit by the ball. While his action was practical, it was perceived as overly dramatic by some, leading to humorous comments and memes questioning his intention and flair.
OriginWho did it first?
The meme traces its origins back to 2022, when content featuring Omar, known as 'Omar the Baltimore Ref', started appearing on TikTok (now X) from users in Baltimore, Maryland. Particularly notable was a video from @_lortinkyy posted on August 28th, 2022, highlighting Omar as a local personality. Another significant boost came from a video posted by TikToker @farrish_gang on April 1st, 2023. In this video, Omar makes a notable catch and poses for the camera, accompanied by questioning commentary from the recording TikToker.[1]
Origin: 2023