AboutWhat does the meme depict?

The 'Tough Spongebob' meme, also known as 'I Only Cried For 20 Minutes', is an image macro meme featuring a snapshot from the animated children's TV show Spongebob Squarepants. The character Spongebob appears with a tough stance, his lips pursed and eyes slightly narrowed, seemingly bracing himself against an emotional or physical challenge. Memes using this template usually include a two-part text: the first part starts with 'I'll have you know' and the second part humorously reveals a minor incident, ending with 'and I only cried for 20 minutes'.

OriginWho did it first?

This meme template originates from the Spongebob Squarepants episode titled 'No Weenies Allowed', from its third season, which was first broadcast on March 15th, 2002. In this episode, Spongebob attempts to enter The Salty Spitoon, a club known for its tough clientele, by bragging about how he stubbed his toe while gardening but only cried for 20 minutes, attempting to prove his toughness. The specific scene captured for the meme shows Spongebob making this claim to the club's bouncer. The meme gained online traction when it was posted on the subreddit '/r/AdviceAnimals' on August 14th, 2012, featuring the caption about a deleted Pokemon game file with a completed Pokedex, where the poster indicated they 'only cried for 20 minutes.' Watch the clip from the episode here.^[1]

Origin: 2012