Is this meme funny? You be the judge...

A young woman with Downs Syndrome has become a meme and now the internet is debating whether its okay. Model and actress Madison Tevlin starred in the advert, intended to dispel misconceptions around people with Downs Syndrome, but the empowering video was quickly co-opted into a meme, and it has the internet divided. Is the meme funny? Is it insulting? Scroll Deep takes a closer look.
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[@ciara7264]

As an autistic person I actually had this exact problem happen pretty recently with the "accoustic" meme on tiktok (where people were calling autistic people accoustic rather than autistic). I really liked it at first because I thought it was an inside joke between autistic people but then I began to hate it as I realised that's not how it was being used. It was being used to make fun of autistic people. So I get the lack of trust with ablest people when it comes to this kind of thing

[@Nightmaremarshmellow5614]

I’m autistic too and I also hate it when people say acoustic instead of autistic

[@noah-gabel]

Same here, it’s so easy for something that was empowering or an in-joke to be abused or used meanly

[@tiki_riot]

None of this happens outside of tiktok, delete that rancid app

[@readyfreddie1256]

i think it’s kinda refreshing to see people use words like “tasteless” and “tone deaf” rather than like “this is deeply peoblematic and offensive”

[@askmeagain43]

why tho

[@readyfreddie1256]

@@askmeagain43 what do you mean?

[@loganmedia1142]

People who regularly say the latter are problematic and offensive.

[@user-tk4gr9zo7t]

Generally speaking, “tasteless” and “tone deaf” are great terms but don’t hold enough weight. “Problematic” and “offensive” hold more depth, and are used when talking about more serious things.

[@frohnatur9806]

I recently thought the same thing when KZbinrs discouraged others from taking BetterHelp sponsorships, because they're "controversial" or "shady". No. They've provably broken the law, common sense AND the trust of some of the most vulnerable people by exploiting that vulnerability into getting them to spend more money. That's a couple steps further than "controversial" or "shady", which should, in my opinion, be used to describe a situation that is unclear, such as when there are certain red flags hinting at a company's abuse, but nothing is proven. Offering 24hrs support from licensed therapists might be shady, because how do they do it? Do they keep them locked up, forced to reply to all clients at a moments notice? Is it a lie, and of course no therapists are available 24/7 because they're human too? Are they in fact not licensed? Since the answers to the latter two questions turned out to be 'yes', this is no longer controversial, but abusive, deceptive, neglectful and malicious. Like a moonless night in a cave, it's not shady, it's more than that.

[@l.l.2046]

I have no idea why this is even a meme. She's just sitting there. Why did that first post even go viral at all

[@annikagylling3685]

I don’t even know if it was meant to be funny. I think it was probably just a reference to something going on recently that they liked and was stuck in their brain. That sort of reaction image happens all the time on stan twitter. I just read it as a a tweet celebrating a thing that the internet hive mind recently experienced

[@Halbmond]

I think it’s the innocent yet sassy look in her face that possibly fits the Margarita drinking crowd to some extend. The problematic aspect is that it completely lifts the message of the ad, on the other hand it’s popular because it’s so relatable which I would consider empowering to the actress

[@UdoADHD]

That’s what makes it funny. It’s the fact she’s just sitting there. It’s making fun of how sitting at a bar and ordering a margarita should be a very simple thing.

[@michaeledwards6683]

@@Halbmondbut in this particular situation, divorcing the image from its context is ironically doing exactly what the original context called for: treating a person with down syndrome like any other person instead of assuming the need to make infantilizing accommodations

[@Halbmond]

@@michaeledwards6683 i agree

[@queenlucysroyalmaid1]

I found it SO interesting that this advert came out, and then mere days later I went to a hospital for a doctors appointment and had a really shocking experience; the hospital had blocked off their disabled parking bays. Fortunately my mum went with me to the appointment because its a 1.5hr drive away (one way) to keep me company on the drive, but I can drive myself. Mum then went into the hospital to ask where I could park because the disabled bays were blocked off. The admin staff said "oh, just drop her off here and then go and find a parking space", mum replied "no, I can't do that, she's driving". The admin staff went "SHE'S DISABLED AND DRIVING?!?!?!?!" like it was truly shocking. When my mum told me that I DESPERATELY wanted to show that woman this advert, because that's the exact point the advert is making. Anyway, I love the advert, share it around, watch it, it's very important, for being inclusive for people with DS and also generally for disabled people inclusion. Okeeeebyeee.

[@TheStanishStudios]

Jeebus, that reaction is so ridiculous! Hope ads like these help shift the perception of people like that hospital worker

[@evercuriousmichelle]

What did they do to fix it for you? Isn’t it illegal to not have disabled parking? I am so sorry for all the hate and ignorance you encounter!

[@michaeledwards6683]

the original tweet seems to be very obviously an “i’m just like her fr” type joke merely referencing the cultural ubiquity of the image. it’s the same as if someone were to tweet “at the movie theater” and post a screenshot of the nicole kidman amc commercial.

[@spooky-spaghetti]

i know nothing about this outside of this video, but i see it more as a cheeky "me when i order a margarita" because of her sassy pose? idk i see it positively but it's not my place to say

[@queenlucysroyalmaid1]

That is what I saw it as too (I am disabled but do not have Downs Syndrome).

[@trudaduda9573]

I watched this vid first, then the add. And I really don't see it other then positive, it is similar to "oh when I do this I feel like that cool movie character". So it's extremely positive from my point of view, because the effect of this add is that general public see this person with down syndrome as aspirational, idol, I wanna be as cool as her.

[@Leslie.__.]

I understand the type of meme that it is and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it itself, but I agree with the people saying it’s tone deaf. The meme ignores/buries the point of the ad

[@deureop]

i think the original tweet isnt a "haha funny picture" meme, it's a "haha i get the reference" kind of meme. like when people tweet a screenshot of that one mean girls scene on october 3rd. there's nothing funny about a picture of lindsay lohan in a classroom talking to some guy or about the date itself, but it's an iconic scene from a very popular movie, and it's significant enough that people think about it everytime october 3rd comes. now people think about that really cool commercial everytime they have a margarita.

[@lelouchvibritannia4235]

My interpretation was more of a Stan twitter reaction image? Like she kind of looks sassy in that pose so I thought of it more as a “heyy girl let’s get a margarita 💅” type of thing. I didn’t know it came from a Down syndrome awareness ad until people started talking about it. But someone else commented about people being sceptical when abled people make jokes involving disabled people because sometimes you can’t tell if they are laughing at a joke or making fun of you, so I get both perspectives.

[@DrFranklynAnderson]

Lifelong wheelchair-user here. In my experience, being able to joke with/about me means you see me as an equal. Walking on eggshells around me means you see me as someone “beneath you” who needs to be “protected.”

[@tiki_riot]

Not necessarily, some disabled people jump down your throat & scream ableism at every little thing, which makes people nervous.

[@kalpic11]

@@tiki_riotexactly. its the fear of rejection or conflict for making a mistake, not holier than thou-ness.

[@yelhsasokolova8561]

Unrelated but she rocks that hairstyle better than I ever could, I'm jealous

[@robdh4]

I think it could be more about the sassy pose when some people order drinks.

[@rando58]

0:51 CERVEZA CRYSTAL JUMSCARE

[@sadiesadiemlady]

my favorite meme in a while

[@p-zy5wr]

Itll never die for me.

[@bandman7600]

Becoming a reaction image just means the image has a very specific vibe that someone can relate to! And it means your famous. There is no joke, just a shared experience. I think it's great that we are relating the feeling of slaying and having fun night out with her!

[@yelhsasokolova8561]

Agreed

[@yelhsasokolova8561]

And she even approves of the memes

[@heathercontreras1586]

I definitely see both sides and I'll add that, in my personal opinion, I don't see this photo being used maliciously. Down Syndrome or not, it's relatable, no?

[@BeatrizKirshe]

As a disabled person (not down syndrome tho) this ad touched me deeply and I appreciate it a lot. As for the meme, I kind of thought it was slightly funny when she asked specifically for a margarita, my first thought mas "why margarita and not a beer as an example?" so maaaaybe there's a bit of humour there. But the way people are using it seems more like calling someone an "icon" or "queen" in an ironic tone. But I do hope this at least brings more awareness to the commercial ❤

[@jenniferjohnson-jb7ki]

It's a joke, a rather light one and as long as no one is bullying the woman directly I don't see a problem?

[@natey_TV]

If these people are asking if it's okay, they clearly don't remember "I can count to potato."

[@askmeagain43]

Isn't the point of the ad that you don't know what stranger are capable of and assumptions are the problem in the first place? I don't think it's saying all people with down syndrome are super heroes that can do anything.

[@yelhsasokolova8561]

Right? It's literally just saying that a lot of them are just.. normal people who happen to look different

[@Grace-er9ep]

I don't know what the joke is supposed to be but if it's literally just a screenshot with the caption "just ordered a margarita" then any offensiveness is just whatever people are randomly reading into it. There's nothing inherently offensive here as far as i can tell but maybe im missing something

[@pikachu-hd6lr]

Same

[@fx7105]

is this basically not just a reaction image? i don't get it, it's not even a meme, it's like a stan twitter reaction, like a million others. isn't this discussion esentially doing the exact opposite of the literal point of the advert?

[@loganmedia1142]

A meme is something that gets shared rapidly and widely. That would then make the image and post a meme.

[@jammjumble9928]

My first impression was that too, like not a funny image just one of those stan Twitter type things. And when they were talking about it like a joke I was like oh, the joke is that out of all the things people don’t let her do the margarita is “making it a reality”. I thought that her margarita drinking dreams being shattered, though isn’t great, might be funny in comparison to other more serious parts of the ad. Idk, I didn’t see the ad.

[@youllbemytourniquet]

I’ve seen people use semi-viral TikTok videos as reaction images, so I can definitely see this being the case.

[@Seungminsleftfoottoe]

I don’t understand why this is funny like it’s just a woman sitting by a table

[@LaVaZ000]

Funny scene

[@Unknown2Yoo]

Same here, don't get it, I would've scrolled and kept scrolling right past it.

[@UdoADHD]

That’s why it’s funny. It’s something that should be simple (but in the ad, it’s not simple)

[@loganmedia1142]

To me the meme is conveying the same positive message as intended by the advert. If someone claims my interpretation is jumping through hoops, then I have some actual hoops through which they can try jumping.

[@Starsongzz]

My take is that it’s not right to meme random people, if someone made a meme about black people that was racist, and not funny, I wouldn’t think “Gee! We’re really being accepted and seen in society now!” It depends on intent to me. We shouldn’t tell the down syndrome community what we think is okay for them to endure, but then again, we can’t stop people from being lazy “comedians.” But idk, I think we have bigger issues, and even as a marginalized person I would have bigger fish to fry and wouldn’t care about a random meme. I wonder if Madison even cares, like she’s probably gone through worse.

[@gothnerd887]

I thought she became a meme because she's pretty.

[@katherinebarton3837]

I just assumed the poster was making fun of themself. Like, Madeline in the ad is so much cooler than us all. OP wants to order a margarita with an aura of coolness like her, but can they really? No. The answer is no.

[@piggletimpact]

If we treat using her photo as more problematic than a non disabled adults photo than we are directly disrespecting her and the message provided in the ad to not infantilise disabled adults… Personally as long as this photo is not being used in a mocking manner than it is my option that it is fine to use Ps. Madeline slayed and is now an icon in my book

[@elisa2115]

need benedict to tell me which memes are funny rn, currently living on cerveza cristal and nothing else. i wont laugh til its been given the scroll deep stamp of approval.

[@Anne_Onymous]

Do I _personally_ find it funny? No. Does it matter? No. Humor is subjective.

[@yelhsasokolova8561]

Someone mentioned that this is some AI generated drama and I wholeheartedly agree

[@joystarrturk]

A world without memes was just a sad office or bleak taupe school hall with inspiration posters.

[@UdoADHD]

For those who don’t get it - It’s funny because it’s a very mundane thing to do but unfortunately for this group it’s not due to stereotypes

[@user-tc5qc4ql8m]

i think a weird thing is going on where like, (arguably) the original post isn't offensive and is just a reference, but like the cultural norm of twitter is one of eternal conflict so like everything is seen as an attack because it kind of implicitly is. like the intent of the poster is almost irrelevant because of the idea that some people might take the opportunity to trivialize the subject matter (and thus undermine the message of the ad). like, arguably, the humor of twitter is gawking at absurd subjects and frequently that involves "absurd people" like how twitter has a "main character of the day." it's like that marshall mcluhan quote how the "medium is the message"

[@zonule_]

I suggest another video on cerveza cristal

[@RatRatRat]

I do think the original post was probably not meant to be mean or making fun of Madison at all. There is a subset of twitter culture, mostly fan/stan culture, where people post their thoughts and pair it with any image (usually of a celebrity) that is slightly relevant. The image itself isn't supposed to be funny, it's more the person who posted it making a pop culture reference, almost like they're proving their pop culture knowledge by having a picture readily available for any given situation. This person might have genuinely just ordered a margarita, wanted to share with their Twitter, and attached the first image that popped into their head. Whether that sentiment has changed when the image became more of a viral meme is more up for debate. Also, just a random insight but it is interesting that since becoming a meme this ad has gained more of a worldwide audience -- it has never aired in New Zealand but here I am on the other side of the world talking about it right now!

[@terrymorris740]

I understood that post as someone remembering that ad when ordering a margarita and thinking it was a fun reference

[@tecc]

I think this brings up more of an issue of removing the screenshot from its context. Often, memes outlive the original context and spread to people who don’t know where it’s from and use it without any understanding of intended underlying messages. This isn’t an uncommon situation and I can imagine it might be frustrating to see something people put a lot of effort into in order to change public perception get boiled down to “I just ordered a margarita.” Not that I think it was intended to be malicious, but I suspect that’s the root of the debate

[@richarddewhirst5921]

Pretty simple really. Comedy is subjective but either everything is a target for comedy, or nothing can be. If you say you can't make fun of X because it upsets/offends someone, then logically, you can't make fun of Y for the same reason.

[@michaeledwards6683]

this logic is just cope for people who don’t know how to read a room

[@EthanBlack-jr5pc]

Hahahaha the cervisaa crystal call back

[@IWishIDidntExist2333]

I'd say there were much more harmful stan twitter memes before. SO FAR (! ) his doesn't seem ill intentioned unlike the Skinny Legend Raini Rodriguez meme or the Millie Bobby Brown memes.

[@BlackestEyes709]

i laughed just hearing "A young woman with Downs Syndrome" 💀

[@ImWeirdAndILikeIt]

Maybe shoulda edited the part where you called Madison “Madeline” repeatedly 😬 And fix “Downs Syndrome” in the description to “Down Syndrome” Great video otherwise

[@kaiscote]

Yeah I noticed the “Madeline” 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@lpschaf8943]

I think we should pull out the stick in our bums.

[@nora123et]

literally anything can become a meme, this meme isnt mocking her disability its just a silly meme, it's treating her like it treats anything that gets memed, its not ableist

[@fka_milk]

you're actually funny :)

[@Tom-sj3vn]

Yeah it’s funny. NEXT!

[@notherbert7095]

i don'tt find it funny. not that i find it too offensive, my humor is quite dark, it's just not funny, there's nothing to it

[@sparkkie804]

Ice Spice is spittin facts!!!💯

[@sallyparker11]

Yeah, very tasteless to make a joke out of a very sincere and important advert. I wonder what Maddison thinks about it

[@loganmedia1142]

Maybe people should stop getting offended on other people's behalf and stop looking for something offensive in everything.

[@katharinagroe4180]

You go to a bar, you order a drink and get what you ordered. This seems like some AI generated drama.

[@Rerizz]

I don’t think you understood what any of this is about

[@thirdwaveemo]

me when i didnt watch the video 😭😭

[@elisa2115]

AI generated comment

[@Eyeball44]

That’s.. not what the video is about?

[@conchureify]

I understand that your videos are meant to discuss recent internet trending topics, but can i recommend you stick to funnier topics rather than getting bogged down on these sorts of pointless internet controversy topics