The 'Ayy LMAO' meme features a wide-eyed, spindly grey alien, often depicted with a mischievous or smug expression. It first gained traction on the internet in the early 2010s, particularly on Tumblr and 4chan, where it was paired with the nonsensical and slang-heavy catchphrase 'ayy lmao.' This phrase eventually became a universal response to strange, surreal, or sci-fi-related content across social media. While the original image is believed to be a prop from a 1990s Portuguese UFO magazine, it evolved into a pillar of early 2010s internet culture, representing a blend of absurdity and the mystery of the cosmos.