The 'Death of Brian Griffin' meme stems from the 2013 Family Guy episode 'Life of Brian,' where the show's beloved anthropomorphic dog is tragically killed in a hit-and-run accident. The scene initially caused massive fan outcry and petitions before Brian was brought back via time travel just two episodes later. In internet culture, the template is used either to express dramatic sadness over a sudden loss or, more commonly, to ironically highlight the 'death' of a trend, a video game, or a personal hobby. Its high-stakes emotional framing makes it perfect for hyperbolic humor regarding things that have been 'killed off' or replaced by something else.