Funny or Die originated as a comedy video website launched in 2007 by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, debuting with the iconic 'The Landlord' sketch. The site's signature feature was a binary voting system where users decided if a video was 'Funny' or should 'Die,' effectively gamifying comedy critiques. As a meme, it is used to represent the harsh reality of social media validation or to caption moments that either land perfectly or fail miserably. The branding serves as a seal of approval (or a death sentence) for internet humor, often applied to screenshots of awkward interactions or high-pressure comedic situations.