The 'Gru Holding Gun' meme, often accompanied by the pun 'Things are about to get GRUesome,' features the main protagonist of the Despicable Me franchise pointing a firearm directly at the viewer. This image is a fan-created 3D render that began circulating on platforms like Reddit and Twitter around 2020. The meme's popularity stems from the jarring contrast between Gru’s usually family-friendly character and the sudden, realistic threat of the weapon. It is typically used as a reaction image to express mock aggression, a stern warning, or a humorous way to signal that a situation is about to become chaotic or unpleasant.