The 'Press Y to Shame' meme originates from the 2017 action RPG Middle-earth: Shadow of War, where the protagonist Talion can 'shame' defeated orcs to lower their level or status within the Nemesis System. The screenshot featuring the prompt became a viral sensation as a reaction image used to express disbelief, skepticism, or moral judgment toward someone’s actions or statements. Similar to the 'Press F to Pay Respects' or 'X to Doubt' memes, it has evolved into a versatile internet shorthand for calling out nonsense or expressing intense disappointment in a humorous, high-fantasy gaming context.