The 'Sassy Gay Friend' meme originated from a viral web series produced by The Second City Network starring comedian Brian Gallivan, which first debuted in 2010. In each sketch, the titular character intervenes in classic literary or historical tragedies—such as the deaths of Juliet, Ophelia, or Desdemona—to stop the protagonist from committing a foolish act. Armed with a colorful scarf and biting wit, his catchphrases 'What are you doing?' and 'Look at your life, look at your choices' became instant internet gold. The meme is primarily used to humorously critique friends or public figures who are making obviously terrible life decisions, serving as a flamboyant reality check for modern-day 'tragedies.'