The 'Gentlemen' meme originates from the character 'The Spy' in Valve's popular multiplayer shooter, Team Fortress 2. It features a photoshopped image of the Spy with dozens of lit cigarettes stuffed into his mouth, accompanied by the single word 'Gentlemen.' The image first appeared on the Facepunch forums around 2008 and quickly became a staple of internet culture, particularly on 4chan and Reddit. It is typically used as a reaction image to announce one's arrival in a forum thread or to introduce a significant, often absurd, piece of news. The absurdity of the Spy's stoic demeanor contrasted with the overwhelming amount of smoke makes it a timeless classic for fans of Valve’s humor and Source filmmaker enthusiasts.