The 'Then Perish' meme originated from a viral Tumblr roleplay conversation involving a fan-fiction scenario where one character's plea for mercy was met with a ruthless, minimalist rebuttal. The phrase reached peak internet status when it was paired with a distorted, high-contrast image of Barack Obama peering down with an intimidating expression. Today, the meme is used as the ultimate reaction image to express mock-cruelty, indifference, or dramatic finality in the face of someone's request or complaint. Its popularity stems from the sharp contrast between the desperate plea of the first party and the cold, unyielding authority of the response.