This meme originates from a dramatic scene in the 2002 film The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, where King Théoden of Rohan rhetorically asks Aragorn, "Where was Gondor when the Westfold fell?" to express his bitterness over the perceived abandonment by his allies. Online, the phrase became a popular template for highlighting the absence of help during a critical moment or pointing out hypocrisy. Users often swap "Gondor" and "the Westfold" for modern inconveniences, like a friend missing a group call or a IT support being unavailable during a server crash. Its lasting appeal lies in its grand, cinematic weight applied to often trivial or relatable everyday struggles.