The 'Where Will You Be When Diarrhea Strikes?' meme originated from a series of late 2000s television commercials for the digestive relief medication Pepto-Bismol. The ads featured individuals suddenly frozen in awkward or public situations by an urgent need to use the restroom, accompanied by an ominous voiceover. Internet users repurposed the dramatic slogan and visual aesthetic to highlight moments of sudden realization, intense panic, or unfortunate timing in various contexts. It evolved from a health advertisement into a staple of early image macro culture, often paired with photos of animals looking shocked or people in compromising positions to emphasize the absurdity of the original campaign's intensity.