The LeBron James Scream If You Love meme and the LeBron James Satanic Ritual meme refer to a video of the NBA legend comically “screaming” before a video transition to his pre-game ritual, which is often doctored. However, each half of this meme has a very different background.
First, the second half, which was originally known as…
The LeBron James Satanic Ritual origins
On April 1st, 2022, @expose.the.industry posted a TikTok of LeBron performing pregame warmups, accompanied by the caption, “Illuminati Rituals.. I bet nobody notice it.”
@expose.the.industry Illuminati Rituals.. I bet nobody notice it #lebronjames #nba2k #sellyoursoul #expose #artist #foryou #fyp #blowthisup #rap #entertainment #virall #basketball ♬ the remedy for a broken heart (why am I so in love) – Instrumental – XXXTENTACION
The date posted should be a dead giveaway for its questionable nature.
In April of 2023, a video of LeBron’s pre-game ritual posted by @money.burnz was edited to look more “satanic,” as though the athlete was summoning Lucifer for the powers of basketballing.
The footage was accompanied by markers of when LeBron was supposedly doing the “Freemasonry Hand Sign,” “6-6-6 (Sign of the Devil),” “Baphomet Chest Release,” “Exsufflation (Dark Magic),” and “Spreading the Energy Around,” all of which are supposed Satanic Illuminati signs!
@money_burnz The true meaning behind Lebrons pregame ritual?? Is it satanic?
♬ I.C.U. – Money Burnz
However, that clip of LeBron supposedly doing his Satan-summoning pregame warmup actually came from this one, posted by the NBA on July 7, 2015, which is a clip of LeBron paying tribute to fellow NBA superstar Kyrie Irving, who practices a similar warmup routine.
LeBron James Scream If You Love origin
The LeBron James scream was born on October 5th, 2023, when the NBA’s TikTok posted a video of LeBron screaming when asked to react to being the oldest player in basketball.
@nba LeBron’s reaction to being the oldest player in the NBA 😂😱 #NBA #basketball #LeBronJames ♬ original sound – NBA
The clip snagged seven million plays and 900,000 likes in six months. It’s a solid little scream, and the internet ran with it. Two days later on October 7th, TikTok’s @mustard_expert posted the same scream, edited with some extra sound effects, which gathered over 21 million plays.
@mustard_expert lescream #fyp #NBA #lebron #basketball #legoat #fypシ #lebronjames #jordan #goat ♬ original sound – mustard
The groundwork was set, it was time for the two LeBron James memes to come together.
Tag teaming
The meme trend featuring both the LeBron James Scream and the LeBron James Satanic Ritual edited together took off on February 20th, 2024, when TikTokker @iluvprada posted this:
@iluvuprada ♬ pradabands on all plats – PRADABANDS
The “scream if you love Satan” post garnered 26k views in a month, but in April of 2023, @cclips3000 posted a redo of the video, this time about Satan’s mortal enemy, God.
@cclips3000 Boy oh boy where do l even begin. Lebron… honey, my pookie bear. I have loved you ever since I first laid eyes on you. The way you drive into the paint and strike fear into your enemies eyes. Your silky smooth touch around the rim, and that gorgeous jumpshot. I would do anything for you. I wish it were possible to freeze time so l would never have to watch you retire. You had a rough childhood, but you never gave up hope. You are even amazing off the court, you're a great husband and father, sometimes | even call you dad. I forvever dread and weep, thinking of the day you will one day retire. I would sacrifice my own life it were the only thing that could put a smile on your beautiful face. You have given me so much joy, and heartbreak over the years. I remember when you first left clevenland and its like my heart got broken into a million pieces. But a tear still fell from my right eye when I watched you win your first ring in miami, because deep down, my alorious kina deserved it liust wanted you #fyp #lebron #funny #nba #youaremysunshine ♬ original sound – cclips3000
The clip cleverly recontextualizes all of LeBron’s “satanic” hand gestures as straight-up God-tributes. In the head-to-head Satan vs. God battle, God won, with the post gathering over 1 million plays and 330k likes in a week.
More importantly, the two clips had been married and were ready to take on the world together as one, particularly in the world of gaming.
LeBron James Scream If You Love Examples
@blorgxvi no way 👽🙏 #fyp #aliensupremacy #space #blorgxvi #viral ♬ original sound – Blorg 👽
@mcdreamydad #runescape #lebronjames ♬ original sound – McDreamyDad
LeBron James scream if you love Pokemon Emerald pic.twitter.com/p5JepoFPMU
— SploderianRich (@IAmSplodeRich) April 22, 2024
— disphing (@dsphng) April 29, 2024
Lebron James, scream if you love Monster Hunter pic.twitter.com/DhrBvTEA4y
— King II: Giant Swing Boogaloo (@Regicide124) April 27, 2024
@paidacrobat3541 LeBron James scream if you love Mario Kart #lebron #fyp #mariokart #viral ♬ suono originale – paidacrobat3541
@bmegatrongaming HEAWEEGOO #lebronjames #scream #supermario #fyp ♬ original sound – bmegatron
More LeBron James memes:
- LeBron James: The king of memes
- Is Crying LeBron the perfect answer to Crying Jordan?
- LeBron James’ sheer misery at missed opportunity gets the meme treatment
- The funniest LeBron James memes from Decision 3.0
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