Angela Bassett Did The Thing memes go viral after Ariana DeBose's BAFTA performance

21 February 2023, 12:49

Ariana DeBose celebrates BAFTAs performance

By Katie Louise Smith

What did Angela Bassett do? The thing, girl!

If you didn't tune into the BAFTAs live on Sunday night (Feb 19), then you would have missed Ariana DeBose's now viral performance.

During the ceremony, the Academy Award-winning star Ariana opened the show with an energetic performance featuring Eurythmics and Aretha Franklin's banger 'Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves', where she name-checked the female nominees in the audience.

It was fun, it was cute and it was wild, in the best way. Viola Davis loved it. And of course, it immediately went viral.

While there was a lot of negative and unfair reaction towards Ariana's performance, the other side of social media has become obsessed with one of the lyrics in the song.

After rapping her way through celebratory shout-outs to the likes of Hong Chau, Emma Thompson and Michelle Yeoh, Ariana rapped: "Angela Bassett did the thing! Viola Davis, my Woman King!" And in true internet fashion, those lyrics have now been turned into a meme.

Following some of the negative commentary surrounding her performance, Ariana reportedly deactivated her Twitter account. But thankfully, it seems like she's enjoying the memes about her now legendary Angela Bassett lyric.

Ariana responded to the viral moment with a comment on writer Evan Ross Katz's Instagram post featuring a round up of some of the reactions – and she loved it.

"Honestly, I love this," Ariana wrote, with fans taking the time to let her know that her performance was "iconic", and to thank her for "creat[ing] an obsessional, joyous & fun moment."

Another added: "We appreciate you. Thank you for this new humorous gem!"

Here are some of the best and funniest memes about Angela Bassett doing the thing.

February 19th is henceforth known as International "Angela Bassett Did The Thing" Day.

It's been on a loop in my head for almost 48 hours.

Marie Laveau, my Voodoo Queen!

Ryan Murphy needs to capitalise on this Angela Bassett moment expeditiously!

Good for her!

And what is The [Damn] Thing, exactly? Being iconic.

Get Kevin Feige on the phone STAT, the multiverse has a new power couple!

For the rest of Angela Bassett's career and beyond, we will be saying this line.

Ariana DeBose: "I am going to drop a bar so iconic..."

TWO ICONS STAND BEFORE ME!

No one was having a better time than Viola Davis, my Woman King.

Ariana DeBose has spoken it into existence, and she will be cemented in history when the prophecy is fulfilled.

WATCH: Paul Rudd tries to name every Marvel movie in one minute

Paul Rudd Tries To Name Every Marvel Movie In 1 Minute | Quantumania | PopBuzz Meets