Brian Williams Was There Meme Template
Brian Williams Was There is a meme format that places NBC News anchor Brian Williams into increasingly absurd or impossible historical events, playing on his 2015 public scandal in which he admitted to fabricating or misremembering his presence during news events. The format uses text overlays or photoshops to insert Williams into famous moments he could not have witnessed. It's a satire of journalistic credibility and the human tendency to insert oneself into important stories.
Caption this template- Category
- Situation Meme Templates
- Size
- 620 x 381 px
- Format
- Image
- Price
- Free, no sign up
Where the Brian Williams Was There meme comes from
The meme emerged directly from the February 2015 scandal in which Brian Williams admitted he had falsely claimed to have been aboard a helicopter that was hit by rocket fire in Iraq in 2003. After the story broke and NBC suspended Williams, internet users began placing him in obviously impossible historical events as mockery.
How to caption the Brian Williams Was There meme
Pick an iconic historical moment - The moon landing, the signing of the Magna Carta, a dinosaur extinction event - And caption a photoshopped or text-based image with Williams solemnly recounting his presence there. The further back in time or more physically impossible the claim, the better the joke. Open it in the meme generator, or read how to make relatable memes for more.
Brian Williams Was There caption ideas
Need a starting point? Try one of these on the Brian Williams Was There template, then make it your own in the meme generator.
- Top: The signing of the Declaration of Independence / Bottom: I held Jefferson's quill steady when his hand shook. Harrowing day.
- Top: The first Moon landing, 1969 / Bottom: I told Neil to watch that last step. He never thanked me on air.
- Top: The asteroid that ended the dinosaurs / Bottom: I reported live from the impact zone. Lost a good camera that day.
- Top: The construction of the Great Pyramid / Bottom: I personally advised them on the angle. Modest contribution, really.
- Top: The Big Bang, beginning of the universe / Bottom: I was there for the whole thing. Surprisingly loud.
Best uses for the Brian Williams Was There template
Use the Brian Williams Was There template when the joke fits a situation format and the image can explain the feeling before the reader finishes the caption. It is strongest for relatable everyday moments, before-and-after jokes, and social observations.
This blank is 620 x 381 px and is a still image, so place the most important words where they stay readable after a feed crop. The wide frame works best when the caption stays centered so timeline crops do not cut off the joke.
The sample captions are more detailed, so trim aggressively before posting on small screens. Before exporting, read the caption once without looking at the image; if it still needs a long explanation, switch to a simpler setup or a more obvious related template.
Caption patterns to try
| Pattern | Why it works |
|---|---|
| Top: The signing of the Declaration of Independence / Bottom: I held Jefferson's quill steady when his hand shook. Harrowing day. | This works because it gives the reader a specific situation instead of a vague label. |
| Top: The first Moon landing, 1969 / Bottom: I told Neil to watch that last step. He never thanked me on air. | This pattern keeps the setup concrete, which helps the template carry the reaction. |
| Top: The asteroid that ended the dinosaurs / Bottom: I reported live from the impact zone. Lost a good camera that day. | This is a useful direction when you want the punchline to feel personal or self-aware. |
Common mistakes with this blank
- Writing a caption that explains the whole joke instead of letting the Brian Williams Was There image do part of the work.
- Placing text over the most expressive part of the image, especially faces, gestures, signs, or the main action.
- Using three different ideas in one meme. This template works better when it points at one clear situation.
- Exporting before checking the meme at phone size. If the smallest words blur together, shorten the caption first.
