The Leonardo DiCaprio Oscars meme took off during the opening monologue at the 98th Academy Awards, when host Conan O’Brien jokingly called the actor the “king of memes” and turned him into a new one live on camera. The ceremony was held on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre, with Conan O’Brien hosting.
O’Brien set up the joke by telling the audience, “Let’s make a new meme with Leo right now.” As the camera cut to DiCaprio in the crowd, text appeared on screen reading, “TFW you didn’t agree to this.” According to the Pople, the bit landed instantly and began circulating online.
DiCaprio was seated in the audience with his girlfriend, Vittoria Ceretti, when the moment happened. He was also nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role for One Battle After Another, adding another layer of attention to the gag.
Conan O’Brien makes a new Leonardo DiCaprio meme #Oscars pic.twitter.com/OX62X798Mx
— Deadline (@DEADLINE) March 15, 2026Leonardo DiCaprio Oscars Meme
The new Oscars joke was built on DiCaprio’s already famous internet image and some of his best-known reaction images, including the laughing meme from Django Unchained, the pointing meme from Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, and the champagne toast from The Great Gatsby.
That history made O’Brien’s joke easy to understand and quick to spread. Instead of forcing a viral moment, the monologue played off a reputation DiCaprio has carried online for years.
The joke arrived during O’Brien’s opening monologue, which multiple reports described as one of the most talked-about parts of the ceremony. Coverage of the night noted that the host used DiCaprio’s meme status as part of a wider run of celebrity jokes and crowd interactions.
Because the setup was simple and the screen text was instantly relatable, the meme translated quickly for viewers online. That helped turn a brief live-TV moment into one of the night’s most shareable clips.
