Internet celebrity Grumpy Cat, the face of countless memes, has died at the age of 7, her owners announced today.
Grumpy Cat — real name Tardar Sauce — shot to fame as a figurehead of online culture thanks to her permanent frown apparently signaling displeasure at anything and everything.
The official Grumpy Cat Twitter account announced that she died on Tuesday due to complications from a recent urinary tract infection.
“Grumpy Cat has helped millions of people smile around the world — even when times were tough,” the statement said.
Some days are grumpier than others… pic.twitter.com/ws209VWl97
— Grumpy Cat (@RealGrumpyCat) May 17, 2019
Grumpy’s rise to fame began when the brother of her owner, Tabatha Bundesen, posted a picture to Reddit in 2012.
It was later remixed and turned into thousands of memes on social media sites, with captions such as: “I HAD FUN ONCE… IT WAS AWFUL.”
The cat’s unusual appearance was not in fact due to her temperament but an unusual combination of an underbite and feline dwarfism, a form of genetic mutation.
grumpy cat died and i’m sobbing i know these legends are chillin up in heaven pic.twitter.com/eKfCQyKyDG
— ⋆ ???? ⋆ (@ZoieeeGarcia) May 17, 2019
Bundesen always maintained that Grumpy was in fact very pleasant and playful.
Such was Grumpy Cat’s fame that her owners began a full-time publicity operation to fulfill demand for personal appearances.
She appeared at the SXSW festival and on several commercials.
R.I.P Grumpy Cat. I’m sure cat heaven is so beautiful that you’ll hate it slightly less than you thought you would. pic.twitter.com/spxkmZ4A2d
— NotTheGreenGoblin (@TeamSymbiote) May 17, 2019
Never forget the time Obama impersonated Grumpy Cat to drag the GOP pic.twitter.com/6LmhJB8MMP
— NowThis (@nowthisnews) May 17, 2019
Remembering Grumpy Cat: the most influential pet on social media https://t.co/kOPyv4Yso3 pic.twitter.com/J0EMR84y0M
— Forbes (@Forbes) May 17, 2019
May the Force be with you Grumpy Cat#RIPGrumpyCat pic.twitter.com/Y5df393YEe
— Star Wars (@StarWarsGreats) May 17, 2019
Blessed that #GrumpyCat got to meet Andy in her amazing life ?? pic.twitter.com/fafXKrcwxn
— The Walking Dead (@TheWalkingDead) May 17, 2019
You were the best #GrumpyCat pic.twitter.com/xDvInHUeIv
— Igor Nunes (@igorbnunes) May 17, 2019
RIP legend, we will miss you… #GrumpyCat #grumpycatRIP pic.twitter.com/4zbTkrz0T5
— Giorgos Douvas (@douvas23) May 17, 2019
One of the greats died today. #GrumpyCat. She was an honorary member of our Order from the beginning. Well, we assume. We just heard the other side is trying to claim her too! pic.twitter.com/JC0m2YIn47
— The Chattering Order of St. Beryl (@chattering_nuns) May 17, 2019
Rest In Peace Grumpy Cat,
you will be in our hearts eternally❤️ pic.twitter.com/Lfp4pvL0HC— — ???? ?? ????? ????????; (@hchlnarchives) May 17, 2019
Grumpy Cat ist tot: https://t.co/wCxCYf7Tw3 pic.twitter.com/uHDpfCR6Zb
— Tino Hahn (@Tino_Hahn) May 17, 2019
Sweet baby❤️ Give em hell in Heaven? #GrumpyCat pic.twitter.com/5wqu62Mpqs
— Jordyn❤️❤️ (@Jordynforlife91) May 17, 2019
Rest in peace, #GrumpyCat ??? pic.twitter.com/E55TAbHuWH
— EMMA Digital Art (@emmadigitalart) May 17, 2019
As per company policy this is not a Grumpy Cat meme. It is a meme about sports.-mm pic.twitter.com/wSmgdwTfGL
— 95.5 KLOSFM (@955KLOS) February 4, 2016
Rest in peace Grumpy Cat. You were a true Youtube hero. pic.twitter.com/u8Fgu7QiPO
— MisAnthro Pony (@MisAnthroPony) May 17, 2019
The official Grumpy Cat shop lists 883 items for sale, including books, T-shirts, calendars and temporary tattoos.
And in 2013, the Bundesens launched Grumppucino, a branded coffee drink.
Like Harambe the gorilla, Grumpy Cat will always be remembered, immortalized by millions of meme-creators who found her unhappy face both adorable, and relatable.
Grumpy Cat with her owner, Tabitha Bundesen.