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“Slow Clap” meme: meaning, origin and epic card

The Slow Clap refers to sarcastic, slow applause used to ironically congratulate a terrible idea or poor performance.

MyMemeCards editorial teamPublished 7 min read
Slow Clap meme
The “Slow Clap” meme, 2009

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In MyMemeCards, the meme card game, “Slow Clap” is an epic card of the Memes World series 70, number 20975 of the collection, and the 170th best-known meme of its 243 cards. Here is what the meme means, where it comes from, and how to get its card.

What does the “Slow Clap” meme mean?

This meme expresses cold sarcasm towards an obvious error or stupid decision. The user claps slowly to highlight the absurdity of the situation, turning social etiquette into a weapon of devastating but contained criticism.

Where does the “Slow Clap” meme come from?

The precise origin of the internet meme is unknown, though the concept predates the web. A Saturday Night Live sketch (1991) and a Usenet group (February 2003) attest to its early use. The visual scene comes from the film Citizen Kane (1941), where Orson Welles applauds his wife after an opera failure. This GIF circulated by November 2007 and on 4chan in October 2008. By 2009, the expression spread across blogs without a single identified creator platform.

  1. 1941Release of the film Citizen Kane featuring the scene of insistent applause.
  2. 2003Textual attestation of the concept on a Usenet group in February.
  3. 2008Publication of the associated GIF on the platform 4chan on October 6.

How to use the “Slow Clap” meme

  • Reply with this GIF to an unrealistic suggestion in a professional chat.
  • Comment on a joke that fails with an image of slow clapping.
  • Highlight the crushing failure of a personal project during a public presentation.

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The “Slow Clap” card in MyMemeCards

Slow Clap card
NumberNo. 20975
RarityEpic
CollectionMemes World series 70
Fame76/100 · #170 of 243
Recycle value20 MemeCoins (60 in Shiny)
Rarities of the Memes World series 70: 243 cards
  • Common197.8%
  • Rare197.8%
  • Epic19580%
  • Legendary62.5%
  • Mythic41.6%

How to get the “Slow Clap” card

Every pack holds 5 meme cards, the first 3 of them Common; Slow Clap comes out of the Memes World series 70 as an epic card. The pack odds say what each rarity weighs.

Your first pack is free and needs no account. After that a new free pack lands every 10 minutes, up to 3 waiting for you. You can also buy the card with MemeCoins on the market, bid for it at auction, or trade it — and a double recycles into 20 MemeCoins.

Open your free pack

5 meme cards, one of them at least Rare. One free pack per person.

Free · no account needed

Odds per card, averaged over a pack: Common 72%, Rare 23.9%, Epic 3.2%, Legendary 0.56%, Mythic 0.3%, Full Art ≤ 0.1%, Shiny 0.2%. Cards 1 to 3 are always Common, cards 4 and 5 climb the rarities. Rates drop for cards that circulate a lot. Details

Memes like “Slow Clap”

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Frequently asked questions

Slow Clap meme meaning?

It refers to slow applause used to ironically mock a bad idea or clumsiness.

Slow Clap origin?

The concept has existed for a long time, but the GIF comes from the 1941 film Citizen Kane. The digital meme emerges around 2008-2009.

Who does the slow clap?

It is Orson Welles playing Charles Foster Kane in Citizen Kane, although the original scene is more aggressive.

Slow Clap real or fake?

The film scene is real and taken from Citizen Kane. The internet meme is a digital adaptation of this iconic image.

How do I get the Slow Clap meme card?

Open a pack of MyMemeCards: “Slow Clap” is an epic card of the Memes World series 70. Your first pack is free, with no account, and you can also buy, trade or win the card at auction.

How rare is the Slow Clap card?

It is an Epic card. Rarity decides which pack slot can deal it, and what it is worth on the market.

Sources: Slow Clap - Know Your Meme · Shia Applauds | Slow Clap · Citizen Kane Clapping - Know Your Meme · checked on October 11, 2026.

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