TikTok users are worried about their most beloved celebrities dying, and they’re using an audio warning against taking “unnecessary trips” to share these fears.
Following the recent high-profile death of Dolly Parton, which was soon followed by the death of Tim Curry, this trend is seeing a huge increase in virality.
But what is the context of the “unnecessary trips” audio, what does the trend mean and why is it going viral? Here’s what we know.
What is the ‘Do not make unnecessary journeys’ video?
In 2015, news broadcaster Teresa Mannion reported on Hurricane Desmond in the west of Ireland. During the report, she stands in the middle of a storm and shouts through the rain, “Don’t take unnecessary trips, don’t take risks on treacherous roads, and don’t swim in the ocean!”
The clip went viral after it was edited by Gerard Walsh and posted on YouTube. The edit adds a scene at the end of her report, where a stop sign appears over her head.
Many people fell for the editing and actually believed that Mannion was hit by the stop sign. It turned Mannion into a viral sensation, even getting him an appearance The Late Late Show.
How is ‘Do not make unnecessary trips’ used in memes?
In 2024, TikTokers took Mannion’s audio warning viewers not to undertake unnecessary travel and began using it as part of a trend about celebrity deaths.
The audio is used to warn beloved celebrities who are not dead yet, but are growing old, against taking unnecessary trips and taking unnecessary risks so that they may live longer.
After the death of many big celebrities, this trend has made a big comeback on TikTok and Reels. Most notably, the deaths of Dolly Parton and Tim Curry have caused a massive increase in this trend.
Now, TikTokers are posting videos using audio to share which celebrities they’re most afraid of passing by, including names like David Attenborough, Ed O’Neill and Stevie Nicks.
What are some more ‘Don’t take unnecessary trips’ memes?
For the full history of Do Not Make Unnecessary Trips, be sure to check out the encyclopedia entry on Know Your Meme for more information.
Read the original article on Know Your Meme.