Anthony Adams Rubbing Hands Together Meme: The Origin and Spread
Welcome to Grumpy Sharks! If you’re on the lookout for the latest viral memes, you’ve landed at the right spot. Today, we’re diving into the Anthony Adams Rubbing Hands Together Meme—a meme that’s taken over the internet in recent years.
This iconic image of former NFL player Anthony “Spice” Adams, wearing a bright yellow jacket, rubbing his hands together with a mischievous look, has become the perfect reaction image for anything “up for grabs.”
Whether it’s used to signal excitement, anticipation, or just for comedic effect, the Anthony Adams Rubbing Hands Together Meme has proven to be a fan favorite across social media platforms.
Stick with us as we break down its origin, rise to fame, and the location behind the meme.
What is the rubbing hands together meme?
The Rubbing Hands Together Meme (or Anthony Adams Rubbing Hands Together Meme) features a still of Anthony “Spice” Adams, a former professional football player, wearing a bright yellow jacket. In this iconic image, Adams stands behind a tree, licking his lips while rubbing his hands together, giving the impression that he is about to pounce on something or someone.
This visual conveys a sense of excitement, anticipation, and mischievousness—perfect for moments when something is “up for grabs” or when you’re eagerly preparing to take advantage of an opportunity.
Where did the Anthony Adams rubbing hands meme come from?
The rubbing hands together meme originated on December 27, 2017, when Anthony “Spice” Adams posted a humorous story titled “The Love Story of Leon Lemons” on his Twitter and Facebook accounts.
In his story, Adams recounted a playful tale about a character named Leon Lemons (LL) attempting to win over a woman, only to discover that she had four children. Despite the unexpected turn of events, LL bravely declared, “Oh I’ll clothe and feed dem kids,” embodying both humor and resilience.
Source: Spice Adams
In the post, Adams shared several photographs of himself and his family, including the iconic image of him rubbing his hands together behind a tree, looking eager or excited. While the post garnered some attention with over 30 retweets on Twitter and 260 shares on Facebook, it wasn’t until a few years later that the image would gain its meme status.
Source: Spice Adams
Spread of the Meme
The first noticeable use of the rubbing hands image as a reaction meme began in January 2018, particularly in posts where users expressed excitement or anticipation in a humorous context.
For example, on January 16, 2018, Twitter user @Czohmfeka posted the image as a reaction to a post, which marked the initial spread on the platform.
The meme continued to grow in popularity throughout 2018. In September and October 2018, the image gained significant traction, being widely used in humorous reactions across social media. However, it wasn’t until April 16, 2019, that the first meme using the image was posted on Reddit. The meme, which received nine upvotes, marked the beginning of the meme’s evolution into its modern format.
Source: Reddit User
On July 5, 2019, Redditor dcxr posted a meme that received over 73,000 upvotes in just twelve days. The meme gained viral attention, especially in subreddits such as /r/dankmemes and /r/attackontitan, where it was shared and re-shared across different online communities.
Source: dcxr
Tree Identification and Location Discovery
In an interesting twist, the exact location where the iconic photograph was taken was uncovered years later. On November 29, 2023, Instagram user Rainbolt posted a video on both Instagram and TikTok, showing viewers the process he went through to discover the location of the photo. The video revealed that the famous image was captured in Daniel Wright Woods Forest Preserve in Illinois, USA. The post received an overwhelming 1.2 million likes in just a day and a half, marking another milestone in the meme’s journey.
Source: georainbolt
The Truth Behind the Photo
Finally, the true context behind the iconic image was revealed during a September 20, 2024 appearance by Anthony Adams on the Pardon My Take podcast hosted by Barstool Sports. In this episode, Adams explained the background of the photograph: during a family photo shoot, he decided to step into the minivan and change into the now-famous yellow jacket. The snippet from the podcast was later shared on X (formerly Twitter), where it garnered over 350,000 views in just six days.
Source: PardonMyTake
FAQs related to the Anthony Adams Rubbing Hands Together Meme
What does the idiom rubbing hands mean?
The idiom “rubbing hands together” generally conveys a sense of excitement or anticipation for something positive, like a reward or success. It can also suggest a sly, mischievous act, especially when someone is preparing for something they’re eager about, such as making a deal or plotting something fun or sneaky.
Who is the guy behind the tree meme? Who is the yellow suit guy in from?
The guy behind the iconic “rubbing hands together” meme is Anthony “Spice” Adams, a former professional football player.
What does rubbing two hands together mean?
The action of rubbing two hands together can indicate a number of things, including excitement, anticipation, or preparation for something. It’s often seen when someone is ready to take action, looking forward to an event, or preparing to indulge in something they find appealing.
Conclusion
The Anthony Adams Rubbing Hands Together Meme has evolved from a simple family photo into one of the most widely shared and recognized reaction memes across social media. The meme has been used in countless humorous contexts, with its popularity continuing to grow, especially among meme creators on platforms like TikTok and Reddit.
From its humble beginnings to its current viral status, the image continues to entertain and provide a lighthearted way for people to express excitement, anticipation, and mischievous joy.
