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Bad Luck Brian meme template

Add your text, then download it or copy it straight into a chat.

What it means

Bad Luck Brian is the yearbook photo of Kyle Craven, taken around 2005 at his Ohio high school as a deliberate joke: braces, plaid sweater vest, and a forced, gleaming smile. His friend Ian Davies posted it to the AdviceAnimals subreddit on January 23, 2012, and within days the internet had turned the cheerful portrait into the poster child for misfortune. The format always works the same way: the top line sets up a normal situation and the bottom line twists it into catastrophic, absurd bad luck. The cringe-inducing innocence of the photo is the engine of the joke, because Brian keeps smiling no matter how badly things go. Kyle Craven has embraced the fame, selling signed prints and working with brands.

When to use it

  • Recounting a small plan ruined by absurdly bad timing
  • Mocking your own string of embarrassing misfortunes
  • Telling a story where the setup promised well and the ending went hilariously wrong

How to make a Bad Luck Brian meme

  1. 1

    Write your text

    Fill in the 2 text boxes in the editor. The preview updates as you type.

  2. 2

    Check the result

    Adjust the text size if a line runs long, or let AI suggest a caption for the moment.

  3. 3

    Download or copy

    Save the PNG or copy it straight into Slack, Discord, WhatsApp or email.

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Bad Luck Brian meme: questions

How do I make a Bad Luck Brian meme?

Type your text into the 2 text boxes in the editor above, then download the PNG or copy it to your clipboard. It runs in your browser, so nothing is uploaded.

Is the Bad Luck Brian meme template free?

Yes. The editor is free and needs no account. Downloads from a free account have a small MEME-SKILL.COM watermark, which Pro removes.

Can I use Bad Luck Brian memes commercially?

This template is for personal use, such as chats and social posts. For ads, products or paid content, pick a template labelled “Commercial use OK”.

What are good alternatives to Bad Luck Brian?

Similar templates include Confession Bear, Megamind peeking, Socially Awkward Penguin, Success Kid, Disaster Girl. You can also describe your moment to the AI caption tool and let it pick.