You know the feeling. You're scrolling through X or TikTok and someone suggests something so wildly out of pocket—like putting pineapple on tacos al pastor or suggesting a "quick 15-minute sync" on a Friday afternoon—and there he is. T'Challa. Black Panther. Arms crossed, face stern but weirdly polite. The caption is simple: Aqui no hacemos eso.
It translates to "We don't do that here." It’s final. It’s a vibe. It’s the ultimate polite shutdown.
Honestly, it’s one of those rare memes that transcends the movie it came from. Most people using the aqui no hacemos eso meme probably haven’t even watched the 2018 Avengers: Infinity War scene in a while. They just know that when words fail, a Wakandan king can tell someone they’re being "too much" without actually starting a fight. It’s the digital equivalent of a bouncer at a club telling you that your sneakers aren’t on the guest list.
The origin story is actually kind of awkward
Memes usually start by accident. This one was no different. The scene happens early in Infinity War when Bruce Banner (played by Mark Ruffalo) arrives in Wakanda. Banner, being a bit of a dork and totally out of his element, tries to bow to King T'Challa. It’s a respectful gesture, sure, but it’s deeply uncomfortable to watch.
T'Challa, played by the late, great Chadwick Boseman, stops him immediately. He says, "We don't do that here."
He wasn't being mean. He was being a king. He was telling Banner that in Wakanda, they stand as equals or, at the very least, they don’t do the whole "bowing to royalty" thing in that specific formal way. But the internet? The internet saw something else. It saw a template for every time someone tries to bring "outside energy" into a space where it doesn't belong.
The Spanish-speaking internet, specifically "Surtido Fino" and other massive meme-sharing communities in Latin America, grabbed this faster than a Vibranium spear. They localized it. Aqui no hacemos eso sounds punchier than the English version. It carries a certain "not in this house" energy that resonates deeply with Spanish-speaking cultures where social norms and "the right way to do things" are a big deal.
Why it blew up (and why it won't die)
Most memes have the shelf life of an open avocado. Two days and they're brown and gross. But this one? It’s been years.
Why? Because it serves a functional purpose.
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Think about the "Distracted Boyfriend" meme. It’s about jealousy or making a bad choice. Think about "Woman Yelling at a Cat." That’s about a misunderstanding. But the aqui no hacemos eso meme is about gatekeeping, but in a way that feels protective rather than toxic.
We use it to protect our "tribes."
- Gaming: When someone suggests using a "Pay-to-Win" mechanic in a hardcore skill-based shooter.
- Cooking: When a viral video shows someone "deep frying" a steak.
- Work: When a new manager suggests "unpaid overtime for the team culture."
It works because Chadwick Boseman’s expression is perfect. He looks disappointed but not surprised. He looks like a tired parent watching a kid try to eat a crayon.
It’s about the "Cringe" factor
We live in an era of "cringe." Half of the internet is just people doing embarrassing things for clout. T'Challa is the antidote to that. When you post that meme, you’re positioning yourself as the person with common sense. You're the one holding the line against the chaos.
There's a psychological element here too. Social identity theory suggests we define ourselves by what we aren't just as much as what we are. By saying "We don't do that here," you are defining your community. You're saying, "This group has standards."
The evolution into "Spanish-Language Gold"
If you look at Google Trends data for this meme, you’ll notice something interesting. The English version "We don't do that here" peaked and leveled off. But the Spanish version aqui no hacemos eso keeps popping up in cycles.
Why? Because it became a "Reaction Image" staple in Facebook groups and WhatsApp chats.
In Mexico, Argentina, and Colombia, the meme is used to defend local traditions. Someone posts a photo of a "taco" made with a flour tortilla and canned peas? Boom. T'Challa. Someone suggests that maybe reggaeton isn't that good? Boom. T'Challa.
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It’s flexible. It’s a "Macro." You can swap the background, you can put different hats on T'Challa, or you can just leave the text. It’s the simplicity that gives it legs.
The "Chadwick Boseman" Legacy Factor
It's impossible to talk about the aqui no hacemos eso meme without talking about Chadwick Boseman's passing in 2020. Usually, when an actor passes away, the memes associated with them either become "sacred" and stop being used for jokes, or they become a way to honor them.
With T'Challa, the meme stayed alive because it’s not mocking him. It’s celebrating the character's dignity. Using the meme actually keeps the imagery of Black Panther in the daily digital conversation. It’s a testament to how iconic that specific performance was. Even in a 5-second clip from a massive crossover movie, he commanded the screen so well that we turned a throwaway line into a permanent part of our vocabulary.
Variations you’ve probably seen
The meme isn't just one image anymore. It's morphed.
- The Deep Fried Version: High contrast, grainy, usually used for "cursed" or "surreal" humor.
- The Edited Background: Putting T'Challa in a grocery store or a specific school to complain about local policies.
- The Multi-Panel: Usually starting with someone saying something stupid, followed by the T'Challa shutdown.
It's interesting how the meme has been "re-translated" back and forth. Sometimes you'll see a version where the text is changed to "Aquí no hacemos eso, carnal" or other regional slang. This localization is exactly why it stays relevant. It’s not a "global" meme anymore; it’s a "local" meme in a thousand different places at once.
The Misconception: Is it just "Gatekeeping"?
Some people argue that the aqui no hacemos eso meme is just a way for people to be mean to outsiders. Like, "You don't belong here, so don't try to change things."
But that’s a shallow take.
If you look at the actual usage, it’s mostly used for humorous hyperbole. It’s used when someone suggests something objectively weird or breaks an "unwritten rule" of the internet. It’s not about excluding people; it’s about excluding bad ideas.
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When a brand tries to use a "fellow kids" meme and fails miserably, the community responds with "We don't do that here." It's a way for the internet to self-regulate. It’s a digital immune system response against corporate cringe and social awkwardness.
How to use the meme without being a bot
If you're going to use it, you gotta understand the nuance. Don't just throw it at everything.
The "aqui no hacemos eso" vibe works best when:
- The person you're responding to is being "confidently wrong."
- Someone is trying to be "too formal" in a casual space (like Bruce Banner bowing).
- A brand is trying to act like a person.
- Someone suggests a "crime" against food or culture.
If you use it against someone who is genuinely asking for help or someone who is just new to a community, you look like a jerk. But if you use it to shut down a "reply guy" or a troll? It’s perfection.
Actionable ways to engage with the trend
If you’re a creator or just someone who wants to stay "meme-literate," don’t just repost the same blurry image from 2018.
- Contextualize it: Instead of just the image, add a caption that relates to a specific current event. If a new social media platform launches and tries to force a weird feature on users, that’s your "Aqui no hacemos eso" moment.
- Video Formats: Use the actual clip. The sound of Boseman’s voice adds a layer of authority that a static image lacks.
- Search for high-res: There’s nothing worse than a meme that’s been screenshotted so many times it looks like it was taken on a toaster. Find the 4K version. It makes the "Shutdown" feel more professional.
Ultimately, the aqui no hacemos eso meme survives because we all need a polite way to say "no." In a world where everyone wants your attention and everyone has a "hot take," T'Challa gives us a way to set a boundary without losing our cool. It’s a kingly way to tell the world to take a step back.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on how these "boundary" memes evolve. We’ve seen it with "Sir, this is a Wendy's" and "I'm gonna need you to get all the way off my back about that." The internet always needs a way to say "That's enough." Right now, the King of Wakanda is still the one holding the crown.
Check your recent group chats. See how often you could have used it. Then, the next time someone suggests a "team-building exercise" over Zoom on a Saturday, you know exactly what image to send.