The Internet Reacts With Memes As Major Events Are Cancelled Worldwide Due To Coronavirus

The Internet Reacts With Memes As Major Events Are Cancelled Worldwide Due To Coronavirus

By Anne Rowe for DPS board, April 11, 2020

As the 2019-2020 coronavirus outbreak sweeps the globe, events of all types are being suspended or cancelled one by one. Major venues, sports leagues, schools, airlines and many other industries are now heeding the word of medical experts and public officials everywhere, in an attempt to curb public gatherings that would spread COVID-19 even more rapidly. Naturally, the internet has responded to news of their favorite events being cancelled with dismay, despair and lots of memes. Here are a few choice highlights from online reactions to some of the biggest cancellations thus far.

Conferences, Conventions and Parades

E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo)

On March 11th, an official announcement from the ESA was posted to their website under the news section confirming the rumors were indeed true, and that E3 2020 was officially cancelled amid growing concerns over the COVID-19 virus.


OE TM BINGO CANCELLED CANCELLED CANCELLED CANCELLED CANCELLED CANCELLED CANCELLED CANCELLED CANCELLED CANCELLED CANCELLED CANCELLED CANCELLED CANCELLED CANCELLED CANCELLED CANCELLED CANCELLED just dance on CANCELLED the wii CANCELLED CANCELLED CANCELLED CANCELLED CANCELLED Text Font Line PC PC Gamer E3 has been cancelled E3 2020 due to the coronavirus outbreak 7 hours ago Gamers Corona- Virus And now, you have officially carried it too far, Buddy. Text THQ Nordic @THQNordic OLIVE3 UEEN ANNOUNCEMENTS Belouea son, brorber, busband, and farber Hero of Star City The Green Arroio, THQ NORDIC agflip.com 4:28 pm · 11 Mar 2020 · Twitter Web App LL Grant Gustin Oliver Queen The Flash People

TwitchCon Europe 2020

TwitchCon’s Amsterdam event was set for May 2nd and 3rd this year, but as of March 6th, representatives from the company officially cancelled it after weighing the potential health risks to the community.


twitch con CORONA WA CORL VIRI CORONA VIRUS O DAYS SINCE LAST Cartoon

St. Patrick’s Day Parades

Parades for St. Patrick’s day have been seeing increased cancellation or postponement in a number of countries and cities. Ireland’s government cancelled every parade across the nation, and Boston, NYC, Denver, Seattle and many more following warnings from health experts about avoiding large crowds.


Both parades and the river-dyeing have been cancelled amid Coronavirus fears. Thank you to everyone in Chicago for understanding. Everyone in Chicago: THE SHOW GOES ON The Wolf of Wall Street Text Photo caption They can cancelthe St Padiys Day Parade But they can never cancel us day drinking outside for no reason @TheWicked BigSoxfan People Photo caption Fan Internet meme To boe St. Patrick's day IS CANCELLED. Irrun YOU CAN'T CANCEL A HOLIDAY. To baDE KEEP IT UP Corona AND YOU WILL LOSE Easter The Office

Festivals

SXSW

Despite attempts from festival organizers to continue moving forward amid petitions and public outcry, Austin’s Mayor Steve Adler cancelled the festival on March 6th, marking the first shutdown of SXSW since it began 33 years ago.


Nobody: San Antonians: You're NOT canceling FIESTA!! @FIESTAMEDALMANIACS rgen de Guadalupe PERFUMED SAVE VICKS VapoRub COLD E UPER SA PACK e of Guadalupe Purcl Cartoon OGOTANEW OUTFIT GLICE FOR SKSW imgiip.com Black Death Poster SXSW IS CANCELED AND SAN ANTONIO IS BOOKING THOSE PERFORMERS THEY AREN'T 80'S METAL OR 90'S ALTERNATIVE BANDS imiip.com Photo caption Internet meme

Coachella and Stagecoach

On March 10th, Coachella and Stagecoach organizers decided to officially postpone the iconic music festivals just days after SXSW’s announcement. According to the press release, the County of Riverside and local health officials directed the rescheduling due to COVID-19 concerns stating, “We urge everyone to follow the guidelines and protocols put forth by public health officials.”


OACHELLA ANCELLED imgfip.com People Product Clothing Street fashion T-shirt Fashion Shoulder Me coughing my way up front to see Frank Ocean. made with mematic Text People Font Line Organism Coachella postponed? #Evian We know who to call. Photo caption Chin Forehead Internet meme Media

Ultra Music Festival

While not officially cancelled, organizers of UMF announced the three-day music fest would be suspended until 2021 after facing pressure from local government officials. Enraging many would-be attendees, they also stated that there would be no refunds for ticket holders. Instead, those who already purchased tickets will be allowed to attend the 2021 or 2022 event.


FESTIVAL SEASON IS SAVED Purell RETAIL: $50,000 PER UNIT Refund Tickets Keep money and never have festival again imgfip.com JAKE-CLARK.TUMBLR Cartoon Nose Comics Line ULTRA. l musicfestiva Logo Font

Sports

2020 NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments

NCAA Basketball was among the first to announce major cancellations in the sports world. On March 3rd, Chicago State University cancelled two games due to coronavirus concerns, and the following days saw more schools and divisions following suit.


Taylor Pipes @thelocalist Today, we're all the Northwestern kid fan crying. #MarchSadness SJAST 9:40 ET PUR XAV 44 MID TN 5 1ST HALF Hbs NCAA TBS UNT FLA ST 34 BUTL 6 15:41 NORT 8 NORTHWESTERN 52 1GONZAGA 63 O 2ND 7:36 30 NCAA WEST 2ND ROUND BONUS- BONUS POSS Media Photo caption Website ECU Earth Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event Animated cartoon Sky Boosky @sheabooskyy · 2h The odds of having the perfect March Madness bracket is 1 in 9.2 quintillion, but l'm feeling really confident about my bracket this year FINAL FOUR FINAL FOUR ALANTA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSNIP CORONAVIRUS MARCH MADNESS MarchMadness 17 38 205 Text

The National Basketball Association

The NBA decided on March 11th to indefinitely suspend its season following news that two Utah Jazz players had tested positive for the virus, which resulted in seven teams quarantining players.


The NBA has suspended the season but the MLB still hasn't suspended the Astros @NBAMEMES AST wish RS Facial expression Product Player Text Team Team sport MARCH E MADNESS NCAA NBA NFB DRAFT NHL You took everything from me. @bigdicknick.ig I don't even know who you are. Mike Olbinski NBA players: We're going to play games without fans in attendance WNBA players: First time? Photo caption

Major League Soccer

Just as the 2020 MLS season was getting underway, officials announced that the league would suspend the season for at least a month. The news release on March 12th read, “At the appropriate time, the league and clubs will communicate plans for the continuation of the 2020 season and update the status of league events.”


MLS players on their commercial flight when the dude next to them starts coughing Text Alcohol Adaptation KEEP OUT OR ENTER. I'M A SIGN, NOT A COP Homer Simpson Cartoon Signage SOCCER FANS hulu People Face Facial expression Social group Fun Facial hair Cheek Forehead Head Youth Snapshot Chin Beard Nose Darkness Interaction Design Pattern Human Photography

National Hockey League

As of March 12th, the NHL has also suspended its season “until further notice” in response to the pandemic. Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement that afternoon, “It now seems more likely that some member of the NHL community would test positive at some point. It is no longer appropriate to try to continue to play games at this time.”


STOP THE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS. AVOID PLACES WITH LARGE CROWDS. UER ATTEND A SENATORS GAME. TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW SENATORS.COM/TICKETS STORS National Hockey League Sports YOUR TEAM CAN'T MISS THE PLAYOFFS Opening Mon IF THERE ARE NO PLAYOFFS made with mematic W Photo caption Internet meme Forehead MILD MINNESOTA ORDNY ARTNERS 0% capifals NEW YORK RANGERS (OLERS NY MoneyPuck.com

Major League Baseball

Following in the footsteps of the other American sports leagues, the MLB announced on March 12th that they would also be placing their season on an indefinite hold. The press release here was also somewhat vague, stating “MLB will announce the effects on the schedule at an appropriate time and will remain flexible as events warrant, with the hope of resuming normal operations as soon as possible.”


Schools, Colleges and Locations

United States, Italy, Iran, China, South Korea, Japan

In recent weeks, grade schools around the world have begun slowly shutting down in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19 and ensure the safety of students. Colleges and universities have done the same, with all of these either postponing classes or shifting to online platforms.


Other schools around me: close out of concern for coronavirus My school: we ride at dawn bitches Adaptation Photo caption Organism Everyone celebrating no school becaused of coronavirus Homeschoolers Darth Vader Qui-Gon Jinn Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace People Arm Finger Gesture Cheering Hand Me and the boys taking online classes after school is cancelled because of Coronavirus Yoda The Child People Text Audience Audio equipment Technology

Disney Parks and Cruises

For the first time since 9/11, Disney announced on March 12th that not only would its locations in Asia shut down, but all parks, resorts and cruises worldwide are set to close the weekend of March 14-15th. Despite the closure, Disney said it will continue to pay employees and even refund tickets.


YOU KNOW THE WORLD IS ENDING WHEN CINDERELLA CLOSES HER CASTLE makeameme.org Magic Kingdom Park Landmark Walt disney world Architecture Amusement park World Medieval architecture Spire teri | nat 127 @terigodea Disneyland is closing.. Disneyland- disney- dis- Sadness is closer than it appears Rear-view mirror Automotive mirror Auto part Photo caption SORRY FOLKS, DISNEY'S CLOSED THE MOUSE OUT FRONT SHOULD HAVE TOLD YOU imgflip.com John Candy Photo caption