Ted Lasso? Ted Cruz? Ted from the movie Ted? All these names and more have floated in the wake of a trending ‘RIP Ted’ phrase on Twitter, though it took some time before people could put an actual face to the name. A flurry of Tweets surfaced amid the trending topic earlier today, with users flocking to the platform to check on the status of two main Teds: Lasso and Cruz.
Recommended VideosNaturally, well-wishes were sent to the fictional Apple TV Plus character while others lamented the fact that Ted Cruz is, in fact, still alive. “Kinda hoping “RIP Ted” meant Ted Cruz had been hit by a bus loaded with TNT and mousetraps,” one user wrote, while another said they’d seen the trending topic and “hoped something awful had happened to Ted Cruz.”
Kinda hoping "RIP Ted" meant Ted Cruz had been hit by a bus loaded with TNT and mousetraps.
Bummer that he's still sucking American air.
— Jordan the Voice (@JordanVoiceover) May 18, 2023I saw RIP Ted was trending and hoped something awful had happened to Ted Cruz.
— Mike Bates (@MikeBatesTWIBH) May 18, 2023Still name-dropping the divisive politician, users accompanied their Cruz posts with various angered GIFs, presumably recreating their disappointment when realising he is still alive. “He’s still here,” one person wrote, “Bummer.”
Seen “RIP Ted” trending and checked to see if Ted Cruz finally went to hell.
…He’s still here. Bummer. pic.twitter.com/M1cRf3Ue6d
— ⁑† 𝚁𝙸𝙲𝙷 𝙷𝙾𝙼𝙾 𝚀𝚄𝙰𝙽 †⁑ (@Homiekage) May 18, 2023I saw "RIP Ted" trending and I immediately knew it was not Ted Cruz related since nobody would wish him rest in peace.
— Andrew Armstrong (@drewciferbrewer) May 18, 2023RIP Ted …. I thought maybe Cruz had kicked the bucket. #NotThatLucky
— Michael (@rushstreetblues) May 18, 2023On the other end of the spectrum, people hurried to their timelines to see whether it was Ted Lasso of the namesake comedy series who had passed away, before sharing their joy that the much-loved Jason Sudeikis character is still kicking. “Me seeing “RIP Ted” trending and seeing that Ted Lasso is OK,” one fan wrote alongside a GIF of a relieved Denzel Washington. “I don’t know who Ted Lasso is, but I hope that he is ok,” another user added.
Me seeing “RIP Ted” trending and seeing that Ted Lasso is OK pic.twitter.com/AW37v8QyCo
— Diamond Joe (@ItsDiamondJoe) May 18, 2023I don't know who Ted Lasso is, but I hope that he is ok.
— Karl Tatgenhorst (@ktatgenhorst) May 18, 2023Twitter: “RIP Ted”
Me checking to make sure that Ted Lasso is okay:
— NUFF (@nuffsaidny) May 18, 2023Summing up the opposing sides eloquently, one user said the timeline is “just full of people hoping Ted Lasso is okay and wishing Ted Cruz wasn’t,” while another drew an important message from all the fanfare. “The lesson being, if you are given a choice of which Ted to be, be a Ted Lasso, not a Ted Cruz.”
"RIP Ted" is trending on Twitter today, and it's a solid mix of people claiming they panicked that it might be Ted Lasso, or their interests perked that it might be Ted Cruz. The lesson being, if you are given a choice of which Ted to be, be a Ted Lasso, not a Ted Cruz. #RIPTed
— Joe Prosperi (@prosperij) May 18, 2023Other Teds floated throughout the trending topic included guitarist Ted Nugent, actors Ted Lange and Ted Danson, and the titular plush toy bear from Seth MacFarlane’s 2012 comedy film, Ted.
RIP Ted pic.twitter.com/P8bajswf4U
— Martin06 (@MartinNumbers6) May 18, 2023After much debate, it seems the trending topic was in reference to Ted Silary, the legendary sports reporter from Philadelphia. “His coverage of high school sports in the Philadelphia area was amazing,” one account Tweeted in tribute. “Before social media, high school athletes could not wait to read their “Ted Silary story’ in the Daily News.”
ncG1vNJzZmivlZy8tcDHoqqcp6aav6awjZympmejpLCqrctmpJ6cmZZ8s7XPZquenF2pv6a6w6xkmqtdqcSqwNOeqWasop6ytHnTqGSfoZeqv6Z5zq6rZqGWYrK3sdGypqedXZu%2FsLmMrZydZZyWwLS7jK2mZqyVmXqkvtSzZKGZo2KxqrHDaA%3D%3D