ArthurEpisode Featuring Clenched Fist Meme Turns 25 — How the Teachable Moment Went Viral

Mar. 15, 2025

Arthur Read (left), Arthur’s fist.Photo:PBS

PBS

AnArthurepisode that teaches kids why it’s wrong to solve problems with their hands has made an impression in more ways than one.

It’s been 25 years since a memorable episode of the beloved PBS Kids series first ran. On Oct. 4, 1999, “Arthur’s Big Hit,” first aired in the United States. The episode shows Arthur Read learning about why hitting is wrong in two separate incidents.

In one, the character’s mischievous younger sister, D.W., drops his model plane out of a window thinking it can fly. When she chastises him about doing a bad job building it, he thinks about how many times he told her not to touch the plane. He clenches his fist — a moment immortalized in a viral meme — then hits her in frustration.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Arthur fist meme.PBS

The meme gained a lot of popularity and spread online in 2016 through 2017, whenChrissy Teigenjoked husbandJohn Legendlooks like the 8-year-old animated aardvark.

“John when you tell him he looks like Arthur,” Teigen wrote in the since-deleted February 2017 tweet, which included the popular meme of Arthur’s clenched fist.

In spring 2018, the couple appeared in aGoogle Duo commercialcontinuing the joke. There, Legend appeared in Arthur’s iconic yellow sweater.

“Arthur!” Teigen yelled in between giggles about her husband’s yellow sweater, white button-down shirt and blue pants.

“Who’s Arthur?” replied Legend, seemingly clueless that he was stealing the animated character’s look.

John Legend (left), Arthur Read.

In 2019, Browntold PEOPLEthat the hit show succeeded through the years because its producers always found new ways to expand the minds of its viewers.

“When we beganArthur22 years ago, the agenda we began with was to make children want to read. And it worked!” the author said at the time. “So each year, the writers and the producers sit down to decide what kind of subject matter we want to deal with. After 22 years you think, ‘We’ve done it all!’ Yet, here was another opportunity! It sill excites me that we can come up with stories that are going to be interesting and helpful to children.”

source: people.com