While the leaders of the world’s seven largest so-called “advanced economies” convened in the U.K. to discuss substantive issues like the pandemic, health care, climate change and corporate taxes, social media trolls were more interested in the odd “family photograph” the leaders took on a Cornish beach Friday morning.
The stiff, socially distanced portrait sparked memes all day long. Some likened the world leaders to the Avengers. Others said they appeared to be waiting to be beamed up to the Starship Enterprise. Still others guessed they were getting ready for Britain’s Got Talent.
World-class geek Stephen Colbert looked at the image and asked, “Before I order these [action] figures, does anyone know if you can take them out and play with them or are they glued to the display stand?”
Before I order these figures, does anyone know if you can take them out and play with them or are they glued to the display stand? pic.twitter.com/vLVS1QfjEa
— Stephen Colbert (@StephenAtHome) June 12, 2021
Jimmy Kimmel compared the assembled dignitaries to the lost souls from Lost, echoing a refrain from that show’s final episodes with, “We have to go back.”
We have to go back. pic.twitter.com/PT4RGpOD8N
— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) June 12, 2021
Jimmy Fallon thought the photo looked “like the choose your player part of a law firm video game.”
This looks like the choose your player part of a law firm video game.#FallonMono #FallonTonight https://t.co/YCWuFCVlYA
— The Tonight Show (@FallonTonight) June 12, 2021
But maybe the best rejoinder came from Queen Elizabeth II herself who, as she posed with the assembled leaders for a similar portrait, was caught by a BBC mic quipping, “Are you supposed to be looking as if you’re enjoying yourself?”
“Are you supposed to be looking as if you’re enjoying yourself?”
The Queen wasn’t afraid to lighten the mood at the G7 summit, asking UK PM Boris Johnson a slightly cheeky questionhttps://t.co/t9XCdi5siU pic.twitter.com/SSxuj1U9RY
— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) June 11, 2021
Reuters posted an extended video of the initial, awkward photo shoot as it took place on the beach. You can watch it below.
World leaders attending the G7 summit gathered together for a socially distanced ‘family photo’ on the beach in England https://t.co/PX5c8tJ0iX pic.twitter.com/qaoFxhQQkE
— Reuters (@Reuters) June 11, 2021
