The line comes from Super Mario 64, released in 1996, where Mario defeats Bowser by swinging him by the tail and throwing him away, saying 'So long-a Bowser!' in a stylised Italian accent. Listeners soon began hearing the phrase as 'so long gay Bowser,' and that mishearing turned the boss-defeat quote into a standalone internet joke. Shared in gameplay clips, remixes and short-form edits, it survived because it works both as nostalgic game audio and as a ready-made, over-the-top farewell for almost any exit.