South Park premiered in 1997 and made Kenny McCormick's constant deaths one of its earliest running gags, especially in the first seasons. Each death was usually followed by the shocked catchphrase about Kenny being killed, which became one of the show's most quoted lines. The Portuguese wording Mataram O Kenny shows how the joke spread in Brazil and Portugal through clips, edits and soundboards. It still circulates because the reaction is instantly recognisable, and fits naturally alongside the Oh My God Meme reaction clips.