The sound comes from Taco Bell advertising, where the bell in the chain's logo was matched with a deep bong in television commercials, most famously during the 1990s and 2000s. The toll echoes the mission bell in the brand name while sounding far more serious than a taco advert should. Clips of the chime were later isolated on soundboards and in meme edits, where editors paired it with reaction shots, bad decisions and mock serious moments, turning a branding sting into shorthand for judgment.