The exact origin of this short what the fuck clip is unknown, so it circulates mainly as a generic reaction sound on soundboards, in memes and in edited social videos. Short profane reactions like this spread because they are instantly understood, easy to reuse and fit almost any surprising moment without needing context. It is often paired with other stunned reactions such as oh my god, wow for extra emphasis. Its lasting appeal is its brevity, one second is enough to punctuate a joke, a fail or an unbelievable reveal.