But That's None of My Business
June 17, 2014 â 2016
"Spilled the tea one too many times"
Obituary
But that's none of my business. *sips tea*
On June 17, 2014, the Instagram account @kermitbelike posted an image that would define an era of passive-aggressive social commentary. It featured Kermit the Frog, looking serenely smug, sipping a cup of Lipton tea. The caption format was simple: make a judgmental observation about someone's life choices, then add "but that's none of my business."
The meme was weaponized shade. It let people call out hypocrisy, bad decisions, and questionable behavior while maintaining plausible deniability. "You say you're broke but you got a new iPhone... but that's none of my business." "You claim you're over your ex but you still check their Instagram... but that's none of my business."
Within days, @thatsnoneofmybusinesstho had 130,000 followers. #NoneOfMyBusiness trended with over 19,000 tweets. Kermit had become the voice of every person who wanted to say something but didn't want the confrontation.
The meme got a second life in June 2016 when LeBron James wore a Kermit hat after winning the NBA championship, a move widely interpreted as shade toward his doubters. Even professional athletes were sipping tea now.
Kermit drinking tea eventually gave way to newer reaction images, but its spirit lives on. Somewhere, someone is making a pointed observation about your life choices and pretending they don't care.
But that's none of my business.