![Defensively Heterosexual John Watson Defensively Heterosexual John Watson](https://i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/square/000/010/240/3oov9q.jpg)
Defensively Heterosexual John Watson
Part of a series on Sherlock. [View Related Entries]
![b86.jpg SPEND NEARLY EVERY WAKING MOMENT WITH HIM "WE'RE NOT A COUPLE! quickmeme.com](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/300/537/b86.jpg)
About
Defensively Heterosexual John Watson is an advice animal image macro series featuring a photo of the character Dr. John H. Watson (played by Martin Freeman) from the BBC television series Sherlock. The captions depict Watson as being overly self-conscious about his sexual orientation and relationship with the protagonist character Sherlock Holmes, which has been a recurring trope in the television series and a well-known slash pairing within the fandom.
Origin
On October 24th, 2010, the BBC aired the Sherlock episode "A Study in Pink", in which a waiter mistakenly assumes Watson and Holmes are on a date while they're investigating a murder case at a restaurant. After Watson vehemently denies they are a couple, the incredulous waiter brings a romantic candle to the table. The episode spurred shippers in the fandom to pair Watson and Holmes as a couple in fanfiction and fan art.
On January 16th, 2012, the first "Defensively Heterosexual John Watson" Quickmeme[1] submission was uploaded with the caption "'Confirmed bachelor John Watson' / what the hell are they implying?", in reference to how Watson is often assumed to be homosexual in the television series.
![450.jpg "CONFIRMED BACHELOR JOHN WATSON" WHAT THE HELL'ARE THEY IMPLYING? quickmeme.com](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/300/528/450.jpg)
Spread
On January 17th, 2012, Tumblr [2] user abatchofcumber posted an image macro with the caption "'If anyone out there still cares -- I'm not actually gay.' / LOL", which received 70 notes within three months. The meme remained dormant until April 7th, when the Quickmeme page was submitted to the /r/Sherlock[5] subreddit by user IFeastOnYerDownvotes in a post titled "Defensively Heterosexual John Watson Memes." The post received over 180 up votes and 12 comments within one month. On April 8th, a compilation of image macro examples was submitted to Internet humor site FunnyJunk[3] by user edna.
![72a.png djpilapitiya 2012-04-09 16:07 "WE'RE NOT A COUPLE" YELL "I'M NOT GAY!" GETS UPSET WHEN A WOMAN FLIRTS WITH HIS FLATMATE IN ANABANDONED POWER PLANT CONSTANTLYDENIES RELATIONSHIP WITH BEST FRIEND WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO COORDINATE" MEETS GUY; GETS OVER IT](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/300/535/72a.png)
The following day, Tumblr[6] user djpilapitiya published a series of notable image macros, which received over 6,550 notes within one month. The meme has continued to spread on Tumblr[7] under the tag "#defensively heterosexual john watson."
Notable Examples
![](http://t.qkme.me/35svaw.jpg)
![](http://t.qkme.me/35qsvu.jpg)
![](http://t.qkme.me/3oovpp.jpg)
![](http://t.qkme.me/3osqvl.jpg)
![](http://t.qkme.me/35qd03.jpg)
![](http://t.qkme.me/3ov342.jpg)
The shipping joke involving Holmes and Watson has been also adapted into animated GIFs and other image macros.
![](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3fkjxMdvw1r0v56xo1_400.jpg)
![](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2wb1ikV1U1qdsnv8o2_500.png)
![](http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2bwhbCLX71qd3mby.png)
![](http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lnz07xCLcT1qcsdseo1_500.jpg)
![](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_loesixRCQM1qlrxeko8_400.gif)
Search Interest
Not available.
External References
[1] Quickmeme – Defensively Heterosexual John Watson
[2] Tumblr – abatchofcumber
[3] FunnyJunk – Defensively Heterosexual John Watson
[4] Dictionary – Sherlockian
[5] Reddit – Defensively Heterosexual John Watson Meme
[6] Tumblr – djpilapitiya
[7] Tumblr – #defensively heterosexual John Watson
[8] Youtube – Sherlock Q&A 1-7-2011
[9] DigitalSpy – Sherlock's Not Gay 7-24-2010
Top Comments
rikameme
May 08, 2012 at 03:18PM EDT
Teh Brawler
May 07, 2012 at 03:57PM EDT