OwO

2025-09-15T21:22:28Z

79.127.136.108: Removed 'extremist' reference to Charlie Kirk because his views are largely mainstream and have been held by the majority of people in the US since it's founding. Updated Tyler Robinson info due to recent information provided by the FBI.

[[File:OwO origin 2013.png|right|thumb|250px|First use of the furry version of "OwO" online]]
[[File:OwOwhatsthis.png|right|thumb|250px|The first popularized image meme of "OwO" used]]
'''OwO''', also stylized as '''owo''', as a [[furry]] term, is an [[W:Online chat|online chat]] [[W:emoticon|emoticon]] and [[meme]] used in furry [[W:Online chat|text-based conversation]] and [[roleplay]], normally with a [[sexual]] connotation, sometimes as a [[troll]]ing term.<ref>[https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/uwu/ UwU] on the [https://www.dictionary.com Dictionary.com] website. Retrieved September 16, 2020.</ref> The two '''O'''s represent wide and open eyes, and the '''w''' represents a cutesy [[anime]]-styled mouth.

== Terminology ==

An alternate to this term is the '''UwU''' emoticon, borrowed from [[W:kaomoji|kaomoji]], a type of Japanese emoticon which incorporates special characters used in Japanese writing. Kaomoji is considered [[kawaii]], or "cute”, and is often drawn on anime and [[manga]]. UwU is a simplified form of the kaomoji emoticon, “(o･ω･o)”.<ref>[https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/uwu/ UwU] on the Dictionary.com website. Retrieved September 16, 2020.</ref> This emoticon is also used as a more passive one, using closed eyes instead of open ones.

=== Use ===

* OwO can be used as an emoticon in text-based chatting.
* Play-on words and puns involving OwO and UwU are noted (e.g. '''fursuwuit'''; a pun derived from the word [[fursuit]]).
* [[Furries]] sometimes use "OwO" in response to something sexual, implying excitement or interest.

==Origin and spread==

The earliest known furry use of the emoticon was on January 6, 2013, on [[DeviantArt]] by user [[CookiMuffinFaic]]. It received over 130 views, 3 comments, and 3 downloads in about 3 and a half years.

On June 24, 2015, [[MinotaurusPro]] uploaded a parody [[comic]] of two grotesque [[furry fan|furry fans]] [[yiff|sexually]] roleplaying to [[W:Imgur|Imgur]]. One of the two characters shown comments in response to a message he received:
{{q|awwww!~ *nuzzles u back and pounces on u and notices your buldge* OwO what's this..?".}}
The post garnered a positive response and gained attention within the [[furry fandom]].

Memes mimicking the original post followed soon after,{{cn}} with content such as recreations of the origin, and puns involving UwU and OwO emoticons. A [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9l4EiYFZjg video] by [[Seelmaru]] was uploaded in 2019 featuring a song based on a spinoff from the meme's origin.

== Charlie Kirk's killing and OwO ==

On September 10, 2025, [[W:Charlie James Kirk|Charlie James Kirk]], an American [[conservative]] [[W:Political movement|political activist]], [[author]], and [[influencer|media personality]] who was also a co-founder of the [[W:Student society|student organization]] [[W:Turning Point USA|Turning Point USA]] ('''TPUSA'''), was [[W:Killing of Charlie Kirk|fatally shot]] while addressing an audience on the campus of [[W:Utah Valley University|Utah Valley University]] ('''UVU''' [no relation to the '''OwO''' term]) in [[W:Orem, Utah|Orem, Utah]], United States.

The alleged killer, [[Tyler Robinson]], a person who has living with and recently seen romantically engaging male attempting to transition to female (who is now cooperating with authorities), turned himself in after his father talked some sense into him.<ref>[https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/charlie-kirk-shot-utah-turning-point-usa/ ''Charlie Kirk shooting suspect in custody after manhunt, Erika Kirk vows to keep holding Turning Point USA events''] article on [[W:CBS News|CBS News]]. Dated September 12, 2025. Retrieved September 13, 2025.</ref>

Robinson left a fired bullet casing at the scene inscribed with the phrase "'''''Notices bulge [[OwO]] what's this?'''''", a reference to the furry fandom<ref name=verge>[https://www.theverge.com/politics/777313/charlie-kirks-alleged-killer-scratched-bullets-with-a-helldivers-combo-and-a-furry-sex-meme ''Charlie Kirk’s alleged killer scratched bullets with a Helldivers combo and a furry sex meme''] article on [[W:The Verge|The Verge]]. Dated September 12, 2025. Retrieved September 13, 2025.</ref>. Other unfired rounds, left at the scene, were engraved with:
* "'''''Hey fascist! Catch! ↑→↓↓↓'''''", the arrow symbols being a reference to a sequence of [[W:Game controller|controller]] inputs used to release a bomb in the [[video game]] ''[[W:Helldivers 2|Helldivers 2]]''
*"'''''Oh bella ciao bella ciao bella ciao ciao ciao'''''", a reference to the Italian [[W:Anti-fascism|anti-fascist]] song "''[[W:Bella ciao|Bella ciao]]''"
*"''[https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/if-you-read-this-you-are-gay-lmao If you read this, you are gay] [[W:LOL#Related|LMAO]]''",<ref name=verge/><ref>[https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/09/12/charlie-kirk-shooter-tyler-robinson-gun-casings-inscriptions/86111606007/ ''Charlie Kirk suspect's bullet casings engraved with taunting, anti-fascist messages''] article on [[W:USA Today|USA Today]]. Dated September 13, 2025. Retrieved September 13, 2025.</ref><ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/12/suspect-charlie-kirk-shooting ''Charlie Kirk shooting suspect: details of messages and gun casings emerge''] article on [[W:The Guardian|The Guardian]]. Dated September 13, 2025. Retrieved September 13, 2025.</ref> another common [[W:Internet meme|internet meme]].

Early reporting falsely interpreted the inscriptions/slogans as having [[W:Ultra-leftism|ultra-leftism]], pro-[[transgender]], or pro-furry (or a combination of all) connotations<ref>[https://x.com/WSJ/status/1966574213730337204 'Post from WSJ'] on [[W:Twitter|X (formerly Twitter)]]. Dated September 12, 2025. Retrieved September 15, 2025.</ref><ref>[https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/charlie-kirk-shot/card/ammunition-in-kirk-shooting-engraved-with-transgender-antifascist-ideology-sources-pdymd1sXXMSlVRhpvR4b 'Early Bulletin Said Ammunition in Kirk Shooting Engraved With Transgender, Antifascist Ideology; Some Sources Urge Caution'] article by [[W:Wall Street Journal|Wall Street Journal]]. Dated September 12, 2025. Retrieved September 15, 2025.</ref><ref>[https://www.washingtonblade.com/2025/09/13/wall-street-journal-charlie-kirk-claim-false-link-trans-community/ 'Wall Street Journal slammed for false link between trans community and Kirk shooter'] article by [[W:Washington Blade|Washington Blade]]. Dated September 13, 2025. Retrieved September 15, 2025.</ref><ref>[https://www.salon.com/2025/09/13/wsj-retracts-explosive-claim-in-charlie-kirk-shooting-story/ 'WSJ retracts trans claim in Charlie Kirk shooting story'] article by [[W:Salon.com|Salon.com]]. Dated September 13, 2025. Retrieved September 15, 2025.</ref>. The misrepresentations continued even after<ref>[https://thehill.com/opinion/robbys-radar/5504172-tyler-robinson-charlie-kirk 'MAGA or leftist, don't jump to conclusions on Charlie Kirk's killer'] article on [[W:The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]. Dated September 15, 2025. Retrieved September 15, 2025.</ref><ref>[https://thehill.com/video/charlie-kirk%e2%80%99s-killer-is-boyfriend-of-transgender-roommate-authorities-say-robby-soave-rising/11075499 'Charlie Kirk's Killer Is Boyfriend of TRANSGENDER Roommate, Authorities Say: Robby Soave'] article on [[W:The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]. Dated September 15, 2025. Retrieved September 15, 2025.</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcqEbvs2IHM 'Charlie Kirk's Killer Is Boyfriend of TRANSGENDER Roommate, Authorities Say: Robby Soave'] video, published to [[YouTube]], by [[W:The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]. Dated September 15, 2025. Retrieved September 15, 2025.</ref><ref>[https://nypost.com/2025/09/14/us-news/charlie-kirk-assassination-suspect-had-furry-fixation-trans-boyfriend-proclaimed-support-for-bidden/ ''Charlie Kirk assassination suspect had "furry" fixation, and his trans boyfriend proclaimed support for Biden on social media''] article on the [[W:New York Post|New York Post]]. Dated September 14, 2025. Retrieved September 14, 2025.</ref> the arrest of Robinson.

==See also==

* [[W:Emoticon#OwO|OwO]] on [[Wikipedia]]
* ''[[Oooooo You Like Boys Ur A Boykisser]]''
* [[Roleplay]]
* [[Meme]]

== References ==
<REFERENCES/>

== External links ==

* [https://www.deviantart.com/tag/OwO OwO] search results in [[DeviantArt]]
* [https://www.furaffinity.net/search/?q=OwO OwO] search results in [[Fur Affinity]]
* [https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/notices-bulge-owo-whats-this OwO] on the [[W:Know Your Meme|Know Your Meme]] website
* [https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=OwO OwO] on the [[W:Urban Dictionary|Urban Dictionary]]

=== Media ===

* [https://news.sky.com/story/bella-ciao-to-owo-what-do-the-engravings-on-the-bullets-in-the-charlie-kirk-shooting-mean-13430554 '''Bella Ciao' to 'OwO' - what do the engravings on the bullets in the Charlie Kirk shooting mean?''] article on [[W:Sky News|Sky News]]
* [https://thehill.com/homenews/5502318-bullet-engravings-charlie-kirk-gaming-internet-culture/ ''Bullet engravings in Kirk investigation point to gaming, internet culture''] article on [[W:The Hill|The Hill]]
* [https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/charlie-kirk-shot-utah-turning-point-usa/ ''Charlie Kirk shooting suspect in custody after manhunt, Erika Kirk vows to keep holding Turning Point USA events''] article on [[W:CBS News|CBS News]]
* [https://www.theverge.com/politics/777313/charlie-kirks-alleged-killer-scratched-bullets-with-a-helldivers-combo-and-a-furry-sex-meme ''Charlie Kirk’s alleged killer scratched bullets with a Helldivers combo and a furry sex meme''] article on [[W:The Verge|The Verge]]
* [https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/09/12/charlie-kirk-shooter-tyler-robinson-gun-casings-inscriptions/86111606007/ ''Charlie Kirk suspect's bullet casings engraved with taunting, anti-fascist messages''] article on [[W:USA Today|USA Today]]
* [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/12/suspect-charlie-kirk-shooting ''Charlie Kirk shooting suspect: details of messages and gun casings emerge''] article on [[W:The Guardian|The Guardian]]

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[[Category:Mature_terms]]

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OwO