On Tuesday, the President of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont, made an address to the region's parliament in Barcelona saying that it had won the right to be independent from Spain.
However, a few seconds after seeming to declare Catalonian independence, Puigdemont immediately suspended it "for a few weeks, to open a period of dialogue."
People were very confused.
Los compañeros de la prensa extranjera. #confusing #10Oct #Catalonia
"The foreign press right now."
Cuando te dicen que han declarado la Independencia pero no la ves por ningún lado. #10oct
"When they tell you they have declared independence but you don't see it anywhere."
They compared Catalonia's short-lived independence to a scene from the Simpsons.
La independencia de Cataluña. #10Oct
"Catalonian independence."
And Puigdemont's address to a notable plot twist in recent history.
¡Independencia!... No, perdón, quería decir Moonlight #10Oct
"Independence! ... No, sorry, I meant to say Moonlight."
A lot of people thought Puigdemont was a giant troll.
Resumen #10Oct
From left: "Dialogue, Puigdemont, Unilateral declaration of independence."
Harry Potter ensayando el hechizo "Independencium Interruptus". #10Oct
"Harry Potter practicing the spell of 'Independence Interruptus.'"
Y con esto os doy mis buenas noches 😂#10Oct #Puigdemont
"And with this, I bid you good night."
Aquesta és bona #10Oct
"This is good."
And knew exactly what was going on between Barcelona — Catalonia's capital and largest city — and Madrid.
Diálogo. #11Oct
Madrid - Barcelona right now #Catalonia #10Oct
Others made sure to memorialize Catalonia's six seconds of independence.
Somebody was quick... #10Oct
Several tweets with two Reuters photos showing the same woman's reaction to the independence declaration and its subsequent suspension also went viral.
Photo #1: Catalonia has won right to independence. Photo #2: But let’s suspend declaration of Independence.… https://t.co/6CTp1gvsb2
And she quickly became an extremely relatable meme.
Cuando compras la independencia por Aliexpress vs Cuando te llega a casa #10Oct #Parlament #Puigdemont
"When you buy independence on Aliexpress vs. When you get home."
¿Y me he depilado para esto? #10Oct
"And I shaved for this?"