Alex Buscemi
If you’ve been online lately, you’ve probably come across the “Chill Guy” meme—an absurdly relaxed dude who’s become the internet’s unofficial mascot for just not caring.
But where did the cool brown dog with his hands in his pockets come from? Here are the origins of the “Chill Guy” meme, according to KnowYourMeme:
The drawing was originally shared in a tweet by Twitter / X user philb (@PhillipBankss) in late 2023, paired with the caption, My New Character. His Whole Deal Is He’s a Chill Guy That Lowkey Doesn’t Give a Fuck. In 2024, the meme went viral on TikTok where users inserted the character into different formats like an exploitable and joked about “his deal” or posed situations in which being “just a chill guy” defused tension.
From there, “Chill Guy” took on a life of his own.
Memers ran with the concept, creating scenarios where Chill Guy stays absurdly calm in the face of cumbling relationships or life’s endless stress.
@_notalexei_ I’m just a chill guy #chillguy #justachillguy #meme #reddit
It’s a vibe, and one that perfectly captures a kind of modern apathy-meets-resignation that feels very 2024.
So, why did it take off? For one, it’s hilariously relatable. Everyone has that one friend (or maybe it’s you) who responds to life’s biggest dramas with a shrug and a “meh.” But it’s also a subtle commentary on how society expects us to “stay calm” no matter what. Chill Guy is the internet’s tongue-in-cheek way of saying, “Sure, I’ll be chill—because what else can I even do?”
What makes the meme even better is its flexibility. Some people use it to poke fun at themselves—like staying “chill” even though their finances are in shambles—while others give it a more surreal edge, with Chill Guy smiling through literal apocalypse scenarios. The mix of humor, relatability, and absurdity makes it peak meme material.
At its heart, the Chill Guy meme is about embracing the chaos with a side of humor. Whether you’re laughing at the ridiculousness or genuinely inspired to be a little more chill, it’s proof that sometimes, the best response to life’s nonsense is just… whatever, man.
Scroll on for some prime examples of the “Chill Guy” meme:
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