Meet the 'Chill Guy': All you need to know about the viral meme
You might have come across the ‘Chill Guy’ meme on social media unless you are not reading this and living under a rock. The anamorphic brown dog wearing a grey sweater, rolled-up blue jeans, and red sneakers has taken the internet by storm. The meme is also dominating the cryptocurrency market, even as a crypto token, and Philip Banks, who appears to be the artist of the ‘Chill Guy’ meme, is set to enforce copyright protection on the illustration and its use. "I will never give permission to use my art for anything crypto-related," Phillip Banks said.
Who is ‘Chill Guy’?
The ‘Chill Guy’ is a meme, which is an illustration of an anamorphic brown dog wearing a grey sweater, rolled-up blue jeans, and red sneakers. The cool dog has a subtle smirk on its face, and the paws are carefully tucked inside the pocket. The long round face, adorable snoot, and lovely features have left the netizens to fall for the ‘Chill Guy’.
Philip Banks, who seems to be the artist of the ‘Chill Guy’ meme, first posted the photo on Oct. 4, 2023. The reel featuring the ‘Chill Guy’ has a text accompanying it that reads, “My new character. His whole deal is he's the child guy that lowkey doesn't give a f**k."‘Chill Guy’ meme takes the internet and cryptocurrency market by storm
There are thousands of videos and pictures on the internet featuring the ‘Chill Guy’, and the netizens love it. The meme has grown so popular that on Thursday afternoon, a crypto token called CHILLGUY, featuring the viral character from the meme, reached a market cap, or total value, of more than $405 million, according to CoinMarketCap. Similarly many social media marketing ads for brands like Sprite Europe, March Madness, and NFL on CBS have used the meme.
Copyright Feud
As the meme has gone viral, Philip Banks, who appears to the artist behind the meme is considering to copyright the character. He has stated that he will ‘never’ endorse the meme for any crypto-related projects. "I do not, and will never, endorse or condone any crypto-related projects involving my work," the artists said in a video caption. "I will never give permission to use my art for anything crypto-related. I have absolutely no interest in anything crypto-related,” he added.
Why it's viral?
The ‘Chill Guy’ meme is dominating the internet. A tweet on X along with the meme reads, “[N]o relationship, no situationship, no talking stage, no sneaky link. I’m just a chill guy.” The laid-back and carefree character of the ‘Chill Guy’ is gaining popularity. A TikTok video featuring the character captions, “When she thinks (you're) nonchalant and don't care (about) her, but in reality (you're) just a chill guy that likes being quiet sometimes.” Another says, "When she yells at you for forgetting what she told (you) earlier today, but you are just a chill guy enjoying your day." Barstool Sports wrote in a blog post, “Every laid-back, easygoing man on this planet can see himself in this meme." Another reads, "It’s not just a random image or a passing joke. No, it’s a reflection, a mirror held up to all of us who embody that calm, unbothered vibe."(Pic courtesy: Pexels, Instagram/ Philip Banks)
