Grumpy cat memes are an Internet phenomenon that emerged in 2012. Grumpy cat is an Internet celebrity known for his frowning facial expression and unusual behavior (e.g., sleeping, eating, and grooming). The meme has spawned a variety of t-shirts and other merchandise, as well as a number of spoof videos, articles, and books. This humor trend has spread to other media platforms including television shows, live concerts, talk shows, print media, and social media.
Although there is no consensus on the origin of the Grumpy Cat meme, its popularity has led to speculation about Grumpy Cat’s true identity. One popular theory is that Grumpy Cat is not a single individual but rather a composite character composed of several photos taken by owners or other individuals who collect the images and make them available on the Internet. Another possibility is that Grumpy Cat is part of an elaborate marketing campaign in which an employee at a cat shelter created the image to sell merchandise with the goal of generating interest in adoption. However, these theories have received little support from experts on Internet culture and have largely been dismissed by the public as unlikely explanations.
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