The trendy 'My New Character' meme from October 2023 is going viral again, this time on TikTok. From cosplaying the meme's 'chill guy' character to having him give life advice, it is now part of pop culture.
The meme originates from an artwork by X user, @phillipbankss, who shared it on October 4, 2023. It featured a human-like brown dog wearing a turtleneck sweater, red shoes, and blue jeans. The artists described the artwork as a "chill guy that lowkey doesn't give a fu*k."
The uniqueness of the 'My New Character' artwork and Phillip's caption made it go viral on X in no time. The immediate resemblance of the character with Arthur Read from the iconic Arthur animated TV series only aided in its popularity.
As of this writing, the artwork has been viewed 923K times and has received over 37K likes and 7.9K reposts.
Over the past few months, X users have shared their versions of the meme. While some of them featured the 'My New Character' with different backgrounds, others shared critical life advice and thoughts through the trendy character.
What is the My New Character meme on TikTok?
An X user, @phillipbankss made the My New Character meme. The user made an artwork featuring a human-like brown dog wearing a turtleneck sweater, red shoes, and blue jeans. The artist described the common clothes and the character itself as a "chill guy that lowkey doesn't give a fu*k."
All you need to know about the 'My New Character' meme going viral on TikTok
The popularity of Phillip's meme on TikTok stems from how relatable it is for most netizens. Inspiring people to 'not give a fu*k,' the chill guy seemingly urges them to focus on themselves and not the unnecessary issues in life. The hidden message delivered through the relatable character seems to be one of the many reasons keeping it trending over the months.
Phillip also continues to come up with new ideas about the chill guy with fresh artwork. His December 2023 artwork saw the 'chill guy' in the festive mood with a red turtleneck sweater and a Christmas hat. The creator shared another artwork showcasing a backshot of the unique character in February 2024.
The netizens have no plans of holding their creativity back either and have shared some of the most unique and fun takes of the meme. TikTok user, @xssume, shared a viral version of the chill guy on September 5. It featured the character in a field of grass, giving life lessons about 'connecting with other humans.'
The TikTok user, @lordwolfgng, went past the regular memes and gained major popularity by cosplaying a look as the chill guy in September.
One of the most recently popular chill guy memes came from TikToker @.blitzerzz in August 2024. He posted a snapshot from The Family Guy referencing Petter Griffin as the 'chill guy.'
The 'My New Character' memes continue to grow in popularity and gain massive engagement over the short video-sharing platform. The chill guy seems to be going places as TikTokers post him in new settings, including college, garden, meadows, and more.
While Phillip does not seem to mind the fame from the memes, he does not like how the character has been renamed. Tweeting about the same on September 2, the creator said he was irritated about the 'chill guy' being renamed 'My New Character.'
