What Is The Just A Chill Guy Meme? Where Did It Come From? Here’s Everything You Need To Know
The Just A Chill Guy meme is one of the internet’s newest favorites. It features a cartoon dog dressed in a sweater, jeans, and red sneakers—looking relaxed, confident, and like he couldn’t care less. Since appearing in 2023, this character has popped up everywhere from TikTok to crypto discussions.
The meme originally came from a casual illustration by artist @PhillipBankss. It took off as people began using it in funny posts where someone stays calm in the middle of chaos, ending with the phrase: “But I’m just a chill guy.” On TikTok, fans have made edits and remixes that helped spread the character’s mellow attitude.
You’ll find Chill Guy in all kinds of mashups—paired with serious monologues from Dexter, AI voices like Brian Griffin, or soft piano music. He represents staying cool, hiding emotions, and not letting anything get to you.
There are many spin-offs of the meme, like Just a Chill Girl, My Old Character, $CHILLGUY meme coin, and Chill Guy in the Pool.
If you’re curious about the laid-back cartoon dog that Gen Z loves, this is your sign to dive in.
What Is the Just A Chill Guy Meme?
The Just A Chill Guy meme (also called the Chill Guy Meme or My New Character) shows a cool-looking cartoon dog standing casually with his hands in his pockets. He wears a gray hoodie, blue jeans, and red sneakers, and has a confident smirk on his face.
This character is known for being the “chill guy that lowkey doesn’t give a f*ck,” and people use him in memes to show calm, collected energy—even in dramatic or stressful moments.
What makes the meme funny is its relaxed, slightly dramatic vibe. It’s often used in situations where someone should be upset, but instead, the caption says something like:
“When your girlfriend’s mad but you’re just a chill guy.”
It turns emotional tension into quiet confidence—with a side of humor.
Where Did the Just A Chill Guy Meme Come From?
The Chill Guy character first appeared on October 4, 2023, when Twitter (now X) user @PhillipBankss shared a drawing with the caption:
“My new character. his whole deal is he’s a chill guy that lowkey doesn’t give a f*ck.”
The post went viral fast—gaining over 68,000 likes and more than 2.4 million views in a short time.
Also on October 4, 2023, the character was posted as a reel on Instagram by @philbbankss, where it received over 57,900 likes. After that, the creator kept the momentum going with themed versions—like a festive Christmas Chill Guy that showed up in December 2023.
Source: philbbankss
How Did the Just A Chill Guy Meme Spread?
After @PhillipBankss posted the original tweet in October 2023, the Chill Guy quickly took off on Twitter. Users began remixing the image, replying to threads with captions like “you gotta hit them with the lowkey chill guy stare.” It fit right into the familiar meme format style—short, ironic, and instantly relatable.
Then in August 2024, the meme exploded on TikTok. A viral slideshow by user @.blitzerzz mashed Chill Guy with Family Guy’s Chris Griffin, set to the emotional audio “I Just Lost My Dawg.” That video alone pulled in over 422,000 views and 75,600 likes in less than a week—pushing Chill Guy into mainstream meme territory.
Source: .blitzerzz
The Dexter Audio
On September 4, 2024, TikTok creator @xssume posted an emotional edit featuring Chill Guy paired with a quote from Dexter Morgan:
“They make it look so easy, connecting with another human being…”
The calm visuals and moody voiceover hit home with viewers, quickly going viral. The video reached 6.6 million views and 1.2 million likes, and the audio was reused in over 5,700 TikToks within just one week.
Source: xssume
Brian Griffin Voiceover
On September 6, 2024, TikToker @abnormalpenguin2 shared a Chill Guy slideshow paired with an AI-generated voice of Brian Griffin from Family Guy, delivering a deep, motivational speech. The post went viral, racking up over 1.5 million views and 319,400 likes, and it kicked off a wave of fan edits, cosplays, and dramatic versions.
Snowclone Emergence
By November 2024, the meme had fully evolved into a repeatable format—or snowclone. People started using the phrases “But I’m just a chill guy” or “And I’m just a chill guy” as captions for everyday emotional situations. These slideshows, often set to the soft piano tune “Hinoki Wood” by Gia Margaret, spread like wildfire across TikTok, with many videos pulling in millions of views.
Meme Evolution and Variations
The Just A Chill Guy Meme has a lot of variants, including: Just a Chill Girl, My Old Character, Meme Coin: $CHILLGUY and Chill Guy in the Pool.
1. Just a Chill Girl
A girl version of Chill Guy also appeared—usually drawn with long hair or cute accessories like bows. These memes follow the same relaxed style, showing quiet confidence or emotional calm, but with a softer, more feminine touch.
2. My Old Character
In April 2024, the same artist introduced a new character: “an unchill gal who highkey gives a f*ck.” She’s often used in contrast memes, especially paired with the Chill Guy to create funny or dramatic relationship dynamics.
Source: PhillipBankss
3. Meme Coin: $CHILLGUY
In October 2024, Pump.fun user mrowl created a CHILLGUY crypto coin. By mid-November, its market cap hit $47.3 million.
Source: blocknewsdotcom
4. Chill Guy in the Pool
A viral NSFW TikTok trend showing Chill Guy at the pool sans trunks, captioned with POV texts like, “You’re at the pool and everyone’s pointing but you’re just a chill guy.”
Who created the Just A Chill Guy meme?
Twitter/X user @PhillipBankss on October 4, 2023.
What does Chill Guy represent?
He symbolizes emotional detachment, unbothered energy, and lowkey existential dread.
What music is used in Just A Chill Guy meme?
Notably, “Hinoki Wood” by Gia Margaret and quotes from Dexter and Brian Griffin.
What is the Just A Chill Guy meme coin?
A Pump.fun crypto coin named $CHILLGUY that peaked at $47M market cap.
Is there a female version?
Yes—“Just a Chill Girl” and “My Old Character” offer variations of the meme.
Conclusion
The Just A Chill Guy meme may have started as a simple drawing of a smug dog in streetwear, but it quickly became a digital mood. Blending irony, emotional detachment, and understated drama, Chill Guy gave Gen Z a new way to say, “I’m fine”—without saying it.
From his viral debut on Twitter to his rise on TikTok with fancams, voiceovers, and emotional edits, Chill Guy has evolved into a full-blown meme archetype—complete with spin-offs, snowclones, and his own fandom. Whether you’re laughing, crying, or both at once, there’s probably a Chill Guy meme out there that fits.
And in a chaotic, overconnected internet age, maybe that’s why he sticks: he’s the embodiment of staying cool when everything else isn’t.
