On March 3rd, Instagram page @hykeq posted a version of the image macro with Minecraft music over it, gaining over 54,000 views in eight months (shown below).
Continued Spread
On November 21st, 2021, Instagram page boomer.jim posted an image macro using the monkey boy to mock people who used to watch Ben Shapiroanti-SJW videos as a teenager during Thanksgiving dinner, gaining over 38,900 likes in a day (shown below).
Gay Little Monkey AI-Generated Images
In November 2023, AI-generated images combining the "Gay Little Monkey" with various celebrities began going viral.
It is unclear and unlikely that this is the original upload (shown below). Within hours, it was shared thousands of times, sparking the gay little monkey from the Apple Store trend.
WTF Gay Little Monkey? The gay little monkey at the Apple Store video captured a moment that was both adorable and hilarious, quickly spreading across TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram.
The Viral Spread: Gay Little Monkey Meme Explained
The gay little monkey meme took off because it combined humor, cuteness, and a bit of unexpected sass.
On April 9th, Redditor Chaz4220 posted a photoshop to /r/jschlatt putting the boy in a Gamestop, gaining over 190 upvotes in just under two years (shown below, right).
The meme persisted into 2021, continuing to inspire new variants. It reminds us that humor, curiosity, and a bit of unexpected charm can unite people across the world.
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Liam is a freelance writer, blogger, and digital media journalist.
The Internet’s Reaction 5 Heartwarming Truths
The phrase wtf gay little monkey became a common reaction online, expressing surprise and amusement. We’ll also explore the popular wtf gay little monkey reactions and what makes this meme so uniquely captivating in 2025.
What Is the Gay Little Monkey?
People were baffled but entertained by the monkey’s unexpected presence and personality.
One Twitter user commented: “WTF gay little monkey just stole my heart at the Apple Store.
5 Heartwarming Truths If you’ve stumbled across the phrase “gay little monkey” recently, you’re probably wondering what it means and why it’s suddenly everywhere online.
A Quick Introduction
At first glance, the phrase gay little monkey might sound like a random or even confusing combination of words. What is the origin of the gay little monkey meme?
The meme originated from a viral video of a playful monkey inside an Apple Store, which quickly spread across social media platforms in early 2025.
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The trend was kicked off by TikToker @microplasticangel on November 20th, 2023, after they posted a slideshow of AI-generated images showing singer Lana Del Ray and actor Timothée Chalamet making a Thanksgiving meal together while dressed in Gay Little Monkey outfits.
The slideshow, set to Mazzy Star's "Fade Into You," gathered over 5.2 million plays and 800,000 likes in a week.
Images from another TikTok by @microplasticangel were reposted to X by user @yassambassador asking "is this real" on November 19th, gathering over 19,000 likes in a week (seen below, left).
The image macro was reposted to Twitter by @reactjpg on September 17th, censoring "f--k" with "cool" and badly cropping the meme (shown below, right).
The image macro inspired numerous photoshops using variations of the phrase, often replacing the monkey boy with another character or putting him in a new setting.
On November 20th, X user @airbagged posted a meme using the image, gathering over 41,000 likes in a day (seen below, right).
On November 24th, X user @Baileymoon15 posted a version of the image showing British singer Ed Sheeran in the "Gay Little Monkey" suit, gathering over 80,000 likes in two days (seen below).
Various Examples
Search Interest
External References
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He has a management degree in Supply Chain & Operations Management and Marketing and boasts a wide-ranging background in digital media.
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Gay Little Monkey Boy At Apple Store
About
Gay Little Monkey Boy At Apple Store refers to an image of a child in a tight monkey costume using a display iPhone at an Apple Store, standing with one leg straight and one bent at the knee, foot on top of the other, in what's considered a "gay" stance.
The image was first uploaded to the web in 2010 and became popularized over the course of the decade in image macros and photoshops as an exploitable.
Origin
The exact origins are unknown, but the earliest archived upload of the image of the monkey boy was posted to ZanyPickle on June 18th, 2010, in a meme dump "grab bag" collection post.
Its curious and mischievous behavior caught the attention of shoppers and viewers alike.
How Did It Start?
A bystander recorded the monkey’s antics, and the clip was uploaded online. Tabloid Prodigy reposted it on June 24th as their "picture of the day" and Krapps posted it on June 29th in its own post titled "Monkey Boy – The Legend Continues," playing up the idea of the mystery of the monkey boy.
Spread
The image spread online over the course of the 2010s.
The monkey’s playful antics, paired with cheeky captions, made it a perfect recipe for meme culture.
What Makes This Meme So Popular?
Relatability: The monkey’s expressions and movements mirror human emotions in a funny way.
Versatility: Meme creators have adapted the clip to fit various jokes and social commentary.
Surprise Factor: The setting—an Apple Store—adds an unexpected twist.
Gay Little Monkey at the Apple Store: The Original Clip
The original video shows a small monkey interacting with customers and devices inside an Apple Store.