Totò was the stage name of Antonio de Curtis, one of Italy's most beloved comic actors of the twentieth century, known for his expressive face, fast delivery and instantly quotable lines. E io pago became one of the phrases most closely linked to him in Italian popular culture, repeated in everyday speech whenever someone complains, only half joking, about footing the bill. Short recordings of the line later spread through WhatsApp chats, reaction videos and soundboards, making the catchphrase familiar even outside Italy.