Ligma began as an internet prank in 2018 built around a fake disease name that only exists to set up the 'ligma balls' response. It spread through gaming and social posts after hoax claims pulled in well-known names, and the Steve Jobs version became one of the most repeated forms of the bait. Because everyone online learned the script, the clip now works less as a trick and more as a shared reference, dropped in whenever a creator wants an instantly recognizable playground-style punchline.