Neeko is a champion from League of Legends, introduced by Riot Games in 2018 as a curious shapeshifter from a vastaya tribe. In Brazilian Portuguese, safada is slang for a naughty or cheeky woman, and pairing that word with Neeko became a running joke in the Brazilian League community. The short clip spread through soundboards, streams and short edits where her playful, deceptive kit is the punchline, and it remains popular because it sums up her mischievous reputation in a single memorable phrase.