The clip is built on You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch, written for the 1966 animated special How the Grinch Stole Christmas, with lyrics by Dr. Seuss and a famous vocal performance by Thurl Ravenscroft. Online parody versions rewrote key insults in the song for shock humour, and this short excerpt isolating the cheap one line began circulating separately on meme soundboards. Its popularity comes from instant recognition of the melody paired with an unexpected lyric change, making it reusable far outside the holiday season.