Towelie first appeared in the 2001 South Park episode named after him, introduced as a talking, marijuana-loving towel created as a parody of merchandising characters. He became a recurring fan favourite thanks to his catchphrase about always bringing a towel and his habit of getting high at the worst possible moment. Short clips of his voice and singing later spread through meme pages and soundboards, where fans reused them out of context. The song survives because it sums up the character instantly, even for viewers who know little of the show.