The catchphrase “Relax Liberals, It’s Called Dark Humor” has become a prevalent ironic statement online, particularly gaining traction on TikTok starting in August 2023. This meme format typically involves a piece of childish or absurd wordplay, followed by the declarative statement, “Relax liberal, it’s called dark humor.” A typical example might be suggesting to “replace the ‘p’ in ‘part’ with an ‘f’,” or to “remove the ‘ha’ from ‘happiness’,” framing these simplistic alterations as edgy or dark jokes. Initially, the meme often incorporated imagery of the Joker, reminiscent of the Gamer Joker meme, further emphasizing the intended tone. This trend shares similarities with the “Take It Easy, Globehead, They’re Just Flat Earth Memes” format, both relying on a condescending yet humorous approach to perceived overreactions.
The Genesis of “Relax Liberals, It’s Called Dark Humor”
The origin of this meme can be traced back to TikTok in late June 2023. On June 29th, 2023, TikTok user @fatherdimm posted a video featuring the Joker with the caption: “DO NOT remove the ‘ine’ from ‘fine art.’ Relax l*berals, it’s called DARK HUMOUR.” This initial post resonated widely, accumulating over 2 million views and 300,000 likes within four months.
The following day, June 30th, another TikTok user, @yousuckatapextrs_1, expanded on the theme. They posted a video using a scene from Jordan Peele’s movie Get Out, accompanied by the text: “Liberals when they replace outs in outsmarts with F. Relax liberals it’s called dark humor.” This post also gained significant traction, garnering over 700,000 views and 70,000 likes in a similar timeframe.
These early examples established the template for the meme: present a simple, often nonsensical wordplay “joke,” and then preemptively dismiss potential criticism by labeling it as “dark humor” and targeting “liberals,” implying an oversensitivity to such jokes.
Meme Evolution and Spread
The “Relax Liberals…” format quickly spread across TikTok. By July 3rd, 2023, @talupes contributed to the trend with a video featuring Joker footage and the joke: “What do you call a dog in Ohio? Zawg. Relax liberals, it’s called dark humor.” This post also achieved virality, amassing over 500,000 views and 80,000 likes.
The meme continued to proliferate, with @femurbreakr posting another iteration on August 2nd, 2023, which gained even more momentum, reaching over 1.4 million views and 280,000 likes in three months.
However, the trend also saw subversions. On September 23rd, 2023, @theyhatemax_ posted a meme that played with the format itself. It read, “If Global Warming is real why don’t men get periods. Relax liberals, this is called a brain tumor.” This example humorously twisted the formula, using the “dark humor” disclaimer to deliver an absurd and unexpected punchline, garnering over 500,000 views and 116,000 likes.
This subversion highlights the inherent irony of the meme. The humor doesn’t actually stem from dark or edgy jokes, but rather from the over-the-top and often nonsensical nature of the “jokes” being presented, combined with the preemptive and somewhat aggressive defense of “dark humor” directed at “liberals.”
Deconstructing the Humor: It’s Called Light Humor
The humor in “Relax Liberals, It’s Called Dark Humor” is multifaceted. Firstly, it plays on the stereotype of “liberals” as being overly sensitive or easily offended, particularly when it comes to humor perceived as edgy or dark. Secondly, the “jokes” themselves are intentionally simplistic and often not humorous in a traditional sense. The punchline isn’t in the wordplay, but in the absurdity of labeling such innocuous jokes as “dark humor” and anticipating a negative reaction.
In essence, the meme is a form of meta-humor. It’s not actually about dark humor, but about the idea of dark humor and the perceived reactions to it. The catchphrase is ironic; it’s light humor disguised, or rather, misrepresented as dark humor. The joke is on the person making the “joke” and their exaggerated defensiveness, rather than on any actual taboo or dark subject matter.
Examples of “Relax Liberals…” in the Wild
Numerous examples of this meme circulated widely. These examples showcase the variety of simple wordplay used and the consistent application of the catchphrase.
These and many other iterations solidify the meme’s formula and its humorous take on internet culture and perceived sensitivities around humor.
Conclusion
“Relax Liberals, It’s Called Dark Humor” became a notable meme in 2023, characterized by its ironic use of simplistic wordplay and a defensive catchphrase. Its humor lies not in genuine darkness, but in the absurdity of its presentation and the commentary it makes on online discourse and perceptions of humor sensitivity. The meme’s virality on TikTok underscores its resonance within internet culture and its ability to tap into existing online dynamics.
