Explaining the Viral “Chad Does What Chad Wants” Meme

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Trend expert Shayan Faraz explains the meaning and origin of the latest “Chad” meme

Co-authored by Bailey Cho Reviewed by Shayan Faraz

Last Updated: February 6, 2026 Fact Checked

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• Meme Explained
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• Origins
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• Is being a “Chad” good or bad?
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• More Viral Chad Memes
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• Video

|Show more |Show less

Have you heard of the “Chad does what Chad wants” meme (or phrase) and wondered what it means? Well, you’re not alone, and we’re here to break it down for you! In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about the latest “Chad” meme, including its meaning and origins, with help from trend expert Shayan Faraz. We’ll also cover whether it’s good or bad to be a “Chad” and other viral Chad memes taking over TikTok.

“Chad Does What Chad Wants” Meme Overview

Trend expert Shayan Faraz says the “Chad Does What Chad Wants” meme is used to joke about someone who ignores social norms and doesn’t seek approval from others. “Chad” refers to a confident and socially dominant male. People use the phrase ironically, often on social media, to praise bad or chaotic decisions.

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Section 1 of 4:

What is the “Chad does what Chad wants” meme?

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1. 
   The “Chad does what Chad wants” meme refers to someone who disregards social norms. Faraz says the meme catchphrase "describes a hyper-confident person who does what they want without concern for other people's approval or social expectations. The phrase is usually applied to situations where a person makes a bold and unapologetic move in public.”

   • What does “Chad” mean? “A ‘Chad’ [refers] to a conventionally attractive person: someone tall, muscular, wealthy, and charismatic,” Faraz notes. “This person symbolizes extreme confidence, status, and success in social interactions.” Basically, it's a stereotypical alpha male.
   • How the meme is used: Faraz says, “The phrase is used genuinely or ironically depending on the context,” In some contexts, the phrase is used as a declaration of confidence. In others, it's used to criticize cringey and self-absorbed behavior.
   • Examples of the meme: This TikTok video of @Clavicular shows him roasting a woman's physical appearance, with the caption “Chad does what Chad wants.” This TikTok video from @giftofself shows a girl walking around sticking her tongue out, with the same caption—it’s funny because she’s breaking a social norm with confidence.

   Meet the wikiHow Expert

   Shayan Faraz (also known online as Chum) is a trend expert based in Ann Arbor, Michigan who examines cultural trends. He has over 35,000 followers and over 7 million likes on his TikTok page @chummertok.
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Section 2 of 4:

Origins of the Chad Meme

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1. 
   “Chad does what Chad wants” stems from the slang term “Chad.” While the exact origins of the meme are unclear, the "Chad" slang term likely originated in Chicago in the early 2000s. It was used to refer to preppy, entitled men from wealthy neighborhoods. This led to the creation of the jock male archetype, “Chad Thundercock” in the mid-2000s, which was especially popular in the “manosphere” and incel (involuntarily celibate) communities on 4chan and Reddit.

   • In 2017, the “Chad vs. Virgin” memes were widely circulated online. Faraz says these comic-style memes used the "virgin" and "Chad" characters to represent extreme versions of insecurity or confidence in a person using exaggerated physical traits.
   • Faraz says the "Chad" meme has evolved and developed variations over time, like the “Gigachad” meme. He says a “Gigachad” is an exaggerated version of “Chad” with perfect masculinity, confidence, and charisma. Photos of Ernest Khalimov, a muscular Russian model, are often edited and used in these memes.
   • Faraz says the Chad archetype is still a popular symbol in meme culture and often used in sarcastic and humorous contexts.

Section 3 of 4:

Is being a “Chad” considered good or bad?

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1. 
   Depending on context, being a “Chad” can be an insult or a compliment. To the average person, being called a “Chad” might not be a big deal, but it can be insulting if it’s used to say you’re shallow, arrogant, or entitled. The term gained popularity in incel and misogynistic forums, so some people think it’s problematic. That said, younger people often say it jokingly, and it can even be used as a compliment to tell someone they’re confident, unbothered, and independent.

   • To determine whether it’s good or bad, think about who’s saying it to you, how they’re saying it, and why they’re saying it.
   • If you’re chatting with a friend and they call you a “Chad” because you got your crush’s number, for example, they likely mean it as a compliment.
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Section 4 of 4:

More Viral Chad Memes

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1. Check out these other viral Chad memes. There are so many variations of the “Chad” meme circulating on the internet. Here are the most popular ones you need to know about:

   • Virgin vs. Chad: Also known as “Virgin Walk,” this meme is a series of illustrations that contrasts an insecure “virgin” beta male with “Chad Thundercock,” an overly masculine, confident alpha male.
   • GigaChad: The term “GigaChad” refers to someone who’s exceptionally masculine and physically attractive, and it’s often featured in memes that poke fun at our ideas of success, attractiveness, and confidence.
   • Yes Chad: Also known as Nordic Gamer, “Yes Chad” refers to a drawn image of a blonde guy with blue eyes, often wearing a beard and usually captioned “Yes.” It’s used as a reaction image online to degrade those who attempt to mock or bully someone.

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