Scumbag Steve
Origin
Scumbag Steve is a 2011 photo of a young man standing in a doorway wearing a cocked fur hat. As an advice animal, he became the embodiment of selfish, inconsiderate behavior, with the image captioned in the classic top-and-bottom advice-animal style. He was one of the defining character macros of the early-2010s meme era.
Meaning & usage
His captions describe petty betrayals and self-serving jerk moves — “borrows money, buys you a $2 gift with it,” or “shows up to the party you didn’t invite him to.” The “scumbag hat” itself became a symbol of jerk behavior, cropped out and photoshopped onto anyone caught acting badly. He functions as the villainous counterpart to Good Guy Greg, whose captions describe considerate, generous behavior instead. The tone is comic and accusatory, a lighthearted way to call out inconsiderate conduct.
Notable examples
- Captions listing selfish or inconsiderate “scumbag” behavior.
- The cropped “scumbag hat” pasted onto other people or characters.
- Direct pairings and contrasts with Good Guy Greg.
Examples & gallery
Frequently asked
Where did Scumbag Steve come from?
From a 2011 photo of a young man in a doorway wearing a cocked fur hat, used as an advice animal.
What does the meme mean?
It captions selfish, inconsiderate "scumbag" behavior.
What is the "scumbag hat"?
Steve's fur hat was cropped out and became a symbol that could be pasted onto anyone acting badly.
Sources
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