Pepe the King Prawn appears at the Whatnot Workshop at FAO Schwarz on November 11, 2008, in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for The Muppets Studio)
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A Muppet known as “Pepe the King Prawn” has unexpectedly gone viral on TikTok, with his disheveled face often paired with relatable and sometimes bizarre stories.
The trend is specifically set to the choir version of Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” from the climax of Deadpool & Wolverine.
Who Is Pepe The King Prawn?
Pepe the King Prawn is a Spanish Muppet known for his four arms, orange skin, and straggly hair. He’s famously an over-the-top flirt and is offended by being called a shrimp.
Despite not being as recognizable as Kermit or Gonzo, Franz Oz, the creator of The Muppets, favored Pepe.
Pepe’s frazzled appearance has been the subject of memes before, but his TikTok moment truly ignited in December.
Where Did The Pepe The King Prawn Meme Come From?
According to Know Your Meme, the first instance of Pepe the King Prawn as a TikTok meme was posted in late November by @caitycline21. The post, with the Curb Your Enthusiasm theme tune, garnered 180,000 views.
A subsequent effort with a SpongeBob SquarePants tune performed poorly with a mere 1,000 views.
However, the third attempt set to the Deadpool & Wolverine version of “Like a Prayer” with the caption, “The face I make when I’m trying to maintain great customer service while getting screamed at,” gathered over 4 million views and launched the meme.
How Did The Muppet Meme Spread?
Initially, Pepe the King Prawn’s image was popular for stress relief. Then, TikTok users began using it as a platform to share embarrassing stories.
Many videos are surprisingly lengthy, using multiple Pepe slides to narrate detailed anecdotes.
Examples include stories about a packet of Skittles causing humiliation in the airport and an unintentionally terrifying Peppa Pig performance at a children’s party.
Celebrities joined in, too; Ed Sheeran shared a funny story about a chaotic trip with Benny Blanco.
TikTok creator Megan Chacalos became the face of the meme after sharing a story about a hair mask turning into a slippery disaster, earning her the nickname “Olive Oil Girl.”
The meme has even spawned a memecoin and a collection of humorous stories, showing how TikTok can bring out people’s funny sides.
Impact on TikTok and Beyond
Pepe the King Prawn proved that even niche characters can go viral with the right song and relatable content.
His image became a tool for sharing personal experiences anonymously, often serving as a humorous shield for storytelling.
The trend highlights the unique power of TikTok to connect users through shared laughter and comfort.
Ironically, Pepe the King Prawn brought some TikTokers out of their shells—just don’t call him a shrimp.
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