The Bad Joke Eel, also known as Lame Joke Eel, is an advice animal image macro series featuring a Moray eel that looks like it is laughing hysterically at its own joke. The original photograph was taken by Jeffrey Jeffords and began circulating as a meme in early 2012 after appearing on Reddit. The meme's charm lies in its depiction of painful puns, 'dad jokes,' or anti-humor, followed by the eel’s wide-eyed, open-mouthed expression that mimics someone waiting for a reaction to a bad joke. It serves as the visual embodiment of the 'ba-dum-tss' rimshot, making it a staple for internet users who enjoy groan-worthy wordplay and awkward comedic timing.