Bert Is Evil began in 1997 as a satirical website created by Dino Ignacio, featuring photoshopped images of the beloved Sesame Street character appearing alongside historical villains like Adolf Hitler and Osama bin Laden. The meme achieved legendary status in 2001 when a Bangladeshi printer accidentally included an image of Bert and Bin Laden on pro-Taliban protest posters, sparking international headlines. It stands as one of the first truly viral internet hoaxes, utilizing dark humor to subvert childhood innocence. Today, the meme remains a classic example of early digital manipulation and the unpredictable nature of internet culture.