The 'Big Mike' meme stems from a long-standing internet conspiracy theory and piece of digital folklore suggesting that former First Lady Michelle Obama is actually a man named Michael. Gaining traction in the early 2010s through YouTube videos and fringe message boards like 4chan and Reddit, the meme relies on zoomed-in photos, body language analysis, and slow-motion clips to 'prove' the claim. While widely debunked and considered a form of trolling or political satire, the template persists in online discourse as a way to signal skepticism toward mainstream narratives or to participate in subversive political humor.