The 'Dad! There Is a Monster Under My Bed' meme is based on a four-panel horror-themed webcomic by the artist Chris (TheSimpsonsArt). In the comic, a child tells his father there is a monster under the bed, but when the father looks, he finds the child hiding underneath, claiming there is a monster on the bed instead. This unsettling subversion became a viral sensation as a labeling template used to depict situations where a perceived problem masks a much larger or more ironic reality. It is a staple for 'bait-and-switch' jokes, existential dread, or simply highlighting the hidden complications in everyday life.