The Diary of a Wimpy Kid cover meme is inspired by the distinct, minimalist art style of Jeff Kinney's best-selling book series. The format typically features Greg Heffley on a solid-colored, textured background, allowing users to swap the title and character to create humorous or absurd scenarios. This trend exploded on platforms like Reddit, particularly within the r/LodedDiper community, where creators use the template to imagine dark, surreal, or highly specific alternate versions of Greg's life. Its longevity stems from the nostalgic appeal of the books combined with the ease of mimicking its signature hand-drawn aesthetic.