The 'Evil Dan' meme stems from the popular internet trend of creating 'Evil' versions of beloved personalities, specifically centering on the YouTube icon DanTDM. By applying dark filters, glowing eyes, or sinister expressions to images of Daniel Middleton, fans represent a complete reversal of his typically wholesome and friendly persona. It is widely used to describe moments where someone makes a deliberately 'bad' choice in a game or acts surprisingly out of character. This template thrives on the contrast between the viewer's expectations of Dan's kindness and the sudden, comedic shift into a theatrical, villainous alter-ego.