The phrase 'Fake and Gay' became a ubiquitous internet catchphrase during the mid-to-late 2000s, primarily used within the YouTube comment section to dismiss videos as being staged or unappealing. It gained massive mainstream notoriety through Ray William Johnson’s popular YouTube series '=3', where it became a recurring segment and a foundational trope of early viral video commentary. While the terminology reflects the less-refined nature of early web discourse, the meme itself evolved into a satirical way to express skepticism toward viral content or 'staged' occurrences. Today, it is remembered as a cornerstone of early YouTube culture and is often used ironically to poke fun at the cynical nature of internet commenters.