The 'Hating Grandpa Joe' meme phenomenon stems from a collective online realization that Grandpa Joe from the 1971 film 'Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory' is arguably a villain. Despite claiming to be bedridden for twenty years while his family lived in extreme poverty, he miraculously gains the ability to dance the moment Charlie wins a Golden Ticket. This perceived hypocrisy sparked a massive subculture of internet hate, including the famous r/grandpajoehate community. Memes typically highlight his laziness, his sudden recovery, or his willingness to let his family suffer while he hoards tobacco money, making him the ultimate symbol of the 'free-loader' trope in pop culture history.