The Hot Pepper Challenge is a long-standing internet phenomenon where participants film themselves eating world-record-breaking chili peppers like the Ghost Pepper or Carolina Reaper. The meme usually highlights the dramatic progression from overconfidence to extreme physical distress, involving uncontrollable sweating, tears, and frantic searches for milk. Gaining massive traction on YouTube and Vine in the early 2010s, it has evolved into various formats, including the One Chip Challenge. In meme culture, it serves as a relatable metaphor for making a decision that seems like a good idea at first but leads to immediate and intense regret.