The 'I Gotta Put Me First' meme originates from the Adult Swim animated series The Boondocks, featuring the character Thugnificent (Otis Jenkins). In the scene, he utters the line while deciding to prioritize his own interests over his friends, delivered with a memorable blend of dramatic flair and blunt honesty. The phrase quickly resonated online as a perfect reaction for moments requiring a 'self-care' excuse for questionable or selfish behavior. It is frequently used to mock the concept of putting oneself first in absurdly low-stakes situations or to jokingly justify avoiding social responsibilities.