The 'I'm Not Gay Greg' meme originates from a fan-made Diary of a Wimpy Kid comic strip titled '25 Years Later,' which was first shared on the r/LodedDiper subreddit. The panel depicts an emotionally charged, somber moment between Greg Heffley and Rowley Jefferson, subverting the lighthearted tone of Jeff Kinney's original book series with heavy themes of repressed feelings and cold rejection. The meme became a viral sensation due to the jarring juxtaposition of the familiar, simplistic stick-figure art style with adult melodrama. It is now widely used across social media to illustrate awkward rejections, sudden plot twists, or overly dramatic interpretations of platonic friendships.