The 'I'm Not the Step Dad, I'm the Dad That Stepped Up' meme originally circulated in sincere parenting communities as a badge of honor for non-biological fathers. However, the internet eventually adopted it for ironic purposes, often pairing the phrase with overly aggressive or 'badass' imagery like skeletons, wolves, or characters like The Punisher. This juxtaposition of a tender sentiment with hyper-masculine, edgy aesthetics created a staple of ironic meme culture. Today, it is frequently used to mock bravado or to satirize the overly dramatic way some individuals portray their personal lives online.