The iPhone 6 'Bendgate' meme originated in September 2014, shortly after the release of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. Users began reporting that their new, thinner devices were warping or bending permanently after being kept in their front pockets. The controversy went viral when YouTuber Lewis Hilsenteger of Unbox Therapy posted a video demonstrating how easily the device could be bent with bare hands. This sparked a wave of internet parodies, with people comparing the phone to a boomerang, Dali paintings, or claiming it was a secret 'foldable' feature. Even today, Bendgate remains a cultural touchstone for tech design failures and the power of social media to pressure major corporations into addressing manufacturing defects.