The Ja Du meme originated from a viral 2017 news story featuring Adam Wheeler, a man who claimed to be trans-racial and adopted the name Ja Du to reflect his self-identified Filipino heritage. The imagery, often featuring Wheeler or his custom Tuk Tuk, became a lightning rod for internet commentary on cultural appropriation and the boundaries of identity. In meme culture, the template is frequently used to satirize people who adopt bizarre or illogical personas, or to mock the 'I identify as' trope in a hyperbolic way. It remains a staple for social commentary and absurdist humor across various social media platforms.