The Johnny Bobbitt 'Paying it Forward' meme stems from a 2017 viral news story that captured the world's heart before descending into a major legal scandal. It initially featured a story about a homeless veteran spending his last $20 to help a stranded motorist, Kate McClure, leading to over $400,000 in GoFundMe donations. However, investigations later revealed the entire encounter was a staged conspiracy between Bobbitt, McClure, and her boyfriend Mark D'Amico to defraud donors. In meme culture, the template is used to satirize 'too good to be true' stories, fake internet altruism, and the inevitable reveal of a scam or hidden motive behind a seemingly wholesome act.