The 'Lost a Patient Today' meme stems from a July 2022 TikTok uploaded by nurse Olivia Tyler, showing her leaning against a hospital wall appearing to cry after a patient's death. The video was met with immediate backlash and mockery across the internet, with users pointing out the absurdity of setting up a camera and recording multiple takes to capture a 'genuine' moment of grief for social media engagement. It became the ultimate symbol of performative sadness and 'main character syndrome.' The template is now widely used to poke fun at influencers who prioritize content creation over authentic human emotion, or to joke about being overly dramatic in everyday situations.