Spider-Man: Lotus began as a highly anticipated non-profit fan film intended to explore the psychological depth of Peter Parker following the death of Gwen Stacy. However, it quickly transitioned into a massive internet meme following the 2022 leak of offensive past comments and messages from the lead actor and director. This controversy turned the film's promotional materials, specifically shots of a brooding Peter Parker, into templates for jokes about 'cancellation,' edgy fan scripts, and the irony of the film's serious tone compared to the behind-the-scenes drama. Today, the meme is primarily used to poke fun at the chaotic nature of independent film production and the inevitable 'Twitter discourse' that surrounds controversial media figures.