The Hatman is a shared hallucination or 'shadow person' reported by people experiencing sleep paralysis or, more notoriously, those who consume excessive amounts of diphenhydramine (Benadryl). Unlike many shadow figures that appear as indistinct blobs, the Hatman is consistently described as a tall man wearing a wide-brimmed hat or fedora. He became a staple of internet folklore and surrealist memes, often used to mock the terrifying side effects of OTC medication abuse or to personify the feeling of being watched during a fever dream. The meme oscillates between genuine horror and ironic shitposting, cementing the Hatman as an iconic figure in modern digital urban legends.