The 'Who Started Racism' meme, often linked to the 'CEO of Racism' trope, emerged as a surreal and absurdist trend across social media platforms like Twitter, Reddit, and TikTok. It typically involves a protagonist—often a character like Peter Griffin or a generic person in a suit—embarking on a dramatic quest to locate the person responsible for the existence of racism. This meme subverts serious social issues with a layer of irony, treating 'racism' as a business venture with a corporate head that can be physically confronted. It has evolved into various formats, including deep-fried images, video edits with dramatic music, and high-effort animations, representing a staple of modern ironic humor.