There's a still from the Cartoon Network series The Amazing World of Gumball that has become a prevalent reaction image used in TikTok comment sections lately. It's being called "Gumball Caveman" because it shows a caveman version of the cartoon's protagonist, Gumball.

Since TikTok updated and allowed for images to be shared in comments recently, a slew of new image macros have retained constant use, Gumball Caveman being one of them. It's led to its use across other social media platforms, like Twitter / X and Reddit, but has also amassed backlash from people wondering, "Who finds this funny?"

So, where did the "Gumball Caveman" meme come from? Why do people love it or hate it? Let's explain.



h2. What Episode Does The 'Gumball Caveman' Meme Come From?

The episode in which Gumball briefly turns into a caveman is called "The Decisions" from season 6.

At one point, Gumball and Darwin are sitting on the school bus, eating ice cream. Gumball transforms into a prehistoric version of himself while he's talking, seen with a large forehead, an underbite and his hand in the air.

Where Did The 'Gumball Caveman' Meme Come From?

Although Caveman Gumball is canon, the reaction image used in memes is different from the original episode. The reaction image shows Gumball in a cave, not on the school bus. Someone photoshopped him into the rock dwelling.

All roads lead to a Pinterest user named Phimagine, who shared the earliest known post with the image in early 2022.

How Is The 'Gumball Caveman' Meme Being Used On TikTok?

In general, the Gumball Caveman image is used to represent stupidity in memes. It's often paired with captions that come from the mouth of an idiot, or at least, an idiot in the eye of the meme's creator.

The image gained notable usage starting in late 2024. A video from TikToker @travis_biscott69 is a good example of the format.

The meme slowly fades in and Caveman Gumball is used to represent someone's "honest reaction" to being told, "It's just a game." In this case, the meme creator is labeling people who get angry over video games as stupid.

@travis_biscott69 #CapCut thanks for the info Bro #meme #fyp #gumball #stupid #bro #theamazingworldofgumball ♬ الصوت الأصلي – DR.Mohamed Abdelaziz

What Are Some More 'Gumball Caveman' Memes?

The image has gained notable use within TikTok comment sections lately. People spam the image under videos to make fun of someone for yapping about something they deem irrelevant, innocuous or just plain wrong.

The image's overuse has also led to backlash, often expressed in viral videos. These videos suggest that the people who use the Gumball Caveman meme are, in fact, the ones who are dumb.

In an odd turn of events, these Gumball Caveman "hate" posts have somehow gone more viral than the earnest memes, at least on TikTok.

https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7504719813080632618

https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7504392872599309599

---

For the full history of Gumball Caveman, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's entry for even more information.