TikTok isn't exactly known for its surreal memes, but there's no other word to describe the recent wave of "Regirock With a handbag" videos that have taken over the app in recent weeks. When the Buffalo Bills post a video of their quarterback Josh Allen saying "I feel like I'm [AI voice] Regirock with a handbag!" something has gone horribly awry.

@buffalobills POV you find Josh on Route 111. #regirock #pokemon #emulator #joshallen #nfl ♬ original sound – Buffalo Bills

What Are 'Regirock With A Handbag' Memes?

First off, the full name of the meme is "Cv nty Regirock with a Handbag," and you should be able to intuit what that means with a bit of knowledge of Algospeak. The meme comes from @Regirocktok, a user who has shown remarkable dedication to posting memes about the Gen III Pokémon Regirock for multiple years. Perhaps all that posting led to the perfect amount of brainrot to come up with "Regirock with a handbag," and on March 28th, 2024, they did.

@regirocktok @secret brittany does not miss 💅 #regirocktok #pokemon #regirock #anime #pokemontiktok #nintendo #gaming #floptok #brittanybroski #broski ♬ original sound – regirock

The photoshop edit of Regirock, a Rock Pokémon previously best known for going "un un un," was somehow captivating to the TikTok audience. The long nails, fake lashes and handbag featuring Lillipup was enough to hit algorithmic gold, and soon "Regirock with a handbag" memes exploded on the app.

How Have "Regirock with a Handbag" Memes Spread On TikTok?

Regirocktok apparently knew they had struck upon a genius idea, and kept churning them out on the app, as video after video of "Regirock with a handbag" racked up hundreds of thousands of views.

@regirocktok cv nty regirock with a handbag #regirocktok #pokemon #regirock #floptok #gaming #anime #pokemontiktok #spongebob #cupcakke ♬ whered you get that cv nty regirock with a handbag – regirock

@regirocktok this was not my cleanest edit 💀 cv nty regirock with a handbag tho #regirocktok #regirock #pokemon #nintendo #floptok #pokemontiktok #anime #gaming #coachella @harry daniels ♬ meeting cvnty regirock with a handbag – regirock

They've remained the primary creator of "Regirock with a handbag" memes on TikTok, but the character itself has escaped containment and begun appearing on other platforms. Memes with this fashionable Regirock have also appeared on Twitter.

Why Are "Regirock with a Handbag" Memes Popular?

Why this particular joke has tickled so many funnybones is a mystery, but the combination of Pokémon nostalgia, modern slang, and the image of a personality-free rock made to look like a diva seems to be a winning formula.

It's more reminiscent of the mid-2010s lunacy that was popular on Tumblr than what typically happens on TikTok. In its heyday, Tumblr was well known for taking jokes to ludicrous extremes (domesticated clowns comes to mind), and perhaps the "Regirock with a handbag" memes are finding an audience of former Tumblr memers and new memers craving something more surreal than the typical TikTok fare.

@regirocktok cv nty regirock with a handbag #regirocktok #pokemon #regirock #floptok #gaming #anime #pokemontiktok #spongebob #cupcakke ♬ whered you get that cv nty regirock with a handbag – regirock

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For the full history of Regirock with a handbag, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.