Ragebaiting and trolling have quietly become the internet's default language over the past few years, and perhaps no image captures this dynamic better than the viral meme of a roaring lioness squaring off against a serene, smirking chimpanzee.

The meme typically frames the monkey as the unbothered provocateur, basking in the fury he's provoked.

So, where did this image come from, and how did it become synonymous with baiting people online? Here's a closer look at the meme's evolution.

What’s the 'Mountain Lion Screaming at a Monkey' Meme?

The meme features a blue-tinted image of a lioness mid-roar, lunging forward with bared teeth, facing a chimpanzee resting his chin on his hand with a tranquil, vaguely amused expression. The visual format echoes the Small Brain Man Screaming at Big Brain Man meme and first circulated in earnest, motivational contexts.

One of the earliest recorded posts appeared on January 27th, 2020, on the Arabic-language Facebook page يوميات برج الاسد. The caption loosely translates to "Overreacting is stressful, some situations are best ignored."

A Spanish-language version followed on July 23rd, 2020, via the Facebook page Facundo Vivir del cuento, captioned, "Cuando tu reacción sea como la del mono 🐒 vivirás mejor. 'Ya lo aprendí' 😀 ❤️" ("When your reaction is like the monkey 🐒 you will live better"). That post garnered more than 4,500 reactions over four years.

The first ironic use of the meme slightly tweaked this caption to read, "El Idiota grita, el intelligent opina y el se masturba," posted by X user @necko on July 28th, 2022.

Where Did the Photos of the Screaming Lion and Chill Monkey Come From?

The image is a composite of two unrelated stock photos. The lioness originates from a photo taken in Kruger National Park, South Africa, uploaded to iStock by user @johan63.

The chimpanzee, posed with his chin on his hand and a contented smile, comes from Gravity Giant Productions. At some point, likely before 2020, an anonymous creator spliced the two images together, forming the now-iconic face-off.

What's the 'How It Feels To Ragebait' Screaming Lion Meme?

By 2024 and 2025, the meme had moved into ironic territory, becoming a shorthand for the smug satisfaction of setting someone off online.

The image became associated with the phrase, "how it feels to ragebait," in late 2024. On November 3rd, the Instagram account @freakyfacetimeapp posted a version with that caption, drawing over 18,000 likes in three months. On December 13th, @moristiko reposted it on X, gaining another 14,000 likes.

A month later, on December 26th, Instagram user @negusflex posted a recaptioned version, "When bro lowkey right but you jus wanna annoy him," which went viral, raking in over 900,000 likes in a month.

Four days later, TikTok creator @unemployed4lyfe uploaded their own take on the meme, "how it feels to keep saying ok while yo mom losing her shi at you," which reached 8 million plays and 1.8 million likes. The image was reposted to Instagram by @uncrustable.memess on January 3rd, 2025, collecting over 100,000 likes.

What Are Some More 'Raging Lion Smiling Monkey' Memes?

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For the full history of the Lion Screaming at Monkey meme, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.