About

Rapey McForehead is a nickname used on the internet for U.S. Congressman Matt Gaetz that references his sexual misconduct investigation and his perceivably large forehead. The name trended on Twitter in late 2022 and early 2023 as a way to humorously criticize Gaetz, predominantly manifesting amid the 2023 House Speaker Election when Gaetz and other hard-right Republicans in Congress refused to vote for Representative Kevin McCarthy. The origin of "Rapey McForehead" occurred on Twitter in early 2021 amid Gaetz's sexual misconduct investigation. The meme's concept is also similar to memes made about Richard Spencer's Big Forehead in 2017.

Origin

On March 30th, 2021, Twitter^[1] user Muskie_Medic tweeted "Rapey McForehead" as a reply to a since-deleted tweet from Twitter^[2] user and New York Times reporter Katie Bennet, who relayed information that the "DOJ is investigating Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-FL) for trafficking, related to his conduct with a 17-yr-old girl." ^[1] Muskie_Medic's reply received just five likes in two years but is the earliest known use of the nickname for Gaetz (shown below).

On the next day, March 31st, 2021, Twitter^[3] user littledeekay tweeted a reply to Gaetz that ended with, "Maybe just stop talking, Rapey McForehead." The reply was in response to Gaetz denying the sexual misconduct allegations, starting with the statement, "My family would never pay a bribe." Twitter^[3] user littledeekay's reply received roughly 1,900 likes in two years and predominantly started the "Rapey McForehead" meme as the first high-engagement example (shown below).

Spread

After Twitter^[3] user littledeekay's reply in March 2021, mass usage of "Rapey McForehead" in relation to Gaetz surfaced on Twitter, earning more engagement over time. For instance, on April 21st, 2021, Twitter^[4] user lindyli used the nickname in a tweet that received roughly 10,900 likes in two years (shown below, left). On July 24th, 2022, Twitter^[5] user JamesTate121 tweeted an infographic about Gaetz with the caption, "Rapey McForehead Remember who Matt Gaetz is," and earned roughly 2,200 likes in six months (shown below, right).

On December 22nd, 2022, Twitter^[6] user nazirafzal tweeted a photo of Matt Gaetz and Kyle Rittenhouse and referenced them as the nicknames, "Rapey McForehead & Murderboy McMurderFace," earning roughly 1,800 likes in one month (shown below, left). About a month later, on January 24th, 2023, Twitter^[7] user laotzuwood then tweeted a similar meme with a bottom caption that labeled the men with the nicknames, gaining over 2,500 likes in two days (shown below, right).

Various Examples

Search Interest

Unavailable.

External References