# Cheems > Cheems is a 2019 image-macro meme based on Balltze the Shiba Inu, featuring humorous misspellings with extra 'm' letters such as 'cheemsburbger. Cheems is an ironic Doge character based on a Shiba Inu named Balltze, known for humorously misspelling words by adding extra "m" letters, most famously saying "cheemsburbger" instead of "cheeseburger." The meme originated on Reddit's r/dogelore subreddit in June 2019 and quickly spread across social media, spawning formats like Swole Doge vs. Cheems and the "bonk, go to horny jail" meme. Balltze passed away in August 2023, prompting widespread tributes across the internet. ## Origin The source photo was posted on September 4, 2017, by Balltze's owner Kathy on his Instagram account @balltze[4]. The image showed Balltze, a Shiba Inu adopted at age one from an emigrating friend in Hong Kong, sitting on the floor with his characteristic round face[5]. The photo sat relatively quiet for nearly two years before becoming meme material. On June 8, 2019, Reddit user Spicy_Meme_Boi posted the first known "Cheemsburbger" meme to r/dogelore[1]. The four-panel comic featured Cheems appearing in the air, saying "cheemsburbger," and devouring another Shiba Inu's girlfriend whole. The post earned over 1,600 points with 99% upvotes[4]. The name "Cheems" itself came from this misspelling of "cheese," tied to the character's obsession with cheeseburgers[2]. Two months later, on August 8, 2019, Redditor Octatracking posted "A Cheems Is Born" to r/dogelore, an origin story comic imagining the creation of a doge that can only say "cheemsburbger," which pulled in over 2,900 points[4]. - **Platform:** Instagram (source photo, 2017), Reddit r/dogelore (meme format, 2019) - **Creator:** Kathy (owner / photographer), Spicy_Meme_Boi (first meme, Reddit) - **Date:** 2019 ## Overview Cheems belongs to the broader Doge family of Shiba Inu memes. The character is built around a single photo of Balltze, a round-faced Shiba Inu from Hong Kong, sitting on the floor with a slightly skeptical, slightly goofy expression[1]. In memes, Cheems speaks by jamming extra "m" sounds into words. "Cheeseburger" becomes "cheemsburbger," "thank you" becomes "thamk you," and so on[3]. This speech pattern became the character's defining trait and the source of his name. The character typically appears in multi-panel comics on r/dogelore, where he plays a bumbling, food-obsessed counterpart to other Doge characters[4]. Outside of dogelore, Cheems took on new roles: the baseball bat-wielding enforcer of "horny jail," the weak half of Swole Doge comparisons, and a beloved reaction image for expressing mild confusion or helplessness[5]. ## How It Spread The r/dogelore community ran with Cheems hard through the second half of 2019. Users expanded the character into a violently protective cheemsburbger enthusiast. On August 21, 2019, a post featuring a threatening message about adding Doge to a cheemsburbger recipe earned over 7,400 points[4]. The character also crossed into r/ImSorryKaren and other subreddits. By mid-2020, Cheems broke out of dogelore into the mainstream internet. The **Swole Doge vs. Cheems** format went viral during the COVID-19 pandemic, pairing a muscular version of Doge (representing something considered better in the past) against the meek Cheems (representing its current, lesser state)[5]. The format worked like a visual Chad vs. Virgin comparison[3]. Around the same time, the **"bonk, go to horny jail"** meme took off. This originated from an Instagram video by @snootboopes on July 13, 2019, showing a Shiba Inu getting bopped on the head with a hammer[1]. The "bonk" sound and concept quickly merged with Cheems, who became the bat-wielding enforcer sending people to horny jail for posting sexually suggestive content[5]. The meme also found a massive audience in Latin American countries, where Cheems became associated with Cheetos chips rather than cheeseburgers, and took on themes of anxiety and sadness[5]. In the Spanish-speaking world, Cheems memes like "no puede ser" ("it cannot be") and "me da amsiedad" ("it gives me amxiety") became hugely popular. Spain's public broadcaster RTVE wrote in 2021 that "Cheems and Doge now form part of Internet popular culture, reinventing themselves constantly to brighten our days" (translated from Spanish)[5]. ## How to Use Cheems memes typically follow a few common formats: **Classic Dogelore comics:** Multi-panel strips where Cheems interacts with other Doge characters. The key element is misspelling words by adding "m" sounds. "Burger" becomes "burmger," "please" becomes "plemase." The humor comes from Cheems' earnest, slightly pathetic delivery[2]. **Swole Doge vs. Cheems:** Place the muscular Doge on the left labeled with something from the past (or something strong/cool). Place Cheems on the right labeled with the modern or weaker equivalent. Common convention is for the left side to be idealized and the right side self-deprecating[3]. **Bonk / Horny Jail:** Use the image of Cheems swinging a baseball bat with the word "bonk" as a response to anything suggestive or thirsty. Often captioned "go to horny jail"[1]. **Reaction image:** Cheems' face on its own works as a reaction to express confusion, mild distress, or resigned acceptance[2]. ## Cultural Impact Cheems crossed from meme into mainstream culture in ways few internet dogs manage. The character was covered by major outlets including The Guardian and RTVE[5]. Kathy signed commercial deals including a management company and a toy company, turning the meme into a licensing operation while funneling proceeds to dog charities[5]. The meme's political appearance is notable. Cheems' "bonk" image showed up in Myanmar protest imagery during the 2021 coup, repurposed as a symbol of resistance[5]. In Latin America, the character took on a life distinct from its English-language version, becoming associated with anxiety and emotional vulnerability rather than just food humor[5]. The opening of the Museo de Cheems in Mexico City in August 2024 marked a rare case of a meme receiving a physical museum exhibition, with paintings depicting Cheems in artistic and literary contexts[5]. ## Fun Facts - Balltze was born on January 9, 2011, and was named after Ramune, a Japanese beverage where a marble ball inside the bottle is pressed down to let the drink flow[5]. - Kathy's favorite Cheems meme was a Spanish-language one where he asks people to scroll past because he's taking a "bamth"[5]. - Balltze told Bored Panda (through his owner) that internet friends messaged saying he "cured their depression and brought joy with my memes"[6]. - US$13,000 was donated to Hong Kong animal charities following Balltze's death[5]. - Kathy adopted a new Shiba Inu named Pochita on October 3, 2024, named after the Chainsaw Man manga character[5]. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is Cheems? Cheems is an internet meme character based on a Shiba Inu named Balltze, known for misspelling words by adding extra "m" letters, especially "cheemsburbger" for cheeseburger[4]. ### Where did Cheems come from? The source photo was posted to Instagram by owner Kathy on September 4, 2017. The meme format was created by Reddit user Spicy_Meme_Boi on r/dogelore on June 8, 2019[4]. ### What does Cheems mean? Cheems is a misspelled version of "cheese," reflecting the character's speech pattern of adding "m" sounds to words. It's associated with wholesome awkwardness and lighthearted humor[2]. ### How do you use Cheems? Common uses include multi-panel dogelore comics with misspelled words, the Swole Doge vs. Cheems comparison format, and the "bonk, go to horny jail" reaction image[1]. ### Is Cheems still popular? Cheems' peak popularity was 2020-2021. Following Balltze's death in August 2023, the meme saw a wave of tribute posts. The opening of a Cheems Museum in Mexico City in August 2024 shows the character's lasting cultural footprint[5]. ### What was Cheems' real name? The dog's real name was Balltze, nicknamed Ball Ball by his owner Kathy in Hong Kong. He was born on January 9, 2011, and adopted at age one[5]. ### How did Cheems die? Balltze passed away on August 18, 2023, due to complications during a thoracentesis procedure. He had been diagnosed with cancer and his owner was planning chemotherapy when complications arose[1]. ### What is the Swole Doge vs. Cheems meme? A comparison format that pairs a muscular version of Doge (representing something strong or past) against Cheems (representing something weaker or present). It went viral during the COVID-19 pandemic in mid-2020[5]. ### What is the "bonk" meme? A meme showing Cheems hitting someone with a baseball bat, saying "bonk" and telling them to "go to horny jail." It's used as a response to sexually suggestive content online[1]. ### What is the difference between Cheems and Doge? Cheems (Balltze) and Doge (Kabosu) are different Shiba Inu dogs. Kabosu started the original Doge meme years earlier. Cheems was added to the Doge meme family in 2019 and typically plays a more cynical or subdued role[1]. ### Did Cheems inspire a cryptocurrency? Yes, Balltze inspired the CHEEMS cryptocurrency token, part of a wave of dog-themed coins competing against Dogecoin and Shiba Inu coin[5]. ### Is there a Cheems museum? Yes, the Museo de Cheems opened in Mexico City in August 2024, featuring paintings depicting Cheems in art and literary contexts[5]. ## References 1. [Cheems, The Doge Who Just Wanted A Cheemsburbger]() 2. [Cheems Meaning: The Meme Dog Who Broke Internet]() 3. [Cheems – Meaning, Origin, Usage]() 4. [Cheems - Know Your Meme]() 5. [Cheems]() 6. [Cheems - Urban Dictionary]() 7. [This Rescue Shiba Inu Is Responsible For The Cheems Meme | Bored Panda]() --- Source: https://meme.com/memes/cheems Published by meme.com — The Internet Meme Library