What is Kermit the Frog?

Kermit the Frog is a puppet character created by Jim Henson in 1955 who became famous through The Muppets and Sesame Street[4]. In internet culture, the character is the subject of several popular meme formats including Evil Kermit and Kermit Sipping Tea.

Where did Kermit the Frog come from?

Jim Henson created Kermit in 1955 for Sam and Friends, a TV show on WRC-TV in Washington, D.C.[4]. The puppet was made from Henson's mother's old spring coat with ping pong balls for eyes[5].

What does Kermit the Frog mean?

As a meme, Kermit typically represents passive-aggressive commentary (Kermit Sipping Tea), internal conflict between good and bad impulses (Evil Kermit), or ironic sadness (Sad Kermit)[3][1]. The specific meaning depends on which meme format is being used.

How do you use Kermit the Frog?

For Kermit Sipping Tea, add a snarky observation ending with "but that's none of my business." For Evil Kermit, create a "me / me to me" dialogue where regular Kermit states something reasonable and hooded Kermit suggests something impulsive[1].

Is Kermit the Frog still popular?

Kermit meme formats are considered classic templates that see regular use across social media platforms. The Evil Kermit format trended heavily in 2016[1], and the Sipping Tea format from 2014 established lasting cultural impact[3].

Kermit the Frog

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Published September 3, 2026

Kermit the Frog is a puppet character created by Jim Henson in 1955 who became one of the most recognizable figures in American entertainment through The Muppets and Sesame Street. The green amphibian's popularity translated seamlessly into internet culture, spawning multiple viral meme formats including Evil Kermit, Kermit Sipping Tea, and Sad Kermit.

muppets memes reaction memes exploitable templates image macro memes

Overview

Kermit the Frog memes take several distinct forms, each exploiting different aspects of the character's persona. The most enduring format is "Kermit Sipping Tea" or "But That's None of My Business," which features Kermit calmly drinking Lipton iced tea while delivering passive-aggressive observations about other people's choices3. The format works because "tea" doubles as internet slang for gossip, making Kermit the perfect visual shorthand for someone observing drama without getting involved.

Evil Kermit pairs the frog with his villainous doppelgänger Constantine from Muppets Most Wanted, creating a "me vs. me" dialogue format where regular Kermit represents rational thinking and the hooded figure voices impulsive or self-destructive thoughts1. Sad Kermit took a darker turn, featuring a store-bought Kermit puppet performing covers of depressing songs and engaging in simulated self-harm2.

Kermit's expressive face and decades of cultural goodwill make him uniquely suited to meme formats. His wide eyes and calm demeanor can convey everything from smug satisfaction to existential despair depending on context.

Origin & Background

Platform

YouTube / Twitter (viral spread)

Creator

Jim Henson

Date

2007

Jim Henson created the original Kermit puppet in 1955 for Sam and Friends, a five-minute show that aired twice daily on WRC-TV in Washington, D.C.4. Henson fashioned the puppet from his mother's old spring coat and a pair of his blue jeans, using ping pong balls for eyes5. The character wasn't initially a frog but evolved into one during the 1960s.

Kermit's meme presence emerged in 2007 when YouTube comedy channel AdamRayComedy uploaded videos of Kermit reacting to shock content like 2 Girls 1 Cup6. The reaction video format established Kermit as a comedic vessel for internet culture, setting the stage for the image macro formats that would follow.

How It Spread

Kermit memes spread across multiple waves on different platforms. The Sad Kermit videos went viral in March 2007 after being posted to Fark.com, gaining 100,000 views overnight before being taken down by Disney on copyright grounds2. Reuploads of the "Hurt" cover featuring the puppet accumulated millions of views7.

The Kermit Sipping Tea meme exploded on Instagram in June 2014. On June 17, 2014, the @kermitbelike account posted the first known image macro pairing Kermit drinking Lipton iced tea with the caption "but that's none of my business"3. The @thatsnoneofmybusinesstho Instagram page launched three days later and gained over 130,000 followers in its first four days.

Evil Kermit peaked on November 6, 2016, when Twitter user @aaannnnyyyyaaaa posted a screenshot of Kermit facing Constantine with the caption "me: sees a fluffy dog / me to me: steal him"1. The tweet collected over 31,800 likes and 22,500 retweets within ten days. Kermit's official Twitter account even acknowledged the trend, tweeting that Constantine from Muppets Most Wanted was "trending as #EvilKermit."

How to Use This Meme

For Kermit Sipping Tea, pair the image of Kermit drinking with a snarky observation about someone's behavior, ending with "but that's none of my business." The format works best for calling out hypocrisy or contradictions without directly confronting the subject. For Evil Kermit, create a two-part caption where "me" states a reasonable intention and "me to me" or "also me" suggests a more impulsive or self-serving alternative. The format typically highlights the gap between what we know we should do and what we actually want to do.

Frequently Asked Questions

References (7)