# *Tips Fedora* *Tips Fedora* is a mocking catchphrase aimed at young men who perform fake chivalry online, often paired with the image of a man lifting a brimmed hat. Born on 4chan in April 2012 and amplified by Reddit in late 2013, the phrase latched onto a studio portrait of actor Jerry Messing to become one of the signature neckbeard mocking formats of the mid-2010s. ## Origin The earliest documented use of the phrase appeared on April 4, 2012, in a thread on 4chan's /v/ (Video Games) board discussing white knight behavior[1]. It stayed niche for most of a year before resurfacing across multiple 4chan boards in early 2013[3]. Know Your Meme credits that 2012 /v/ post as the earliest archived appearance of the exact wording[3]. - **Platform:** 4chan (origin) / Reddit (viral spread) - **Creator:** Unknown - **Date:** 2012 ## Overview The joke targets the hat-tipping gesture as a stand-in for hollow politeness, performed by self-styled gentlemen online[1]. Posters append *tips fedora* or m'lady to statements that read as fake chivalry, atheist smugness, or white knighting, flipping the speaker's intended charm into mockery[3]. The format travels equally well as a text-only sign-off and as a reaction image. The visual half of the meme leans on a few go-to assets. Reaction faces typically show a man lifting the brim of a brimmed hat, and animated GIFs exaggerate the motion into a loop[5]. The best known of these is a Facebook headshot of actor Jerry Messing, who played Pugsley in the 1998 film *Addams Family Reunion*, which Reddit elevated into the face of the neckbeard archetype after late 2013[5]. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is *Tips Fedora*? A mocking catchphrase and reaction image used against men who perform fake chivalry online, often pictured lifting a brimmed hat[3]. ### Where did *Tips Fedora* come from? It first appeared on April 4, 2012, in a 4chan /v/ thread about white knight behavior[1]. ### What does *Tips Fedora* mean? It mocks the self-styled gentleman act tied to the 'nice guy' and neckbeard archetypes, treating a hat tip as hollow performance[3]. ### How do you use *Tips Fedora*? Append *tips fedora* or m'lady to a smug or faux-chivalrous statement, or reply with a hat-tipping reaction image like the Jerry Messing portrait[5]. ### Is *Tips Fedora* still popular? The meme peaked in 2013 and 2014 on Reddit and 4chan and is now a classic reference used mostly ironically rather than freshly made[5]. ## References 1. [https://archive.foolz.us/v/thread/134821442/#134822186]() 2. [https://www.reddit.com/r/cringepics/comments/1qijj1/tips_fedora/]() 3. [https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/tips-fedora]() 4. [http://nyehs.tumblr.com/post/61334991937/tips-fedora-in-shame-friendzoned-again-by]() 5. [https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/1wnr05/redditor_in_traditional_garb/]() 6. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjIH5M85BP0]() 7. [https://www.reddit.com/r/OutOfTheLoop/comments/1y3fx3/who_is_the_famous_fedora_tipping_neckbeard_what/]() 8. [https://www.reddit.com/r/circlejerk/comments/1pnoa7/the_more_you_hit_the_upvote_button_the_more/]() --- Source: https://meme.com/memes/tips-fedora Published by meme.com — The Internet Meme Library