Cheems Meme Icon Balltze Dies: From Awkward Dog to Global Crypto Phenomenon
Cheems meme icon Balltze, the Hong Kong Shiba Inu, died on August 18, 2023, during surgery. The cheems meme featuring Balltze’s awkward expression and adding “m” to words (“bunger”) went viral in 2017, inspiring CHEEMS cryptocurrency and the famous “Swole Doge vs Cheems” format.
What Is The Cheems Meme?
The cheems meme features a Shiba Inu dog named Balltze with a shy face and bewildered eyes. The distinctive feature of the cheems meme dog is the deliberate misspelling or insertion of the letter “m” between words to create humorous effect. For example, “burger” becomes “bunger,” “sleep” becomes “mleep,” and “burger” transforms into “bunger.”
Cheems symbolizes clumsy handling of situations, awkward personalities, and reactions that are well-intentioned but lacking in substance. In many cheems meme comparisons, Cheems is often placed alongside the Doge meme (a powerful dog) to create humorous contrast between its former majestic self and its current confused state. This juxtaposition format became one of the most popular meme templates of the late 2010s and early 2020s.
The cheems meme originated when owner posted images of Balltze to Instagram account @balltze since 2015. However, it wasn’t until September 2017, when the “awkward” image was posted, that Balltze officially became internet famous when the online community started creating memes under the stage name Cheems.
The Origin Story: From Hong Kong Pet to Internet Icon
Cheems, whose real name is Balltze, is a Hong Kong national. Images of Balltze have been posted by its owner on Instagram since 2015. However, the cheems meme didn’t gain traction until September 2017, when one particular “awkward” image went viral. This photo captured Balltze with an expression that perfectly conveyed confusion, anxiety, and adorable incompetence—emotions universally relatable to internet users.
The origin of the name “Cheems” is believed to stem from Balltze’s favorite food allegedly being a cheeseburger. The word “cheese” was mispronounced as “cheems” with an added “m,” creating humorous effect. However, in a post by Balltze’s owner, it was revealed that the dog had never actually eaten a cheeseburger, making the entire naming origin story itself a meme.
In August 2019, a Reddit user named Octatracking uploaded a cheems meme. This meme subsequently garnered 2,900 upvotes, and since then, cheems meme variations have become popular trend online. The timing coincided with ironic Doge meme resurgence, creating perfect conditions for Cheems to emerge as Doge’s comedic counterpart.
Cheems Meme Timeline
2015: Balltze’s owner begins posting photos to Instagram @balltze
September 2017: The iconic “awkward” photo goes viral, creating Cheems meme
August 2019: Reddit post gains 2,900 upvotes, establishing Cheems as mainstream meme
2020-2021: Cheems reaches peak popularity with “Swole Doge vs Cheems” format
August 18, 2023: Balltze dies during surgery, sparking global mourning
Because of the cheems meme’s popularity, Balltze’s owner even opened a website selling souvenirs (cheems-balltze) including clothes, mugs, stickers, and other merchandise featuring Cheems images. This commercialization demonstrates the meme’s transition from organic internet joke to recognizable brand with commercial value.
Swole Doge vs Cheems: The Comparison Meme Format
One of the most famous cheems meme variations is the image of a muscular dog and Cheems (Swole Doge vs Cheems). This format is often used to compare two opposite extremes in humorous ways, contrasting past glory with present decline, expectations versus reality, or ideal versus actual situations.
The format typically shows “Swole Doge” (a photoshopped muscular version of the original Doge) representing something strong, competent, or idealized, juxtaposed with Cheems representing something weak, incompetent, or disappointing. This comparison structure proved infinitely adaptable, with creators applying it to:
Popular Swole Doge vs Cheems Comparison Topics
Historical figures: Ancient warriors vs modern soldiers
Technology evolution: Old Nokia phones vs fragile smartphones
Generational differences: “Kids then” vs “Kids now”
Personal growth: “Me planning” vs “Me executing”
Academic performance: “What I studied” vs “What appeared on the exam”
The format’s versatility explains its longevity. Unlike one-note memes that quickly exhaust their comedic potential, the cheems meme comparison template can be applied to virtually any before-after or ideal-reality scenario, ensuring constant fresh content generation.
Cheems Bonk: Another Iconic Variation
Another equally famous cheems meme is the image of a Shiba Inu hitting another one on the head with a baseball bat (Cheems bonk-ing). This format typically shows one Cheems striking another while saying “bonk,” often with text like “Go to horny jail” or similar humorous punishment scenarios.
The Cheems bonk meme became shorthand for playfully punishing bad behavior, inappropriate thoughts, or silly actions. Its non-threatening violence (a cartoon dog gently bonking another) makes it acceptable for wholesome contexts while still conveying mock disapproval. This balance between gentle correction and humor explains its widespread adoption across various online communities.
Cheems Coin (CHEEMS): When Meme Becomes Cryptocurrency
Cheems Coin (CHEEMS) is a cryptocurrency inspired by the cheems meme, featuring Balltze the Shiba Inu. Like Dogecoin, it gained attention and support from online communities and meme enthusiasts. It is a community-driven cryptocurrency that seeks to capitalize on the viral nature of meme coins and internet culture.
The goal of Cheems Coin is largely driven by community engagement and memes, much like Dogecoin. The cryptocurrency doesn’t necessarily focus on providing technical or utility-based advancements in the blockchain space, but rather operates more as fun and speculative digital asset. The coin often promotes itself using the cheems meme, making it popular among meme coin investors and enthusiasts looking for something light-hearted in the crypto market.
The cheems meme’s transition to cryptocurrency demonstrates the meme’s commercial value and cultural impact. What began as simple funny photo of an awkward dog evolved into recognizable brand capable of supporting financial instruments, merchandise lines, and commercial partnerships. This trajectory mirrors Dogecoin’s path but on smaller scale, showing how second-tier memes can still generate substantial economic activity.
Why Cheems Meme Resonates: The Psychology of Awkwardness
The cheems meme’s enduring popularity stems from its perfect encapsulation of modern anxiety and incompetence. In an age of curated perfection on social media, Cheems represents the authentic awkwardness most people feel but rarely express. The linguistic quirk of adding “m” creates childlike speech pattern that’s simultaneously endearing and funny, making mistakes cute rather than embarrassing.
“Cheems is a lifestyle, not a fault,” as one popular variation states. This philosophy elevates the meme from simple joke to representation of self-acceptance. By identifying with Cheems, internet users embrace their own imperfections, transforming anxiety about inadequacy into shared joke. This psychological function explains why cheems meme persists while flashier memes fade—it serves emotional need beyond mere entertainment.
The cheems meme also democratizes meme creation. Unlike complex formats requiring sophisticated editing skills, anyone can create Cheems content by adding “m” to words and pairing text with Balltze’s photo. This low barrier to entry ensures constant stream of new variations keeping the format fresh years after its peak.
Cheems in Popular Culture: KFC and Beyond
The cheems meme transcended internet culture to enter mainstream commercial applications. KFC Spain ran advertising campaign featuring Cheems, legitimizing the meme’s status as recognizable cultural icon. This corporate adoption represents the meme’s transition from niche internet joke to broadly understood cultural reference.
Other brands and organizations have incorporated cheems meme into marketing, educational content, and social media engagement. The format’s wholesome humor makes it brand-safe compared to edgier memes like Pepe the Frog, which became associated with controversial political movements. Cheems’ innocence and universal relatability make it ideal for commercial applications while maintaining internet credibility.
The Legacy After Balltze’s Death
Cheems was confirmed to have passed away on August 18, 2023, during surgery, leaving behind great deal of grief among fans. The announcement sparked global mourning similar to reactions following Kabosu’s (original Doge) death, demonstrating the emotional connections people form with meme animals.
Despite Balltze’s death, the cheems meme continues thriving through archived images and ongoing format variations. Unlike memes tied to specific current events or temporary trends, Cheems’ templates remain timelessly applicable to universal human experiences of awkwardness, incompetence, and well-intentioned failure. This ensures the meme’s longevity extends beyond its canine mascot’s lifespan.
The cheems meme is not just simple entertainment phenomenon; it has become cultural icon representing lovable silliness of modern life. The cheems meme has created endless treasure trove of variations, fueling the internet community’s creativity for years to come.
FAQ
What is the Cheems meme?
The cheems meme features Balltze, a Hong Kong Shiba Inu, with an awkward expression. Its distinctive feature is adding letter “m” to words creating humorous effect: “burger” becomes “bunger,” “sleep” becomes “mleep.” It symbolizes clumsy, well-intentioned incompetence.
When did Balltze (Cheems) die?
Balltze, the dog behind the cheems meme, died on August 18, 2023, during surgery. The announcement sparked global mourning from internet communities who had grown attached to the awkward Shiba Inu through years of meme variations.
What is Swole Doge vs Cheems?
Swole Doge vs Cheems is the most famous cheems meme format, showing a muscular Doge representing strength or past glory contrasted with Cheems representing weakness or present decline. The format is used to compare any two opposite extremes humorously.
Is there a Cheems cryptocurrency?
Yes, Cheems Coin (CHEEMS) is a community-driven meme cryptocurrency inspired by the cheems meme. Like Dogecoin, it capitalizes on meme culture and internet community support rather than providing specific technical utility or blockchain innovations.
Why do people add “m” to words in Cheems memes?
The linguistic quirk allegedly stems from mispronouncing “cheeseburger” as “cheemsburger,” though Balltze’s owner revealed the dog never actually ate cheeseburgers. The “m” insertion creates childlike speech pattern that’s endearing and funny, making mistakes cute rather than embarrassing.
Is Cheems meme still popular after Balltze’s death?
Yes, the cheems meme continues thriving through archived images and ongoing format variations. Unlike memes tied to current events, Cheems’ templates remain timelessly applicable to universal human experiences of awkwardness and incompetence, ensuring longevity beyond its mascot’s lifespan.