Trollface

Trollface was drawn in Microsoft Paint on September 19, 2008 by Carlos Ramirez, an 18-year-old Oakland college student living with his parents.[3][4] The image was published on Ramirez's DeviantArt page, "Whynne",[4] as part of a rage comic titled Trolls, about the pointless nature of trolling.[5][6] Ramirez posted the image to the imageboard website 4chan and within a day other users of the site shared it.[7][3] In the following months, Ramirez' drawing quickly gained traction on 4chan as the universal emoticon of an Internet troll and a versatile rage comic character. From 4chan, Trollface spread to Reddit and Urban Dictionary in 2009,[4][5] eventually reaching other Internet image-sharing sites like Imgur and Facebook.[5]

On April 8th, 2015, Kotaku ran an in-depth interview article with Ramirez about his now-iconic rage comic character.[8] In the article, the Trollface artist estimated that he has earned more than $100,000 in licensing fees, settlements and other payouts since registering with the U.S. Copyright Office in 2010, with monthly revenues reaching as high as $15,000 at its peak in popularity. In addition, Ramirez also offered a backstory behind the removal of Meme Run from Wii U eShop.

Trollface shows an Internet troll, someone who annoys others on the Internet for their own amusement.[2] The original comic by Ramirez mocked trolls;[3] however, the image is widely used by trolls.[9] Trollface has been described as the Internet equivalent of the children's taunt "nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah" or sticking one's tongue out.[9] The image is often accompanied by phrases such as "Problem?" or "You mad, bro?".[10]

Racist and antisemitic versions of Trollface also exist, including depictions of Trollface as a Nazi, Adolf Hitler, or a Jewish caricature,[10] which have been used by users of 4chan and similar sites as a hate symbol.[10]

Ramirez registered Trolls with the United States Copyright Office July 27, 2010.[3] He says he has since received over $100,000 in licensing fees and other payouts associated with Trollface, including from licensing for shirts emblazoned with the face being sold by the retail chain Hot Topic.[3]

The video game Meme Run for Nintendo's Wii U console was taken down for copyright infringement for including Trollface as the main character.[3][11]

Trollface is not trademarked.[12]

Man in Trollface makeup at Dragon Con 2011.

Trollface was described by La Tercera as "the father of memes".[4] A bust of Trollface was exhibited at the Mexico City museum Museo del Meme.[13]

In March 2012, a viral video showed a banner emblazoned with Trollface and the word "Problem?" being used by fans of the Turkish team Eskişehirspor to protest a rule change.[14]

In the Black Mirror episode "Shut Up and Dance", the blackmailers send Trollface photographs after they leak the victims' secrets in spite of their compliance.

Trollface is occasionally used as a Halloween costume and cosplay character.[9]