What Does 'Based And Redpilled' Mean? The Matrix-Inspired Catchphrase And Slang Terms Explained

"Based and Redpilled" is an internet colloquialism that grew out of 4chan circles enamored by an idea presented by the 2001 science-fiction movie The Matrix.

The catchphrase draws on the analogy of the "blue pill-red pill" dichotomy presented in the film in which the protagonist of the movie (Keanu Reeves) is offered a chance to continue living a lie or take a red pill to see the truth.

Thus, the word "red pill" became a means of signaling that someone has parsed through the lies fed to them by "society" and chosen to live an authentic life.

But how is the specific phrase "based and redpilled" used online today, and does it match up to the lofty ideals it claims to embody? Here's a refresher on the origins of the catchphrase and how its use evolved over time.

Where Did The Phrase 'Based and Redpilled' Originate?

The exact origin of the phrase is unknown, however, both slang terms in the phrase have been used extensively on 4chan prior to their combination. The word "based" originated in 2010 from rapper Lil B the Based God, while "redpilled" stems from the film The Matrix in which taking the red pill shows someone the disturbing truth behind the world.

In late 2013, an anonymous 4chan user posted the earliest known utterance of the phrase on the internet. The post concerned rapper Kanye West and certain anons on 4chan who have a tendency to idolize a celebrity when they go against the mainstream.

The post went on to criticize the characterization of Kanye as "based" or "redpilled," while using a healthy dose of racism and controversial language.

How Is The Phrase 'Based and Redpilled' Used?

The phrase "based and redpilled" is typically used to signal that someone is in support of an opinion deemed "wrong" by wider society, though it is also commonly used in more ironic, trollish and humorous contexts online today. Initially, however, such controversial opinions were often given the label of being "based and redpilled," such as in another early example in which it was applied to Augusto Pinochet, an infamous Chilean general and dictator.

Before becoming more mainstream on the internet in the late 2010s, the phrase "based and redpilled" and the word "redpilled" in particular thus became a way for many conservative and so-called "alt-right" aligned internet users to commend otherwise racist, homophobic or similarly controversial ideas.

A particularly viral instance of a contentious opinion being described as "based and redpilled" is someone using a cherry-picked photo of pop star Taylor Swift doing a hover hand while posing with a Black girl next to other images showing her embracing two white girls.

As with many internet colloquialisms and memes that spread to become mainstream online, "based and redpilled" has also come to be used in many less controversial contexts over the years, particularly in the late 2010s and early 2020s. Instances such as these show the catchphrase's usage in things like ironic memes.

For example, a 2019 post titled "based and redpilled" by Redditor /u/JaydenDenino depicts a drawing of Morpheus from The Matrix offering a blue pill labeled "cure for cancer" and a red pill labeled "Family Guy funniest moments #12."

What Are Some Memes Using The Phrase 'Based and Redpilled?'

While the use of the catchphrase has diluted on the internet over the years and is no longer exclusively used for explicitly racist or socially deviant ideas, there is still value in remembering the historic roots of such internet colloquialisms amidst rapidly accelerating internet trend cycles today.

Keeping that in mind, there are numerous examples of "based and redpilled" being referenced in memes or posts across the web which are completely removed from the original context or those that poke fun at its true meaning, and the phrase has undoubtedly become cemented into the internet lexicon.

For the full history of Based and Redpilled, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.