What's The 'Ruth Bader Ginsburg Chair' Meme? The 'RBG On Wheels' Cursed Image Meme Explained

Seems like the main theme for costumes in this year's Halloween is centered around niche memes or specific pop culture moments. Take for example the Emergency Intercom podcast host Drew Phillips's RBG on wheels costume, which is inspired by an old cursed images of late Supreme Court Justice of the United States Ruth Bader Ginsburg that has been shared online since early 2019.

If you're not familiar with Ruth Bader, she was well known for her progressive positions, as well as having a straightforward way of expressing herself and her opinions. Bader also was viewed as a pop culture icon, spawning a few memes and jokes on the internet, such as the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Chair.

Here's how an average paparazzi airport photo of late RBG became a viral cursed image meme.

Who Started The 'Ruth Bader Ginsburg Chair' Meme?

The RBG on wheels meme first started in February 2019 when a TMZ paparazzi spotted Ruth Bader Ginsburg in D.C at the Reagan National Airport wearing a big grey coat while being accompanied by security officers. At that time, Bader had recently undergone a procedure to remove cancerous growths from her lung and was still fighting to keep her job with full steam.

How Did The 'Ruth Bader Ginsburg Chair' Meme Went Viral?

The earliest known photoshopped version of Bader's photo was posted on Facebook on March 21st, 2019, by the Cursed Images page, which edited Ginsburg's legs and replaced them with an office chair's wheels (seen below).

Over the next few years, RBG's edited photo remained a widely cursed image meme shared on Facebook, Instagram, Reddit and X, with few details or lore attached to it, as the American judge is barely recognizable in the photoshopped image.

However, in late October 2024, the meme gained a sudden spike in searches after the Emergency Intercom podcast host and influencer and Enya Umanzor shared a video of her Halloween costume alongside Drew Phillips, who's dressed as the RBG on wheels chair meme.

For the full history of RBG on wheels, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.